Cleaning throttle bodies

dthem370 · 06-09-2012, 11:58 AM

Have any of you guys cleaned your throttle bodies? I noticed on the g37 forum people were cleaning their throttle bodies and experiencing real good results with engine idling. I'm thinking about cleaning mine out since I used to do it on all my other cars previously and did notice positive results.

dthem370 · 06-09-2012, 12:00 PM

here is link to the DIY

DIY Clean your Throttle Bodies - MyG37

dthem370 · 06-11-2012, 07:10 PM

anyone?

Phaddi_inc · 06-12-2012, 12:26 AM

im thinking about doing this, may give it a go this weekend.

dthem370 · 06-12-2012, 07:42 PM

I will clean mine out on Friday and report back if anyone is interested.

spearfish25 · 06-12-2012, 10:29 PM

I wouldn't mind hearing how it goes, how dirty they are, etc. Report back!

Trips · 06-12-2012, 10:39 PM

Just curious but couldn't you just clean them without having to take them out?

Thats how I've done it on other cars

dthem370 · 06-13-2012, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

I wouldn't mind hearing how it goes, how dirty they are, etc. Report back!

I will snap some pics and posted them up with my mileage.

dthem370 · 06-13-2012, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple's

Just curious but couldn't you just clean them without having to take them out?

Thats how I've done it on other cars

Yea thats how i did it too with my previous cars but i think because the intake manifold on the Z is plastic, the throttle body spray might mess it up. Just an idea not sure though.

dthem370 · 06-16-2012, 02:12 PM

Just cleaned the throttle bodies out at 19,000 miles and you can see there was a lot of gunk and dirt on them. The backside was dirtier and took some scrubbing to get clean. There was also dirt particles in the intake manifold and I wiped all that clean with just a dry microfiber. I posted a pic of the microfiber towel I used so you guys can get a better idea of all the dirt that came out of them. The backside of the microfiber has an equal amount of grime too. I did notice that car idles smoother and the revs don't bounce as much when I come to a stop.

JAYNO20 · 06-19-2013, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dthem370

Just cleaned the throttle bodies out at 19,000 miles and you can see there was a lot of gunk and dirt on them. The backside was dirtier and took some scrubbing to get clean. There was also dirt particles in the intake manifold and I wiped all that clean with just a dry microfiber. I posted a pic of the microfiber towel I used so you guys can get a better idea of all the dirt that came out of them. The backside of the microfiber has an equal amount of grime too. I did notice that car idles smoother and the revs don't bounce as much when I come to a stop.

Hate to bump a thread that's a year old, but I can't find an answer as to whether its ok to take the TB's off the car when cleaning them or not. A lot of the info I can find is from the G35/37 group and some of them have issues with the idle after messing with the TB's.

For those of you who took the throttle bodies completely off the car to clean them (best way to do so imo) were there any issues afterwards?

SouthArk370Z · 06-19-2013, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAYNO20

Hate to bump a thread that's a year old, but I can't find an answer as to whether its ok to take the TB's off the car when cleaning them or not. A lot of the info I can find is from the G35/37 group and some of them have issues with the idle after messing with the TB's.

For those of you who took the throttle bodies completely off the car to clean them (best way to do so imo) were there any issues afterwards?

I haven't done it but, as long as you don't mess up the electrical parts, I don't see how it could cause a problem. You will have to recalibrate the ECU/TBs but that appears to be a straightforward process. YMMV
I'm guessing that those with problems either did something to the electrical parts or their TBs were dirty enough that the engine had to do some re-learning after cleaning.

I'm with you on cleaning with the TBs removed. If they are dirty enough to need cleaning there is a risk of moving dirt into the manifold and engine. If I were cleaning them proactively (eg, every thousand miles), I would probably do it with the TBs installed.

JAYNO20 · 06-19-2013, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

I haven't done it but, as long as you don't mess up the electrical parts, I don't see how it could cause a problem. You will have to recalibrate the ECU/TBs but that appears to be a straightforward process. YMMV
I'm guessing that those with problems either did something to the electrical parts or their TBs were dirty enough that the engine had to do some re-learning after cleaning.

I'm with you on cleaning with the TBs removed. If they are dirty enough to need cleaning there is a risk of moving dirt into the manifold and engine. If I were cleaning them proactively (eg, every thousand miles), I would probably do it with the TBs installed.

How exactly do you recalibrate the ecu/TBs?

wstar · 06-19-2013, 11:58 PM

Cleaning them is good maintenance. You can clean them while they're on the car, you just won't get the inside/rear bit quite as clean as you would off the car. Running a catch can helps with reducing the fouling on the back side as well. I've had mine off several times (and more than that). Removing and reinstalling them correctly doesn't hurt anything.

There's some basic "recalibration" stuff in the SM. Mostly you do these things after resetting the ECU, but it can't hurt after making intake/exhaust changes or cleaning out the TBs and cleaning the MAFs with MAF cleaner. It's all documented in Service Manual, section EC, around pages 18-20. Accel Pedal Release Position Learning, then Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning, and then Idle Air Volume Learning. If you use OBD-II stuff for a codescanner or Torque, etc, be sure to disconnect the OBD-II plug before you do these procedures or it will block them from working.

JAYNO20 · 06-20-2013, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

Cleaning them is good maintenance. You can clean them while they're on the car, you just won't get the inside/rear bit quite as clean as you would off the car. Running a catch can helps with reducing the fouling on the back side as well. I've had mine off several times (and more than that). Removing and reinstalling them correctly doesn't hurt anything.

There's some basic "recalibration" stuff in the SM. Mostly you do these things after resetting the ECU, but it can't hurt after making intake/exhaust changes or cleaning out the TBs and cleaning the MAFs with MAF cleaner. It's all documented in Service Manual, section EC, around pages 18-20. Accel Pedal Release Position Learning, then Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning, and then Idle Air Volume Learning. If you use OBD-II stuff for a codescanner or Torque, etc, be sure to disconnect the OBD-II plug before you do these procedures or it will block them from working.

good info. Thanks!

06-09-2012, 11:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
dthem370 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 163 Drives: Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 16	Cleaning throttle bodies Have any of you guys cleaned your throttle bodies? I noticed on the g37 forum people were cleaning their throttle bodies and experiencing real good results with engine idling. I'm thinking about cleaning mine out since I used to do it on all my other cars previously and did notice positive results.

06-12-2012, 10:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	I wouldn't mind hearing how it goes, how dirty they are, etc. Report back! __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

06-12-2012, 10:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,732 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	Just curious but couldn't you just clean them without having to take them out? Thats how I've done it on other cars Baer383 likes this. __________________

06-19-2013, 11:58 PM	#14 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	Cleaning them is good maintenance. You can clean them while they're on the car, you just won't get the inside/rear bit quite as clean as you would off the car. Running a catch can helps with reducing the fouling on the back side as well. I've had mine off several times (and more than that). Removing and reinstalling them correctly doesn't hurt anything. There's some basic "recalibration" stuff in the SM. Mostly you do these things after resetting the ECU, but it can't hurt after making intake/exhaust changes or cleaning out the TBs and cleaning the MAFs with MAF cleaner. It's all documented in Service Manual, section EC, around pages 18-20. Accel Pedal Release Position Learning, then Throttle Valve Closed Position Learning, and then Idle Air Volume Learning. If you use OBD-II stuff for a codescanner or Torque, etc, be sure to disconnect the OBD-II plug before you do these procedures or it will block them from working. didymus, SouthArk370Z, Mandingo and 1 others like this. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details Last edited by wstar; 06-20-2013 at 12:00 AM.

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06-09-2012, 12:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
dthem370 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 163 Drives: Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 16	here is link to the DIY DIY Clean your Throttle Bodies - MyG37

06-11-2012, 07:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
dthem370 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 163 Drives: Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 16	anyone?

06-12-2012, 12:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Phaddi_inc Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 111 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z 6spd Rep Power: 14	im thinking about doing this, may give it a go this weekend.

06-12-2012, 07:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
dthem370 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 163 Drives: Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 16	I will clean mine out on Friday and report back if anyone is interested.