How to Clean Throttle Body (By Eric the Car Guy)

Introduction

A dirty throttle body can cause a variety of problems with your car, including rough idling, poor acceleration, and decreased fuel efficiency. Cleaning the throttle body is a relatively simple and inexpensive procedure that can improve your car’s performance and fuel economy. In this article, I’ll show you how to clean the throttle body on your car.

Tools and Materials

• Throttle body cleaner
• Shop rags
• Phillips screwdriver
• Socket wrench
• Carburetor cleaner or brake cleaner (for stubborn deposits)

Safety Precautions

Before you start working on your car, be sure to take the following safety precautions:

• Park your car on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
• Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
• Allow the engine to cool down before you begin working.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Locate the throttle body. The throttle body is located on the intake manifold, which is connected to the engine. It is usually a round or oval-shaped component with a butterfly valve inside.
2. Remove the air intake hose. The air intake hose is connected to the throttle body. Use a Phillips screwdriver or socket wrench to loosen the clamp that secures the hose to the throttle body. Once the clamp is loose, you can remove the hose by pulling it off of the throttle body.
3. Clean the throttle body. Spray the throttle body cleaner into the throttle body and use a shop rag to wipe away any dirt or debris. If there are any stubborn deposits, you can use carburetor cleaner or brake cleaner to remove them. Be sure to spray the cleaner into the throttle body in short bursts to avoid damaging the butterfly valve.
4. Wipe down the throttle body. Once you have cleaned the throttle body, use a clean shop rag to wipe down the outside of the throttle body. This will help to remove any remaining cleaner or debris.
5. Reinstall the air intake hose. Once you have cleaned the throttle body, you can reinstall the air intake hose. Insert the hose into the throttle body and tighten the clamp that secures the hose to the throttle body.
6. Reconnect the negative battery terminal. Once you have reinstalled the air intake hose, you can reconnect the negative battery terminal.
7. Start the engine. Once you have reconnected the negative battery terminal, you can start the engine. Let the engine idle for a few minutes to allow it to relearn the idle speed.

Tips

• If you have a particularly dirty throttle body, you may need to clean it more than once.
• Be careful not to spray the throttle body cleaner directly into the butterfly valve, as this can damage the valve.
• If you have any questions or concerns about cleaning the throttle body on your car, consult with a qualified mechanic.

Conclusion

Cleaning the throttle body is a relatively simple and inexpensive procedure that can improve your car’s performance and fuel economy. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can clean the throttle body on your own and save yourself the cost of a mechanic.