Throttle plate sticking -- fixed, but a question

95 SW2, automatic, "alternative fuel" model (burns oil).

The throttle plate was sticking, and opened it up to find lots of black
grime, which I cleaned out. Now it is working nicely, but it begs the
question -- how did that stuff get there in the first place? Is it
symptomatic of other problems that need to be fixed? There is a small
black rubber hose going from the valve cover to the air intake,
presumably to recirculate fumes from that space.

Is the problem related to the fact that the engine uses oil? TIA.

 

That is typical across all car engines. That is why they make throttle
body cleaner. The fact that it burns oil could make it build up faster.
I clean mine about once a year.

James

 

You do not say how many miles, but throttle bodies get bad on almost every
type of modern fuel injected engine so I'd say this is normal and nothing
indicating a problem. Regarding the oil consumption, though a rebuild is
the permanent fix, there are some easy things you can do to improve this
situation:

1. Replace your PCV valve. A clogged PCV contributes to consumption
2. Use slightly heavier oil, say 10W-30 during summer, instead of 5W-30.
3. Remove plugs and do an overnight cylinder soak using Sea Foam or Marvel
Mystery Oil.

On #3 above, do a web search since the process is well documented in the
Saturn Forum or Google Archives. This helps to dislodge carbon build up in
the piston rings so reduces blow by and oil burning. Good luck.

Bob

 

It's frequently from exhaust gase recirculation.