06-10-2015, 10:20 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
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Does cleaning the throttle body help mileage?
I am running a Gep prizm '95 with 1.6 L fuel injected. I am wondering if cleaning the throttle body really helps mileage as it is only air flowing through? I am not talking about the TB being so dirty that the throttle sticks or anything like that. Just removing the layer of carbon about every 30,000 miles. Obviously FI cleaner through the tank does not get this carbon out as it goes a different route.
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06-10-2015, 12:24 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Not bad for a machine
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well it cant hurt
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06-10-2015, 12:32 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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I'd say no. Cleaning the throttle body is more about maintenance than mileage. Unless its seriously clogged to the point you'd have many other problems, its not going to effect mileage.
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06-10-2015, 04:10 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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Wouldn't you want to keep it clean anyway? I don't know if it would help FE, but it just seems like it would be something you'd want to do to help maintain the car...
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06-10-2015, 04:13 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Besides a diesel, I've never seen them dirty enough to really care too much. Where an EGR port enters the intake, I'd clean that. But, that is always after the throttle body.
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08-08-2015, 03:51 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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if you do use these cleaners, do it a tankful before the oil change. Then afterwards flush the crankcase, change the oil, and clean the spark-plugs. Because carbon and other crap that gets cleaned will be deposited into the engine.
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07-09-2017, 02:46 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
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Yes it can help
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mcgiiver
I am running a Gep prizm '95 with 1.6 L fuel injected. I am wondering if cleaning the throttle body really helps mileage as it is only air flowing through? I am not talking about the TB being so dirty that the throttle sticks or anything like that. Just removing the layer of carbon about every 30,000 miles. Obviously FI cleaner through the tank does not get this carbon out as it goes a different route.
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If your Throttle body has metering ports that are clogged bad enough it can throw some really weird codes. Clean them with some spray cleaner just like you did with a Carb. With your computer receiving the proper signals to run the power-train, it may or may not get better gas mileage. But for the cost involved and possibly cleaner air to breath I do it every time that I clean my re-usable Air Filter.
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07-10-2017, 11:54 AM
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#8 (permalink)
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Focused on MPG
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This might help, definitely can't hurt:
https://youtu.be/agAWXnT4-EQ
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Staying Focus'd on MPG
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07-11-2017, 09:45 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Spaced out...
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I prefer to remove my TB and clean it on a bench. I'm not a fan of cleaning a part and introducing that filth to the intake and engine. My old Saturn would always stick when closed, after I cleaned it it was completely smoothe. Didn't help mileage that I could notice but was more responsive to a small change in pedal position. The EGR on the other hand was so clogged that I could pull the valve and the vacuum leak was only enough to rev the engine up to 2500rpm. Tried to clean the passage but multiple chemicals and flexible poking sticks did nothing to help.
I still need to clean the TB on my Focus and have yet to even consider checking EGR functionality lol.
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2007 Ford Focus ZX5 - 91k - SGII, pending upper and lower grill bocks - auto trans 
1987 Monte Carlo SS - 5.3/4L80E swap - 13.67 @ 106
2007 Ford Focus Estate - 230k - 33mpg - Retired 4/2018
1995 Saturn SL2 - 256K miles - 44mpg - Retired 9/2014
Cost to Operate Spreadsheet for "The New Focus"
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07-31-2017, 02:34 AM
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#10 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
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in a word no
according to tests conducted by EPA and by IATn
up to a 50% reduction in flow through the air filter causes exactly
zero decrease
in fuel economy at cruise
so an unmeasureable decrease in flow from a carboned up Tbody will have no measurable effect on anything
you may set a fault for IAC unable to maintain correct RPM
however
reduction in EGR flow will decrease FE at cruise
so it pays to spend some time on the EGR plumbing
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