What to Do About High Fuel Consumption After Cleaning the Throttle Body?
2 Answers
After cleaning, the fuel injector's spray diameter increases, leading to more fuel being injected per unit time, which results in higher fuel consumption. Due to the lack of proper calibration after cleaning the throttle body, the ECU's detection program continues to calculate and adjust the fuel injection quantity based on the original throttle body settings.
As an experienced driver, I know it's quite common to see increased fuel consumption after cleaning the throttle body. This usually happens because the ECU (Engine Control Unit) hasn't been properly adjusted. After throttle body cleaning, the air flow changes, but the ECU still injects fuel based on old data, leading to higher fuel consumption. My suggestion is to first try driving about 100 kilometers to let the system automatically adapt to the new parameters - often this can restore normal operation. If that doesn't work, check whether the throttle position sensor got contaminated or slightly damaged during cleaning - that component is very sensitive. Don't underestimate it, as sensor misreading can cause inaccurate fuel injection and waste gas. Last time I just spent some money at the dealership to reset the ECU, and the problem was immediately solved. Remember, high fuel consumption doesn't just cost money - unstable idling also affects driving safety. Don't delay when issues arise, early intervention is most cost-effective. Regular throttle body inspections during maintenance can prevent problems before they occur.
