What happens if the throttle is not cleaned?

[AlanaLee]

The consequences of not cleaning the throttle are as follows: 1. It may cause errors in the throttle opening angle; 2. It may allow air with impurities to enter the engine combustion chamber; 3. It may lead to abnormal engine operation, mainly manifested as unstable idling, sudden throttle closing sensation while driving, reduced power, and in severe cases, even difficulty starting and increased fuel consumption. Methods for cleaning the throttle are as follows: 1. Throttle removal cleaning method: This task is relatively troublesome, so it is recommended to go to a repair shop for cleaning. 2. Non-removal throttle cleaning method: Directly spray throttle cleaner on a cloth and clean the throttle.

[HaydenAnn]

If the throttle body gets dirty and isn't cleaned, the car will drive terribly! I've experienced it myself - the car would shake like a sieve when starting, and the tachometer needle would dance up and down at red lights. Pressing the accelerator felt weak with delayed response, making overtaking particularly unconfident. The most annoying part was the fuel consumption skyrocketing - what used to be 500 km per tank dropped by 70-80 km when carbon built up. The exhaust smell became pungent too, stinking terribly when windows were opened. The mechanic said those oil sludge deposits were jamming the throttle plate, restricting airflow and affecting combustion efficiency. After reluctantly spending over 200 yuan to clean it, the engine immediately became quiet and smooth, with fuel consumption returning to normal. Now I clean it every 20,000 km - the car behaves perfectly.

[DiElle]

The consequences of not cleaning the throttle body for a long time are quite serious. My car ran 80,000 kilometers without cleaning it. At first, it was difficult to start when cold, requiring turning the key two or three times. During normal driving, the RPM became extremely unstable. Once on the expressway, the RPM suddenly surged to 4,000, which scared me. Upon inspection, it was found that a layer of oil sludge and carbon deposits had formed on the back of the throttle body, jamming the throttle plate. The mechanic explained that it's like having a stuffy nose making it hard to breathe, while the computer still injects fuel based on a clean state, resulting in incomplete combustion and at least a 15% increase in fuel consumption. After disassembling and cleaning it, the throttle felt noticeably lighter, and acceleration became smoother. I suggest not being as careless as I was; it's better to check it every 20,000 kilometers.

[DeDominic]

The most obvious symptom of not cleaning the throttle body is rough idling. My old car wasn't cleaned in time, and when parked, the steering wheel shook like a vibrating phone. During sudden acceleration, there would be a jerking sensation, making the whole car lurch forward. Fuel consumption was over two liters higher than when it was new, and it almost failed the annual exhaust emission test. The mechanic showed me with an endoscope—the metal flap was caked with black carbon deposits. They said these deposits obstructed air intake, causing the ECU to detect less airflow and misfire the fuel injection, wasting gasoline and risking clogging the catalytic converter. After cleaning and resetting the ECU program, everything smoothed out. Now, I get it cleaned annually.