Throttle Body Service-What Is It and Is it Required?

Maintaining your car is a regular task that includes anything from changing the oil to replacing spark plugs. One important task is neglected is the throttle body maintenance. While it’s important to perform periodically, few people actually follow through until there’s a problem.

We will be discussing the main reasons why you should have regular throttle body maintenance. It is also discussed how frequently it should be done. At the end of our guide, we cover the basic steps to clean the car’s throttle body yourself.

What's Throttle Body Service?

Cleaning the throttle bore and blade is part of throttle body maintenance. The throttle controls the airflow and can cause acceleration or loss of power. The engine will run cleaner and smoother after cleaning. 

The majority of people opt to do the throttle body clean in their own garage. There are special products designed for this task, so visiting a professional shop is only needed if you aren’t sure what to do.

When should I get throttle body service?

Some people recommend having the throttle body serviced every 75,000 miles, although most manufacturers don’t set a recommended interval. Instead, it’s important to consider the service any time you notice any symptoms that the throttle body is dirty.

Any grime buildup will be revealed by a physical inspection. As the throttle body gets contaminated you will also see performance issues. Your idle may become more rough or higher. It may be difficult to get the car moving. When the motor doesn’t run right, the Check Engine Light could come on and you could also notice decreased fuel economy numbers. 

Throttle Body Service: Is it necessary?

The throttle body service should not be necessary if the car runs well. There are many benefits to cleaning the throttle body. In your vehicle, there’s an air intake system. The air intake system pulls in the ambient air and brings it into the combustion chamber. The air that’s pulled in gets mixed with fuel to ensure an appropriate balance for combustion.

It controls how much fuel is added by the throttle body. If the throttle body becomes contaminated or dirty by carbon deposits, the right amount of air won’t be added, leading to an imbalance of the air-fuel ratio. The engine could become rougher and cost you more fuel. 

Because it’s not difficult to clean the throttle body, it makes sense to add it to your regular maintenance plan. You can even clean the throttle body yourself using the correct products.

RELATED: 8 Symptoms of a Bad Throttle Body (& Replacement Cost)

How to clean the throttle body

These are just a few of the steps to cleaning your throttle body at-home. You can find the complete guide at: How to Clean Throttle Body (10 Steps DIY).

1. Prepare Materials

You must choose the best products before you begin cleaning your throttle body. You can find a variety of throttle-body cleaners online, so you should always read through the customer reviews to determine what’s best.

You should also have some protection gear. Eye protection and gloves are recommended. It’s also helpful to wear clothing that covers your body as the products can irritate your skin. 

Be sure to park the car on level ground before moving on. Products are highly flammable so you want to park your vehicle outside. It is important to work in daylight if possible. 

CRC 02078 Throttle Body & Air-Intake

• You can remove the varnish and gum at the throttle.
• To make your engine more efficient and easier to start,
• Cleans the air intakes and throttle valves
• Use with coated throttle bodies

2. Locate the Throttle Body

It is found between the intake manifold (air cleaner) and the throttle body. It's usually made out of aluminum or other metal. 

You can ask your friend to press down on the accelerator and turn off the motor if you have trouble finding it. The throttle body is connected to the pedal via a direct connection. This will allow you to see movement in the shaft and help identify the problem. 

3. Removing the Air Duct

Before you do anything else, take off the battery’s ground terminal to ensure safety. Also, you will need to take out the electrical wires and hoses attached to your throttle body. However you should label these so that you can identify where they are.

Next, remove the air conduit. You will need a Phillips/Torx screwdriver to take out the clamp that is often attached to the air duct. Don’t take off any wires that are connected. 

If you aren’t able to remove the air ducts, you should stop. It’s best to have a professional perform the cleaning in these circumstances. 

4. Spray Cleaner

You are now ready to spray the cleaner in the throttle body's air duct. A brush can be used to remove any dirt or deposits. Use some paper towels to clean up the surface. 

If it’s hard to see inside, use a flashlight. It’s also helpful to have a cotton swab, which will get into tight places. The cotton swab can be used to apply the cleaner. You can spill cleaner on the cotton swab. Wipe it off with paper towels.

5. It is possible to assemble the vehicle

Once the throttle body is clean, it’s time to put everything back together. Connect all ducts you have previously taken out. To ensure security, you must tighten all clamps.

Take out all your equipment and clean it up before you reconnect the car battery. Make sure to properly dispose of safety equipment and paper towels. After you are done, start your vehicle. You might find that it doesn't start immediately.

6. Test Drive

It’s important to give the car time to warm up. It’s recommended to let the engine idle for about five minutes before taking a test drive.

You should notice some improvements in the engine's performance during the test drive. There’s also the chance that you won’t notice anything at all, especially if you performed regular maintenance just to stay on top of the grime and dirt buildup. The condition of the throttle body will also play a role.