Throttle Body Cleaning
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Keeping Cool
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 488
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From: Redondo Beach CA
Throttle Body Cleaning
I know that there have been a lot of posts about how well your cars are running after you have cleaned your TB's, but I am wondering what we should use to clean it. I have 85 and would really like to take a stab at it, but I am a little worried that I will screw it up. How easy it? Please tell me what cleaner to use so I do not end up using simple green
Thanks in advance for the help
Thanks in advance for the help
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,723
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From: Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada
Originally Posted by jrzyvet
I know that there have been a lot of posts about how well your cars are running after you have cleaned your TB's, but I am wondering what we should use to clean it. I have 85 and would really like to take a stab at it, but I am a little worried that I will screw it up. How easy it? Please tell me what cleaner to use so I do not end up using simple green
Thanks in advance for the help
Thanks in advance for the help
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 488
From: Leonardtown Maryland
I have not had to do it on this car, but on my other ones I have used forcepts, strips of clean lint free rags about 3" x 12", and spray fuel injector cleaner that is safe for cat converters and sensors. I'll disconnect whatever kind of air intake tube I have to the TB and hold the butterfly open. Then spray/douche the inside of the TB good with the cleaner. Keeping the butterfly open I'll attach the rag to the forcepts, spray cleaner on the rag, and swab it in and out of the TB. I change the rag when it's full of black guck and, spray the rag again and swab some more. Continue the process until the rag doesn't come out all grimy or you get tired or run out of beer. The first time I did this was on an '88 Caravan and I used most of a can of cleaner. Good Luck!
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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I went to NAPA and purchased a can of Valvoline Syntec Throttle Body Cleaner. It's a fairly new product I think. About $2 a can.
Then, (after removing the TB and IAC from the plenum) I took an old toothbrush and some shop towels and a large plastic fruit bowl and went to town.
Read the TB cleaning article in the C4 TechTips section on this Forum. It'll walk you through the process of cleaning the TB and IAC motor, too. Really mellows your base idle and restores throttle response, too.
Then, (after removing the TB and IAC from the plenum) I took an old toothbrush and some shop towels and a large plastic fruit bowl and went to town.
Read the TB cleaning article in the C4 TechTips section on this Forum. It'll walk you through the process of cleaning the TB and IAC motor, too. Really mellows your base idle and restores throttle response, too.
Team Owner
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Take care with the gasket on the IAC motor, too. It tends to get fragile and is easily broken. If it breaks, you can get another one at the dealer or just make one out of a sheet of gasket paper like I did. Be sure and coat it with a dab of motor oil before re-seating on the IAC housing.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 758
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From: Gainesville, FL
What I have found is best for cleaning the TB and cleaning out the carbon is Amsoil Power Foam... Its what I always used down the 4 dual barrel Webbers on the Ferrari... and after using a generic air intake/TB cleaner and Seafoam (a great fuel additive) - I have found that Power Foam is the only thing that really seems to get the job done right.... and as a spray it is easy to use for cleaning the TB... - -- As it says on the can...get the car up to temp and use the entire can while the car is running... then shut it off for about 5 minutes and then go drive all the smoke out of it... Often times I needed 2 cans on the Ferrari, but I doubt your Vette could be that crapped up...
Note: - I don't know of anywhere but NAPA that sells it around here...
Note: - I don't know of anywhere but NAPA that sells it around here...
Team Owner
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Originally Posted by 4REGT4
What I have found is best for cleaning the TB and cleaning out the carbon is Amsoil Power Foam... Its what I always used down the 4 dual barrel Webbers on the Ferrari... and after using a generic air intake/TB cleaner and Seafoam (a great fuel additive) - I have found that Power Foam is the only thing that really seems to get the job done right.... and as a spray it is easy to use for cleaning the TB... - -- As it says on the can...get the car up to temp and use the entire can while the car is running... then shut it off for about 5 minutes and then go drive all the smoke out of it... Often times I needed 2 cans on the Ferrari, but I doubt your Vette could be that crapped up...
Note: - I don't know of anywhere but NAPA that sells it around here...
Note: - I don't know of anywhere but NAPA that sells it around here...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 758
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From: Gainesville, FL
Originally Posted by onedef92
You can get it clean enough to eat off of if you remove the TB, too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Originally Posted by Bigredwing
I have not had to do it on this car, but on my other ones I have used forcepts, strips of clean lint free rags about 3" x 12", and spray fuel injector cleaner that is safe for cat converters and sensors. I'll disconnect whatever kind of air intake tube I have to the TB and hold the butterfly open. Then spray/douche the inside of the TB good with the cleaner. Keeping the butterfly open I'll attach the rag to the forcepts, spray cleaner on the rag, and swab it in and out of the TB. I change the rag when it's full of black guck and, spray the rag again and swab some more. Continue the process until the rag doesn't come out all grimy or you get tired or run out of beer. The first time I did this was on an '88 Caravan and I used most of a can of cleaner. Good Luck!
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,945
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From: Corinth TX
I just recently cleaned my with a can of throttle body cleaner made by 3M. I will be doing a thorough job of cleaning it when I change the intake manifold gaskets. But I can tell you this, that stuff worked great!!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 505
Likes: 1
From: Guntersville Alabama
I used some throttle body cleaner on my 93 while it was still attached to the car. I placed a shop towel to catch the excess cleaner. I noticed an improvement on how the engine runs. I still believe i am running a little rich though. I ran the codes and I found the intermitent codes 32 and 64. These only show up when I have the cruise control on a highway trip. The exhaust seems to have unburnt gasoline. Anyone have any thoughts or tips on how to diagnose this?
Thanks,
93cruiser
Thanks,
93cruiser
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 416
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From: Gansevoort NY
Originally Posted by jimmers
I took the throttle body off and cleaned it with carb cleaner. Im not sure if an 85 has any sensors attached to the throttle body, but if it does then just becareful not to get them wet.
Just did mine a while ago
Team Owner
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From: Fort Knox, KY
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Originally Posted by 4REGT4
I was referring to something that will also clean the engine... the air intake/TB cleaner sold at autozone and such is BS... - - and Power Foam does a great job without removing the TB... - the TB cleaner hardly touched the soot all over the back of the plates... the Power Foam instantly foams up black and rips it off real good... - - depending on how dirty your engine is... you should notice the difference after a can of Power Foam...
IMO, to properly do a Corvette TB job, you have to remove the IAC motor and clean the pintle, too. Personally. I've never seen ANY chemical product that's strong enough to remove remove the carbon from the IAC pintle spring without dissolving the plastic part, too. Can Power Foam do that? Did you physically remove your IAC motor to verify this?
If so, I'll glady purchase it next time I have to do this job. Work smarter, not harder is my motto, too.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 416
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From: Gansevoort NY
Originally Posted by onedef92
IMO, to properly do a Corvette TB job, you have to remove the IAC motor and clean the pintle, too. Personally. I've never seen ANY chemical product that's strong enough to remove remove the carbon from the IAC pintle spring without dissolving the plastic part, too.
If so, I'll glady purchase it next time I have to do this job. Work smarter, not harder is my motto, too.
If so, I'll glady purchase it next time I have to do this job. Work smarter, not harder is my motto, too.
I didnt remove my TPS though. Didnt feel like havin to readjust it.
Good luck. I noticed a huge improvement in my cold and warm idle after cleaning the TB. PS.. oh yeah remember to be in a ventilated area beer and TB cleaner fumes really give you a nasty headache.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,604
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From: Phoenix, Arizona
Originally Posted by Bigredwing
I have not had to do it on this car, but on my other ones I have used forcepts, strips of clean lint free rags about 3" x 12", and spray fuel injector cleaner that is safe for cat converters and sensors. I'll disconnect whatever kind of air intake tube I have to the TB and hold the butterfly open. Then spray/douche the inside of the TB good with the cleaner. Keeping the butterfly open I'll attach the rag to the forcepts, spray cleaner on the rag, and swab it in and out of the TB. I change the rag when it's full of black guck and, spray the rag again and swab some more. Continue the process until the rag doesn't come out all grimy or you get tired or run out of beer. The first time I did this was on an '88 Caravan and I used most of a can of cleaner. Good Luck!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
From: Troy Illinois
I use Sea Foam Deep Creap, a spray can, and it worked gread. I wire the TB open, spray the Deep Creap on, scrub it with a tooth brush, and wipe it clean. I am sure it would be better to take it off but this worked OK for me.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 3
From: Hazel Park MI
I bought soem TB cleaner, took the TB off and took out the IAC & cleaned that too. Didn't make a difference, except for getting them clean of course. Don't worry jrzyvet, not even you can screw it up (I think)