What is used to clean the throttle body?
3 Answers
The throttle body is cleaned with dedicated throttle body cleaning fluid or cleaner. The steps for cleaning the throttle body are: 1. Open the hood and locate the engine's throttle body; 2. Use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the air filter and intake pipe, then unplug the electrical socket on the throttle body; 3. After removing the screws, take off the throttle body and use a dry cloth to plug the engine intake to prevent dirt from entering the engine; 4. Spray the cleaner onto the throttle body. The throttle body is a controllable valve that regulates air entering the engine. After entering the intake pipe, the air mixes with gasoline to form a combustible mixture, which then burns to create power. The throttle body is connected to the air filter at the top and the engine block at the bottom, and is referred to as the throat of the automobile engine.
I usually use a dedicated throttle body cleaner for this job. Don't cut corners by using carburetor cleaner as a substitute - that stuff is too corrosive and might damage the special coating on the throttle body's inner walls. When disassembling for cleaning, you'll need a hex key set and plastic pry tools, being careful not to damage surrounding sensors. Last time when helping my neighbor clean his Sylphy, we found that spraying cleaning foam without disconnecting the battery caused the idle speed to suddenly jump to 2000 rpm - had to disconnect the negative terminal and wait for the ECU to reset before it stabilized. After cleaning, remember to wipe off coating residue with a non-woven cloth. When reinstalling, start the engine and firmly press the accelerator a few times to let the ECU recalibrate the air intake - this step absolutely can't be skipped.
Veteran Driver's Experience Sharing: Prepare three things before starting—throttle valve cleaning foam spray, an old toothbrush, and a microfiber towel. I prefer using big-brand cleaners; the foam quickly dissolves stubborn grease without damaging rubber parts. Avoid hard-bristle toothbrushes—gently scrub carbon deposits around the butterfly valve edges, as excessive force may leave scratches. Pay special attention to the back of the throttle body and the intake manifold connection, where grease buildup is thickest. Avoid touching the throttle motor during the process, as splashed cleaner could cause damage. Last week, while cleaning my decade-old Ford Focus, it took a full five minutes of scrubbing near the butterfly valve shaft to reveal the bare metal underneath.
