Clean your throttle body !

[teeerex]

Hi,

Just passing on some info that's been covered before in this site but for me it's made a huge difference to drive quality.

Whilst putting back my air box I decided to have a look in the throttle body so I removed the funnel and slowly lifted the butterfly valve - it was black and I mean black and as expected was covered in petrol.

I wiped / scrubbed all that I could get to with a cotton lint free cloth , and all the carbon came off very easily - I had no need for the carb cleaner but I expect this would have made it easier. I got right inside the body and cleaned the butterfly valve as well.

Anyway - once splotless, I put everything back, seated properly and air tight.

I noticed an immediate improvement on idle at startup. Drove down the drive and again noticed a significant improvement in smoothness and pickup. Ok that was with a cold engine. Once at normal temp, the whole car was so much smoother and low rev torque/pick up was soooo much better ...

Er... all this from cleaning the throttle body ? My car has done 54K miles and it looked like it had never been done - but if this is the improvement (dramatic in my opinion) then why is this not included on say a major service (the car had one at 48K miles).

So - in short, next time you replace your air filter, do the throttle body at the same time...

Cheers,

Richard.

[rattles]

I just did the same after replacing the battery. My car would stall each time I took my foot off the pedal, spoke to my Porsche mechanic [not a Porsche dealer] and he suggested to do that rather than waiting for the computer to reset. Worked perfectly and no problems since cleaning.

[toddel68]

I just did the same after replacing the battery. My car would stall each time I took my foot off the pedal, spoke to my Porsche mechanic [not a Porsche dealer] and he suggested to do that rather than waiting for the computer to reset. Worked perfectly and no problems since cleaning.

Hi Glenn or Richard,

is there a DIY or is it just pretty much self explanatory? Anyone took pics? I started to notice that my idle is a little rough lately. How much time would you estimate for the job?

Thorsten

Edited December 13, 2005 by toddel68

[teeerex]

I just did the same after replacing the battery. My car would stall each time I took my foot off the pedal, spoke to my Porsche mechanic [not a Porsche dealer] and he suggested to do that rather than waiting for the computer to reset. Worked perfectly and no problems since cleaning.

Hi Glenn or Richard,

is there a DIY or is it just pretty much self explanatory? Anyone took pics? I started to notice that my idle is a little rough lately. How much time would you estimate for the job?

Thorsten

Hi - would say 10-15 minutes at the most. You just need to remove the large black rubber snorkle going to the throttle body - loosen all 3 jubilee clips (use 7mm female hex socket if I recall) holding the snorkle (2 on the air box, 1 on the throttle) and pull it off. Depending on the year of car, you may have some other connections. Push the butterfly valve open SLOWLY (it's geared on egas models) and start cleaning. Use a lint free cloth so you don't get fluff in the chamber. When you've cleaned it all up (all round the inside of the metal body and valve too) then put it all back. You may find it easier to loosen the air box to get the snorkle back on (13mm bolt next to the boot lock if I recall) - sorry this is all from memory! Most important bit is to get the jubilee clips in the centre of the rubber channels and make sure they are like this all the way around - not just the bit you can see ! Suggest putting the air box end on first and then the throttle body.

Regards,

Richard.

[rattles]

I just did the same after replacing the battery. My car would stall each time I took my foot off the pedal, spoke to my Porsche mechanic [not a Porsche dealer] and he suggested to do that rather than waiting for the computer to reset. Worked perfectly and no problems since cleaning.

Hi Glenn or Richard,

is there a DIY or is it just pretty much self explanatory? Anyone took pics? I started to notice that my idle is a little rough lately. How much time would you estimate for the job?

Thorsten

The build up around the butterfly was difficult to remove on mine, like a black gum, I used some methylated spirit on the cloth, think you call it rubbing alcohol in the US, not sure about Germany.

[Loren]

Gumout is a brand name I use. It is basically lacquer thinner - just keep it off the paint.

[PorscheFan]

I think a throttle cleaning is definitely good to the performance. So, how long should I clean it? Once a year? or every time I do the air filter change? Will too much cleaning damage any seal by using carb cleaner?

Tech question: Should I clean it with engine off or running? Just spray the cleaner into the throttle or use a lint cloth to wipe the throttle? I have never done that before. :oops:

Thanks in advance.

[teeerex]

I think a throttle cleaning is definitely good to the performance. So, how long should I clean it? Once a year? or every time I do the air filter change? Will too much cleaning damage any seal by using carb cleaner?

Tech question: Should I clean it with engine off or running? Just spray the cleaner into the throttle or use a lint cloth to wipe the throttle? I have never done that before. :oops:

Thanks in advance.

:eek: Don't have the engine running or you'll suck the cloth into the engine ! Use both the spray and a cloth ...

[PorscheFan]

I think a throttle cleaning is definitely good to the performance. So, how long should I clean it? Once a year? or every time I do the air filter change? Will too much cleaning damage any seal by using carb cleaner?

Tech question: Should I clean it with engine off or running? Just spray the cleaner into the throttle or use a lint cloth to wipe the throttle? I have never done that before. :oops:

Thanks in advance.

:eek: Don't have the engine running or you'll suck the cloth into the engine ! Use both the spray and a cloth ...

Thanks :thumbup:

[wrljet]

I once discovered a red shop rag covering the cooling fins

inside a 911 SC motor. Evidently sucked into the cooling fan

at a shop at some point. Really cooked that cylinder.

Bill