What are the methods to determine if the throttle body needs cleaning?
2 Answers
Methods to determine if the throttle body needs cleaning are: 1. Unstable acceleration; 2. Unstable idle speed. The steps to clean the throttle body are: 1. Turn off the ignition switch and disconnect the negative terminal of the battery; 2. Remove the throttle cable, intake hose, and screws securing the throttle body in sequence; 3. Clean the throttle body with a cleaning agent, and use a cotton swab to wipe areas that are hard to reach. Reasons for a dirty throttle body include: 1. Poor filtration by the air filter and a dusty surrounding environment; 2. Poor quality engine oil with high evaporation rate; 3. Oil vapor and impurities from the crankcase. The function of the throttle body is to control the air entering the engine. After the air enters the intake manifold, it mixes with gasoline to form a combustible mixture, which then burns to generate power.
A few days ago, my car was shaking badly at idle, and cold starts felt laborious, as if it was struggling to get going. After checking online, most suggestions pointed to a dirty throttle body causing intake issues, with carbon buildup blocking the airflow. I decided to inspect it myself: I opened the engine hood to check for obvious oil stains or carbon deposits around the throttle body, and found a layer of black, greasy residue. Later, I went to a friend’s auto repair shop, where they used a diagnostic tool to check the throttle opening and feedback data, confirming the readings were lower than normal. After cleaning, the idle stabilized immediately, and starts became smooth. I recommend not ignoring similar symptoms—idle shaking is the most common sign, followed by sudden increases in fuel consumption or loss of power, which are early indicators that the throttle body needs cleaning.
