I bought myself a can of throttle body cleaner. Never cleaned one before (never knew my car even had one). Guy at work told me to remove the air filter, start the car, and spray the cleaner directly into the air intake. The directions on the can were somewhat different. Obviously, my natural inclination is to do exactly what the label says (can never go wrong if you follow the directions) However, I find spraying the cleaner directly into the air intake to be much easier and foolproof (never been much of a mechanic but am trying to learn) Would appreciate anyone willing to give me their 2 cents
Cleaning Throttle Body
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If you can get to the TB, take off the air hose, liberally spray the throttle plate and scrub it with an old toothbrush or something. Wipe off any residue with a paper towel soaked in cleaner, wipe dry, reattach hose and you're done.
If I can't get to it?
My first thought is you are also dissolving any dirt, dust , etc. that is in the intake tube and sending it into your engine. Second, your car probably has an electronic mass air flow sensor which is delicate and you don't want dirt on the wires. Getting the intake tube off the TB only involves a screwdriver and lets you clean all the carbon and gunk directly. Anything else is hit or miss. Pretty sure your throttle plate, especially the back of it, will not get cleaned by spraying through the intake tube.
If you can't get to it, then just go through the air cleaner....not much of a difference, unless your TB is seriously gummed up at the butterfly/throttle plate...
What kind of vehicle is it? I'd bet you could find some videos on youtube of people doing the procedure(s) to similar (if not the exact same yr/make/model) vehicle....unless of course, you're like me, and are driving an 88 Dodge Aries
But really, the air hose will be your land mark...beyond the air hose is typically where the Throttle Body plate is, and that's what people tend to clean up the most...but wouldn't hurt to clean both ends of the TB...
What kind of vehicle is it? I'd bet you could find some videos on youtube of people doing the procedure(s) to similar (if not the exact same yr/make/model) vehicle....unless of course, you're like me, and are driving an 88 Dodge Aries
But really, the air hose will be your land mark...beyond the air hose is typically where the Throttle Body plate is, and that's what people tend to clean up the most...but wouldn't hurt to clean both ends of the TB...
Just spend 10 minutes and take the TB off the intake, I mean it is a few bolts holding the Throttle and Crusie cables, and a few holding it onto the intake.
then take the AIS motor and TPS off and clean it. I can do this on any of my cars in 20 minutes. I use Amsoil Power foam.
By doing it this way, you can get all the passageways and the tip of the AIS clean.
then take the AIS motor and TPS off and clean it. I can do this on any of my cars in 20 minutes. I use Amsoil Power foam.
By doing it this way, you can get all the passageways and the tip of the AIS clean.
Don't spray and pray.
Take whatever needs to be taken off to manually get at the TB. Clean it with solvent and a rag - both the bore and the plate. as far as you can get it.
Why spray gunk on your valves and CCs? Why do a 1/2 way possible cleaning?
Take whatever needs to be taken off to manually get at the TB. Clean it with solvent and a rag - both the bore and the plate. as far as you can get it.
Why spray gunk on your valves and CCs? Why do a 1/2 way possible cleaning?
I just want to add that if you remove the throttle body off of the intake you may have to replace the sealing gasket that is between the two parts. Over time these get brittle and disintigrate when things are moved around especially if the car is more than 5 years or so old!
For a beginner I would simply leave the TB attached and clean it as is. Like the other poster said an old tooth brush, and a lint free rag to wipe out dirty residue . DO NOT FLOOD THE INSIDE IF THE INTAKE WHEN SPRAYING as it will make the engine a bit hard to start. The goal is to use as little as possible of the product to get the job done correctly. A little bit of solvents and residue from the intake isn't going to do any damage at all. After all you have some particles collecting there in the first place.
For a beginner I would simply leave the TB attached and clean it as is. Like the other poster said an old tooth brush, and a lint free rag to wipe out dirty residue . DO NOT FLOOD THE INSIDE IF THE INTAKE WHEN SPRAYING as it will make the engine a bit hard to start. The goal is to use as little as possible of the product to get the job done correctly. A little bit of solvents and residue from the intake isn't going to do any damage at all. After all you have some particles collecting there in the first place.
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