Why is it necessary to clean the car throttle?

[VonAdalynn]

If the throttle is not cleaned for a long time, carbon deposits will form, which will affect the engine's air intake, leading to issues such as idle shaking, stalling, and other phenomena like uneven acceleration and jerky sensations. Fuel consumption will also increase as a result. Here are the steps for cleaning the throttle: 1. Open the car's engine hood and locate the throttle position. There is a metal component at the connection of a black air hose, secured with a metal clamp—this is the throttle. 2. Use a screwdriver to loosen the metal clamp on the throttle. There's no need to remove it completely; just loosen it sufficiently. Then, detach the plastic tube connected to the throttle. 3. After removing the throttle, you can see its interior. Take out the throttle cleaner and spray it inside a few times to dissolve the oil stains and carbon deposits. 4. Wipe it clean with a tissue, then use your finger or another object to push open the movable flap inside the throttle. Spray a few more times inside and wipe it clean again with a tissue. 5. Once cleaned, reinstall the throttle following the original steps. Start the car and let the engine run for a while to expel any remaining dirt from the throttle.

[LeGabriel]

During the last maintenance, the technician found a sudden increase in my car's fuel consumption, and the inspection revealed a clogged throttle body. This component directly controls the air intake, and dirt buildup can cause unstable idling, sluggish acceleration, and even stalling in severe cases. Frequent stop-and-go city driving makes carbon buildup more likely, so it's recommended to clean it regularly, especially for electronic throttle bodies which are particularly sensitive. Spending a couple hundred yuan to clean it once, along with maintenance every 20,000 kilometers, can prevent major issues later on. After all, affecting the engine's smooth operation is no joke.

[TeaganFitz]

My car previously experienced acceleration hesitation issues, and the mechanic said the throttle body was dirty. It controls air intake and fuel mixture, and excessive dirt can obstruct airflow, directly affecting combustion efficiency. Not cleaning it for a long time may even damage the oxygen sensor or trigger fault codes. Daily driving inevitably accumulates oil sludge and dust, which require cleaning. It's actually a routine maintenance task, similar to cleaning the air conditioning filter. Keeping the airflow smooth is crucial for engine longevity. I typically clean it every 20,000 kilometers.

[OMiranda]

Throttle cleaning primarily addresses the issue of carbon buildup. The air filter cannot completely block impurities, causing sludge mixed with dust to adhere to the throttle walls, which affects the precision of the throttle plate's opening and closing. Inaccurate air intake calculations lead to an imbalanced air-fuel mixture, resulting in noticeably reduced power and increased fuel consumption. Regular cleaning restores valve sensitivity and prevents issues like hard starting or idle vibration. Personally, I find a maintenance interval of 20,000 kilometers to be quite reasonable.