Throttle body cleaning at 15,000 miles?
10-04-2017, 07:34 AM
#1
Drifting
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Throttle body cleaning at 15,000 miles?
Hi
brought my 2015 Stingray in for the final oil change before going to sleep for the long Winter and was advised to have the throttle body cleaned. Is this correct or a dealer money making scam?
thanks. Steve
brought my 2015 Stingray in for the final oil change before going to sleep for the long Winter and was advised to have the throttle body cleaned. Is this correct or a dealer money making scam?
thanks. Steve
10-04-2017, 08:04 AM
#2
Safety Car
Pay attention to post #9. Consensus is this is a money maker for the dealer. I just had my oil changed with 14K on my '16 at my dealer (2nd largest Chevy dealer in PA) and there was no mention of this. Unless you are having issues I would not get it done.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ce-needed.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ce-needed.html
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10-04-2017, 10:18 AM
#5
Racer
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Used 2014 here, original owner had 8k on it. First thing I did was put a ported TB on. The stocker was fine. Last month I just hit 16k and me being me cleaned out the entire air intake up to the throttle body. The throttle body had a light film on it but nothing that would require a "professional".
It's a money grab and honestly not that hard to do yourself if you are worried about it.
It's a money grab and honestly not that hard to do yourself if you are worried about it.
10-04-2017, 11:12 AM
#6
If the manufacturer doesn't say to do it, I don't do it. They designed and built the car and if there would be a problem, they're the ones on the line for it. Anything else is just the service center trying to make a bit more commission. Don't let them take your engine apart for no reason.
10-04-2017, 05:28 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
The owner's manual does not list throttle body cleaning so I think it's a scam.
The only time I would have it done is if the oil got overfilled and oil was sucked in through the throttle body.
The only time I would have it done is if the oil got overfilled and oil was sucked in through the throttle body.
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ptran00 (09-09-2020)
10-04-2017, 05:33 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
Good idea? Bad idea? You won't know until you get to it. There's nothing to it though. If you own a screwdriver, you're half way there. Loosen the clamp, remove the rubber air tube and look. If you see a problem, it's 4 10mil bolts holding your TB on. In 15 mins, you can have the entire job done without wondering if after paying the dealer, they even actually did anything to it. If you want a guaranteed clean one, my OEM 2016 one is sitting in the basement. yours for a reasonable price. I swapped to a Katech one.
Last edited by LT4CMG; 10-04-2017 at 05:35 PM.
10-04-2017, 08:23 PM
#9
Race Director
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Heard it all before. THAT goes with "protective coatings" and magic gas-filled tires! Just say no.
10-04-2017, 08:40 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
Mine has never been cleaned in 53,000 miles (I have almost 700,000 miles in Corvettes over the years).... in fairness, I do run a bottle of Techron through it once every few months.... my driving is 90% highway miles... even though the car is a DD.
10-04-2017, 08:41 PM
#11
Safety Car
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Throttle body cleaning is not bogus. I had that problem on my Acura about every 15,000 miles. (Put 150K on it) But you ought to be able to FEEL it before you have it done. I could feel the thing was dirty and complained, and that was the fix. But if you cannot feel it, denoted by basically a sticky throttle, there's no need to do it.
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roadbike56 (10-05-2017)
10-04-2017, 09:09 PM
#12
Le Mans Master
Curious as to what they charge for this service. TBs do get “oily.” It’s very easy to access, and even easier to clean. Certainly worth the effort to do it yourself if you feel that the cost is too high.
10-05-2017, 07:54 AM
#14
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
As others have said, don't try to fix what isn't broken .......... Jmho
10-05-2017, 09:33 AM
#15
Team Owner
Also have the dealer grease the muffler bearings while he's cleaning the TB. You can never be over careful, as the Corvette it such a delicate little flower.
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JerryU (10-05-2017)
10-05-2017, 11:37 AM
#16
Team Owner
Throttle body cleaning is not bogus. I had that problem on my Acura about every 15,000 miles. (Put 150K on it) But you ought to be able to FEEL it before you have it done. I could feel the thing was dirty and complained, and that was the fix. But if you cannot feel it, denoted by basically a sticky throttle, there's no need to do it.
Funny that I have never had to clean the throttle body in any car I've had that had a throttle body. Maybe because I change out the air filter element as normal maintenance.
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joemessman (12-12-2017)
10-06-2017, 07:21 PM
#19
Total scam - all the dealers do it anymore for lots of stuff, just not throttle bodies. It is a tax on people who don't know squat about their cars.
I hear them in dealerships agreeing to total BS services and want to scream. YOU ARE GETTING SCREWED, and not kissed I might add although there usually is a bit of sweet talk.
