My 09 HL w/ 160k mi's idles, and runs fine. Also, it gets great gas mileage. I really don't like to mess with things unless there's a problem. What's the danger if I never clean the throttle body?
maberma
2008 Limited V6 AWD 177k miles, 2nd owner.
mab,
What's the danger if I never clean the throttle body? Generally nothing.
I suppose if it gets gummed up over time the throttle plate may stick a little giving you inconsistent idle. It's just an electrically actuated butterfly valve. You can clean it without removing it.
There are all sorts of TB spray cleaners on the market. A little nylon bristle bottle brush with a long handle works well to loosen the carbonny goo, followed by a wipe with a clean cloth. It will take you about 30 minutes to do it right.
I use a wood paint paddle (stirrer) to prop the butterfly open during cleaning.
Check the YouTube for tips, I think the Car Care Nut (CCN) has a good vid or two on TB cleaning. Not that tuff really.
Good luck and all the best, Hayabusafalcon.
mab,
What's the danger if I never clean the throttle body? Generally nothing.
I suppose if it gets gummed up over time the throttle plate may stick a little giving you inconsistent idle. It's just an electrically actuated butterfly valve. You can clean it without removing it.
There are all sorts of TB spray cleaners on the market. A little nylon bristle bottle brush with a long handle works well to loosen the carbonny goo, followed by a wipe with a clean cloth. It will take you about 30 minutes to do it right.
I use a wood paint paddle (stirrer) to prop the butterfly open during cleaning.
Check the YouTube for tips, I think the Car Care Nut (CCN) has a good vid or two on TB cleaning. Not that tuff really.
Good luck and all the best, Hayabusafalcon.
Some vehicles are more prone to needing this. Many like the 3,5 V6 rarely if ever need attention
I don't have any issues either with my '12, but just cleaned mine for the first time @ 131k miles using TCCN's video as mentioned. No problem whatsoever afterwards.
Here is Luc's write up posted in another string. You probably saw it but as time goes on and this post gets referenced in the future by others, it is a good post to see. Way to go Luc!
Haya....
www.toyotanation.com
Haya....
Throttle Body Cleaning (2GR-FE)
There are =1&c[nodes][0]=122&o=relevance']posts/threads about throttle body cleaning and figured it's time to clean mine out at ~131k, using TCCN's video as a guide. I don't have any issues with the vehicle, but seemed like an easy enough task to do in about 30 minutes. Took a few pictures...
www.toyotanation.com
just to follow up with this, some vehicles are different.
if you have a nissan sentra and you clean the TB, get ready to follow that up with a lengthy "throttle re-learn procedure".
it appears the HL is different and no such procedure is needed. but it might not be the same on other vehicles...
if you have a nissan sentra and you clean the TB, get ready to follow that up with a lengthy "throttle re-learn procedure".
it appears the HL is different and no such procedure is needed. but it might not be the same on other vehicles...
I wouldn't get too carried away with it if you're going to clean it. Be sure you can disconnect the boot etc with easily without breaking plastic items. Older vehicle they maybe brittle.
One thing I tell my friends when using any spray aerosol can with the plastic straw. ALWAYS tape around the straw and to the can body!!
9 times out of 10 the straw will torpedo into the cavity, be it the throttle body, body panel (using rust spray), carb etc. You lost it but in this case you don't want it inside the engine. When I've done that cleaning I just spray around the plate and body opening with a clean cotton cloth wrapped around screw driver or whatever works to wipe the dark brown build up away as well as the plate if dirty. Some squirts to flush some away repeating until the area the plate closes on is clean as possible. Paper towel thats thick works but don't tear it while in there. You don't want it going in either. Never the less don't loose the straw inside whenever using any spray. It happens a lot.
One thing I tell my friends when using any spray aerosol can with the plastic straw. ALWAYS tape around the straw and to the can body!!
9 times out of 10 the straw will torpedo into the cavity, be it the throttle body, body panel (using rust spray), carb etc. You lost it but in this case you don't want it inside the engine. When I've done that cleaning I just spray around the plate and body opening with a clean cotton cloth wrapped around screw driver or whatever works to wipe the dark brown build up away as well as the plate if dirty. Some squirts to flush some away repeating until the area the plate closes on is clean as possible. Paper towel thats thick works but don't tear it while in there. You don't want it going in either. Never the less don't loose the straw inside whenever using any spray. It happens a lot.
I just did this to my 2012 HL Limited after watching The Car Care Nut's YouTube video on the subject. Anyone who owns a Toyota should watch his video's, they are so informative and the guy is a straight shooter - tells it like it is - good or bad. Toyota throttle body cleaning
Be careful to open / close the butterfly slowly so as not to break something in the motor / gears of the actuator. At 104k miles, the carbon build up on the throttle body bore was negligible. The edge of the butterfly valve was totally covered with carbon, not too thick but was able to totally get it back to shiny metal. I used an old T-shirt cotton fabric and small childs toothbrush sprayed with CRC throttle body cleaner. The back side of the butterfly was also carbon coated.
Observations after cleaning: Before idle rpm's were 725 with warm engine. After the cleaning, warm idle rpm's was 1100 showing that the butterfly was allowing in more air now than before validating removal of the carbon build up. It took about 7-10 days and 15 start-stop cycles for the idle rpm's to relearn the new idle air setting and went back to the original 725 rpm. I don't really expect to see any mpg improvement and not clear if this does any performance gain but having something clean and back to original new surface can't be a bad thing.
Be careful to open / close the butterfly slowly so as not to break something in the motor / gears of the actuator. At 104k miles, the carbon build up on the throttle body bore was negligible. The edge of the butterfly valve was totally covered with carbon, not too thick but was able to totally get it back to shiny metal. I used an old T-shirt cotton fabric and small childs toothbrush sprayed with CRC throttle body cleaner. The back side of the butterfly was also carbon coated.
Observations after cleaning: Before idle rpm's were 725 with warm engine. After the cleaning, warm idle rpm's was 1100 showing that the butterfly was allowing in more air now than before validating removal of the carbon build up. It took about 7-10 days and 15 start-stop cycles for the idle rpm's to relearn the new idle air setting and went back to the original 725 rpm. I don't really expect to see any mpg improvement and not clear if this does any performance gain but having something clean and back to original new surface can't be a bad thing.
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