Havne't done it in so long, I forgot which way is best. Remove the entire throttle body and soak or spray carb cleaner down it's throat? From what I've seen, many advise against cleaning while the engine is running since the tar/buildup gets injested.
90Q, 210K... Smooth idle, no issues but it's time for some PM. Spark plug change also on the agenda as these have over 100K on them.
...Drew...
Throttle body cleaning
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92Q45guy
- Posts: 195
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:34 am
- Car: 92 Q45 93,000 miles / chain guides / transmission cooler / synthetic fluids / lots of love!
Re: Throttle body cleaning (DrewQ45)
I think it would be best to remove the TB. I'm going to do it soon.
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goody90q45
- Posts: 3679
- Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2005 2:07 pm
- Car: 1992 Infiniti Q45 (sold)
- Location: Orangevale, CA
Re: Throttle body cleaning (DrewQ45)
Taking the TB off is pretty easy and then you can do a real cleaning. Q45.org has DIY instructions in the Tech Help section for the TB removal. If you want to do it today you'll have to cut your own TB gasket unless you've thought ahead and got an OEM one. Be careful with the 4 hoses attached to the backside of the TB. If they're brittle or you break one you're probably in for an unplanned plenum loosening to repair it. Do not turn any of the adjustment screws on the TB during this process.
Once you have the TB in hand use a couple of cans of carb/TB cleaner and go to it. Clean all 4 ports where the 4 hoses attach and the butterfly and port walls from both sides. Careful with the TPS not to get it too wet with the cleaner. When you're done clean up the prongs on the two connectors and put it all back together.
I'm sure you already know most of this but you gave the thread a good title so it will be read in future searches. Good luck.
Once you have the TB in hand use a couple of cans of carb/TB cleaner and go to it. Clean all 4 ports where the 4 hoses attach and the butterfly and port walls from both sides. Careful with the TPS not to get it too wet with the cleaner. When you're done clean up the prongs on the two connectors and put it all back together.
I'm sure you already know most of this but you gave the thread a good title so it will be read in future searches. Good luck.
Re: Throttle body cleaning (goody94q45)
Sheeeeet! I think you just made up my mind for me!goody94q45 wrote:Be careful with the 4 hoses attached to the backside of the TB. If they're brittle or you break one you're probably in for an unplanned plenum loosening to repair it. Do not turn any of the adjustment screws on the TB during this process.
If I do take it off, I was planning on soaking in diesel fuel overnight.
Re: Throttle body cleaning (DrewQ45)
Kerosene or diesel fuel are excellent solvents, better than gasoline and a lot safer. But not sure if it will break down carbon deposits, or severe varnish. I suggest that after you do the diesel fuel overnight soak, you use a good TB or carb cleaner to get ALL of the deposits off of and out of the TB assembly.DrewQ45 wrote:
Sheeeeet! I think you just made up my mind for me!
If I do take it off, I was planning on soaking in diesel fuel overnight.
Be very careful using TB/carb cleaner. I took the skin off of my hands by soaking them in carb cleaner, the kind with a basket that parts are lowered into the cleaner. Nothing happened until I washed them off. The water acted as a catalyst and completely removed ALL of the oil from my skin, which promptly sloughed off and went down the drain like dissolved rubber gloves. A quick trip the the ER resulted in my hands being coated in some salve and wrapped in gauze. It took two weeks before I grew fresh skin.
The kind of cleaner that works well is vicious on skin. ER doc said I should have washed my hands in clean fresh motor oil to dilute and remove the cleaner before I washed them.DUH!!!
After that, I've been very careful with solvents.
Oh yeah, and be careful with brake cleaner too. If any splashes into your eye while spraying parts, you will become an instant break dance champion and world class contortionist.
Re: Throttle body cleaning (StarPD)
Yeah,
Solvents arent meant to touch your skin. They also get absorbed very quickly into your bloodstream. I have a box of surgical gloves for such occasions. If working with a chemical that damages the latex, I'll double up and change them as soon as a breach occurs.
Got into the habit when I used to work as a system analyst at a large pre-press typsetting shop in NYC. Had to be very careful when handling film and the large Kodak developers. There were large tanks of fixer and developer chemicals that I had to contend with. Cleaning all those rollers etc in a darkroom was no fun.
Solvents arent meant to touch your skin. They also get absorbed very quickly into your bloodstream. I have a box of surgical gloves for such occasions. If working with a chemical that damages the latex, I'll double up and change them as soon as a breach occurs.
Got into the habit when I used to work as a system analyst at a large pre-press typsetting shop in NYC. Had to be very careful when handling film and the large Kodak developers. There were large tanks of fixer and developer chemicals that I had to contend with. Cleaning all those rollers etc in a darkroom was no fun.
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konatown
- Posts: 357
- Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:12 am
- Car: 1994 Infiniti Q45t
2010 Genesis Coupe - Location: Indiana
Re: Throttle body cleaning (DrewQ45)
I really should have snapped before and after pics of my cleaning I did this evening.
Brown and tarry to shinny and happy! My idle increased ~75-100 RPM and is much less lumpy than before. Still need to replace the PS Pump pulley and belt.
But much better throttle response and idle from a simple, easy and cheap clean up.
Brown and tarry to shinny and happy! My idle increased ~75-100 RPM and is much less lumpy than before. Still need to replace the PS Pump pulley and belt.
But much better throttle response and idle from a simple, easy and cheap clean up.
