How do I go about cleaning the throttle body in a 2001 3800 Series II 3.8 liter (GM) engine? I'm clueless.
Throttle Body Cleaning Procedure ?
- Thread starter serious II.5
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take the air cleaner hat off. then take the tube going to the TB off. now you have 2 options here.
1 you can just spray the tb with the butter fly open and wipe with a lint free cloth.
2 you can take the tb off. this intels taking off the TPS (TPS and what other sensors yo uhave on the vehicle) also any vacum hoses that might be on the TB.
now my dakota 4.7 is easy to do. as its on top and 4 bolts I think. one hose and a TPS and a IAC.
you can really clean a TB good if yo utake it off. I have the 3100 series motor in my wifes malibu which looks basically the same. as my moms grand am has the 3800. I havent removed hers yet as it seems to have more junk on it than my 4.7 V8.
so those are your 2 options. just make sure you use TB cleaner and not carb cleaner as I have heard they can really mess up sensore on the TB.
by brother in law works at a toyo dealership and gives me the left over cleaner from the vehicles they clean the TB. so I have a big supply of TB cleaner. amazing you can have 3/4 of a can left over. amazing what yo upay for and how lil they use lol.
1 you can just spray the tb with the butter fly open and wipe with a lint free cloth.
2 you can take the tb off. this intels taking off the TPS (TPS and what other sensors yo uhave on the vehicle) also any vacum hoses that might be on the TB.
now my dakota 4.7 is easy to do. as its on top and 4 bolts I think. one hose and a TPS and a IAC.
you can really clean a TB good if yo utake it off. I have the 3100 series motor in my wifes malibu which looks basically the same. as my moms grand am has the 3800. I havent removed hers yet as it seems to have more junk on it than my 4.7 V8.
so those are your 2 options. just make sure you use TB cleaner and not carb cleaner as I have heard they can really mess up sensore on the TB.
by brother in law works at a toyo dealership and gives me the left over cleaner from the vehicles they clean the TB. so I have a big supply of TB cleaner. amazing you can have 3/4 of a can left over. amazing what yo upay for and how lil they use lol.
I take it you're concerned about the screen covering the intake side of the TB, correct? If you look closely, there's a ring that can be removed to take that screen out. Use something with pointed end to take the ring out using the small hole near the point where the ring splits, then carefully remove the screen. You can then hit it with TB cleaner. Don't leave the screen out, though. It's purpose is to straighten the airflow over the MAF sensor. Those who have removed it report no real HP gain, but they do notice rough idle and MPG losses.
BTW, I hope this would be obvious, but be very careful of the MAF sensor when doing this. You don't want to break it.
BTW, I hope this would be obvious, but be very careful of the MAF sensor when doing this. You don't want to break it.
You are right: I was puzzled about the screen and what to do with it. I will make sure that I use TB cleaner and not carb cleaner.
Is there anything else I need to do besides hitting ith TB with TB cleaner? (Like wiping off residue?). If I am onlt spraying the TB then replacing the screen, then where does the dirt from the TB go?
Is there anything else I need to do besides hitting ith TB with TB cleaner? (Like wiping off residue?). If I am onlt spraying the TB then replacing the screen, then where does the dirt from the TB go?
Seafoam Deep Creep in the spray can works really well for this type of procedure.
I didn't know there was a cleaner specific to TBs. As someone said, you learn something new every day, if you're not careful.
Thanks for the info, saved me from a potential mistake.
Thanks for the info, saved me from a potential mistake.
I cleaned the TB and IAC intake on my 96 Subaru today with RedLine SR-1 fuel system treatment (since it was the most suitable thing I had on hand). It worked very well. The TB had a little carbon on the back side but not too much. I used a spray head and sprayed a good amount of hot (sat the bottle in hot water first to thin it) SR-1 in there then brushed it gently with a soft nylon brush then sprayed some more to remove the residue. Cleaned it right up. Didn't have to remove the TB; just took off that big hose from the air cleaner to the TB. The SR-1 even melted off carbon up in the intake manifold (I could see by using a mirror). When I started it up, it smoked like crazy for a few minutes and the smoke was really really noxious but it ran really nice and smooth and the idle seems much better.
-Louis
-Louis
Some BITOG members will say, why bother cleaning the throttle body? The issue is with high-mileage engines: over time an oily residue will build up around the butterfly. This is essentially condensate from the PCV system and will cause the butterfly not to seat properly when closed, thereby causing a somewhat erratic idle as your idle air control system cycles in and out. The condensate acts as a light sludge. It seems to affect engines running synthetic as well as dino oil.
After about 60,000 miles on my Escort I began cleaning the throttle body on a regular basis, say about every 10,000-12,000 miles. (This car has 294,000 miles now on the original engine, and only the head has been off.) Along with the "proper" throttle body cleaner, I use a shop towel (blue lint-free paper towel) and an old toothbrush to clean around the butterfly as the butterfly does wear a shallow groove into the throttle body opening, and this groove fills with the residue. In fact, the toothbrush is the most important step. Watch it as some throttle body cleaners can attack the plastic handle on the toothbrush and cause the bristles to start coming out if exposed long enough.
This is an easy job. Mine became even easier after I installed an aftermarket air intake, which can be removed after loosening one clamp and one bolt. No need to pay some shop $100+ to clean your throttle body.
After about 60,000 miles on my Escort I began cleaning the throttle body on a regular basis, say about every 10,000-12,000 miles. (This car has 294,000 miles now on the original engine, and only the head has been off.) Along with the "proper" throttle body cleaner, I use a shop towel (blue lint-free paper towel) and an old toothbrush to clean around the butterfly as the butterfly does wear a shallow groove into the throttle body opening, and this groove fills with the residue. In fact, the toothbrush is the most important step. Watch it as some throttle body cleaners can attack the plastic handle on the toothbrush and cause the bristles to start coming out if exposed long enough.
This is an easy job. Mine became even easier after I installed an aftermarket air intake, which can be removed after loosening one clamp and one bolt. No need to pay some shop $100+ to clean your throttle body.
and how they clean your TB is to just spray the stuff down there and let it set. then start the vehicle up and run it a few sec. thats about all the cleaning they do.
I like to take my TB off because
1 its easy to do on a 4.7L V-8 dakota.
2 I have a lot of areas that I cant reach with it on.
3 I just love to tinker with my truck. one day I am going to break something major on it with my tinkering.
nothing wqrong with leaving it on and cleaning. I just find it easier to take it off to clean it real good. as my IAC gets really built up with carbon.
I like to take my TB off because
1 its easy to do on a 4.7L V-8 dakota.
2 I have a lot of areas that I cant reach with it on.
3 I just love to tinker with my truck. one day I am going to break something major on it with my tinkering.
nothing wqrong with leaving it on and cleaning. I just find it easier to take it off to clean it real good. as my IAC gets really built up with carbon.
On my 94 Nissan 2.4 I can't find a PCV valve. it looks to me the little foam in the air cleaner is the only way of cleaning the stuff from the breather. They did sell me a PCV valve however
so I guess I will try the throttle body cleaning next. The injectors will be the last thing if that doesn't help with the idle.
And also throttle bodies on turbocharged cars are going to have more oil sucked (pressurized too)in. I had about 1tsp of oil in the bypass idle boss attached to the throttle body in my '89 Volvo turbo.
Regular draining of the intercooler will help keep it from getting to the throttle body too.
Regular draining of the intercooler will help keep it from getting to the throttle body too.
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