Throttle body cleaning

[Jerry]

In some messages I see references to a throttle body cleaning.
Should it be done like a maintenance item, on a regular basis?
If yes, how often should it be done (mileage/months)?
How to do it, or where may I find the description?

Thank you,

Jerry

 

[Skid]

I do mine every year. Use pliers to loosen the clamp on the air-intake hose,
and pull it off, it may take some twisting, but it will come off with
effort. I prefer to do this on a warm engine. Use a can of carburetor
cleaner, and with the engine running, spray into the throttle body, but you
will need to rev the engine while doing, otherwise you will stall.

 

[Dan Hicks]

In some messages I see references to a throttle body cleaning.
Should it be done like a maintenance item, on a regular basis?
If yes, how often should it be done (mileage/months)?
How to do it, or where may I find the description?

I know this is sometimes just a scam the dealers run. They say
they'll clean the throttle body, but all they do is spray some
Gumout into the throat, maybe put something in the gas, and then
charge you $50 or so.

Normally it shouldn't need cleaning unless you've been using bad
gas, backfiring a lot, or running without the air cleaner. Usually
you'd only do it if symptoms suggested it was needed.

 

[Napalm Heart]

I do mine every year. Use pliers to loosen the clamp on the air-intake hose,
and pull it off, it may take some twisting, but it will come off with
effort. I prefer to do this on a warm engine. Use a can of carburetor
cleaner, and with the engine running, spray into the throttle body, but you
will need to rev the engine while doing, otherwise you will stall.

Don't use carburetor cleaner. Get cleaner that says it is for
throttle bodies. The carb clean is too aggressive for some of the TB
parts.
I use an old tooth brush to clean the plate. They seem to get gummed
up pretty easy. Once a year and you shouldn't have to deal with the
symptoms a dirty plate can cause.
Ken

 

[Philip Nasadowski]

Don't use carburetor cleaner. Get cleaner that says it is for
throttle bodies. The carb clean is too aggressive for some of the TB
parts.

I suspected that TB cleaner was 'watered down', actually, I found it
worked *better* than carb cleaner....