Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,625
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From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning
Is there an effective way to do this? I have not done the coolant bypass (I live in MI and like to deive the car until the 1st of Dec.)... and I am too much of a kitty to take the TB off and spill coolant on my new opti. Is there a way to give it a good thorough cleaning with it still on the plenum? I've looked in to archives and they all suggest taking the TB off the plenum. Oh, and I heard about "Motovac." What's that?
:confused:
Thanks,
Ed
:confused:
Thanks,
Ed
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,295
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From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
Re: Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning (eschoendorff)
But it so easy! Just put a ton of rags between the TB and the OPTI. Its not that much drip anyway. :seeya
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,625
Likes: 4
From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning (VictorRussell'92)
What do you do, crimp the lines going in and out of the TB, or do you drain them or what? Ive read several articles and I still am not confident...
Actually I am sure that this is an easier task than it seems, but I just don't wanna screw up my Vette! :nonod:
Actually I am sure that this is an easier task than it seems, but I just don't wanna screw up my Vette! :nonod:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 983
Likes: 1
From: Bergen County NJ
Re: Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning (eschoendorff)
I've cleaned 2 LT1 throttle bodies and have seen crud build up on the edge of the throttle blades and in the bores right behind the blades. It's very difficult to clean these areas without removing the TB. Also, cleaning the IAC and it's passages is easier and more effective with the TB off.
Drain the radiator and make sure that you open the 2 vent valves (on the T-stat housing the throttle body) while it's draining. This will draw out almost all the coolant from the TB and there will be little if any spill to worry about. When you refill the radiator stuff some rags under those same 2 vent valves to catch the few drips that you get as the system is topped off.
Drain the radiator and make sure that you open the 2 vent valves (on the T-stat housing the throttle body) while it's draining. This will draw out almost all the coolant from the TB and there will be little if any spill to worry about. When you refill the radiator stuff some rags under those same 2 vent valves to catch the few drips that you get as the system is topped off.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Re: Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning (sraft)
I've cleaned 2 LT1 throttle bodies and have seen crud build up on the edge of the throttle blades and in the bores right behind the blades. It's very difficult to clean these areas without removing the TB. Also, cleaning the IAC and it's passages is easier and more effective with the TB off.
Drain the radiator and make sure that you open the 2 vent valves (on the T-stat housing the throttle body) while it's draining. This will draw out almost all the coolant from the TB and there will be little if any spill to worry about. When you refill the radiator stuff some rags under those same 2 vent valves to catch the few drips that you get as the system is topped off.
Drain the radiator and make sure that you open the 2 vent valves (on the T-stat housing the throttle body) while it's draining. This will draw out almost all the coolant from the TB and there will be little if any spill to worry about. When you refill the radiator stuff some rags under those same 2 vent valves to catch the few drips that you get as the system is topped off.
I have an L98, and I cleaned my TB when I did my radiator flush and fill. No drips on the engine from the coolant, and did the bypass at the same time. Taking the TB off was easy, just make sure you buy the gaskets BEFORE you take it off.
THat reminds me I need to do that again this summer.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,625
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From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning (sraft)
Do you remove the IAC from the throttle body housing when you do a cleaning? If so, what do you use to remove the IAC?
More importantly....
I just bought the car from a dealership less than a year ago. I have the service records (from that dealership) and don't see anything about cleaning a throttle body. Everything else seems really clean, though. The car has 75XXX miles. What are the chances that I need to clean the TB? How can I tell if it needs it? Can I tell just by looking into it?
Thanks!
More importantly....
I just bought the car from a dealership less than a year ago. I have the service records (from that dealership) and don't see anything about cleaning a throttle body. Everything else seems really clean, though. The car has 75XXX miles. What are the chances that I need to clean the TB? How can I tell if it needs it? Can I tell just by looking into it?
Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,727
Likes: 711
From: Bergen County, NJ
Re: Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning (eschoendorff)
I cleaned my Throttle Body without removing it from the plenum....
I put latex gloves on, got a clean cotton rag [an old T-shirt], wrapped the rag around my forefinger, sprayed throttle body cleaner on it, rubbed the TB & butterfies, Repeated untill all the grime came off.
Then I sprayed the TB cleaner onto the TB to get any other residue. [put rags under the TB to catch the spray drips.
Clean like new ;)
I put latex gloves on, got a clean cotton rag [an old T-shirt], wrapped the rag around my forefinger, sprayed throttle body cleaner on it, rubbed the TB & butterfies, Repeated untill all the grime came off.
Then I sprayed the TB cleaner onto the TB to get any other residue. [put rags under the TB to catch the spray drips.
Clean like new ;)
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
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St. Jude Contributor
Re: Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning (Wayne88)
I cleaned my Throttle Body without removing it from the plenum....
I put latex gloves on, got a clean cotton rag [an old T-shirt], wrapped the rag around my forefinger, sprayed throttle body cleaner on it, rubbed the TB & butterfies, Repeated untill all the grime came off.
Then I sprayed the TB cleaner onto the TB to get any other residue. [put rags under the TB to catch the spray drips.
Clean like new ;)
I put latex gloves on, got a clean cotton rag [an old T-shirt], wrapped the rag around my forefinger, sprayed throttle body cleaner on it, rubbed the TB & butterfies, Repeated untill all the grime came off.
Then I sprayed the TB cleaner onto the TB to get any other residue. [put rags under the TB to catch the spray drips.
Clean like new ;)
I've done this with my Caddy, and I can see it would be as easy with the L98. Denim and throttle body cleaner works great. Denim is stiff without being abrasive. It allows you to really work the crap out of there. You'll notice a difference, especially if there's enough gunk in there to allow your throttle to stick. This will make it feel like new. :yesnod:
5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Elizabethtown IN
Re: Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning (eschoendorff)
Does anyone know the part number for the gasket under the "Tuned Port Injection" plate on top of the TB? I can't find a gasket description that makes sense on Autozone/NAPA/Advanced websites.....
What kind of passage is behind this plate? Is it water, exhaust, or vacuum?
What kind of passage is behind this plate? Is it water, exhaust, or vacuum?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,727
Likes: 711
From: Bergen County, NJ
Re: Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning (jjharris11)
Ecklers sell a throttle body kit Part# 37897 .
Take an allen wrench & unscrew it & see what's under there [nothing], there are no surprises hiding under the Plate.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,625
Likes: 4
From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
Re: Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning (jjharris11)
Does anyone know the part number for the gasket under the "Tuned Port Injection" plate on top of the TB? I can't find a gasket description that makes sense on Autozone/NAPA/Advanced websites.....
What kind of passage is behind this plate? Is it water, exhaust, or vacuum?
What kind of passage is behind this plate? Is it water, exhaust, or vacuum?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Shrewsbury MA
Re: Throttle Body On-Car Cleaning (eschoendorff)
Just cleaned my TB tonight. There are no surprises under the plate. However the breather tube from the right side rocker cover connects to the TB and under the plate is where the oil vapor ends up to be introduced to the combustion process.
I bought a gasket kit from the dealer which had that plate gasket and the underside water passage gasket, Had to buy the plenium mounting gasket separate. They were not cheap, $27 for the 3. But the TB is shiney clean. :hurray:
I bought a gasket kit from the dealer which had that plate gasket and the underside water passage gasket, Had to buy the plenium mounting gasket separate. They were not cheap, $27 for the 3. But the TB is shiney clean. :hurray:
