Cleaning throttle body?

Richard53

I'd go for carb cleaner first, with WD-40 as an acceptable substitute if the carb cleaner can was empty. WD-40 is combustible and will get burnt in the cylinder, so shouldn't have any effect on the cat.

Problem with WD-40 is that it is a bit of a hybrid. It is a solvent, but not a clean one (leaves an oily residue), and it is a lubricant, but not a good one (evaporates quickly, not durable). But as an all-purpose fixer-upper it can't be beaten. I wouldn't be without it. Brilliant for motorcycle cables, as long as it is refreshed regularly, and cleaning wheels, as it shifts the crud and leaves a water-repellent film. Plus it smells fantastic. I could use it as aftershave.

mrmechanic

AdrianC wrote: »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40
"The long-term active ingredient is a non-volatile, viscous oil which remains on the surface, providing lubrication and protection from moisture. This is diluted with a volatile hydrocarbon to give a low viscosity fluid which can be sprayed and thus penetrate crevices. The volatile hydrocarbon then evaporates, leaving the oil behind"



Water Dispersant...

And lubricant.

attila_

Strider590 wrote: »

When I say that, I do not say it lightly...... WD40 gets used for all the wrong things, it's a solvent, a degreaser, not a lubricant.

We're not actually talking about carbs anyway, we're talking about throttle bodies and ICV's, the penetrating properties of WD40 are what we need to get in there and remove any gunk/corrosion.

Some even use it for aches and pains. I'm not even kidding...google it.

bigjl

There is a product call 10k Boost that you spray into the inlet and that is very effective at cleaning the intake side.

Anything you put in the tank or fill the filter with when changing it is purely to clean the injectors and valves mainly.

Throttle body is to do with air intake

I wouldn't advise using wd40 though. Either find 10k Boost or any similar aerosal type carb or throttle body cleaner.

C_Mababejive

Surely this car will not have a carb. It will simply have a butterfly valve on the air intake with a potentiometer affixed to the operating shaft to feed angular info to the engine management unit..

Stoke

Strider590 wrote: »

Open the bonnet, remove the air intake from the throttle body, spray the butterfly valve with WD40 (take extreme care not to drop anything in there) and reassemble.

Shoving stuff in the fuel tank is utterly pointless. It has a better chance of dislodging something in the fuel line and then blocking a fuel injector, than it has of fixing anything.

BUT, your issue sounds like the idle control valve, WHICH is different but easier to clean...... Remove it from the car, clean with a WD40 soaked rag.
I think Ford use the term Idle Intake Control or IAC.

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_5326163_clean-ford-focus-iac-valve.html

WD40 what the !!!!?

Carb Cleaner, seriously!

silkyuk9

Car has been to garage and had carb cleaned out with carb cleaner, its no different however. So do you now think its the idle control valve??

kaya

Strider590 wrote: »

When I say that, I do not say it lightly...... WD40 gets used for all the wrong things, it's a solvent, a degreaser, not a lubricant.

We're not actually talking about carbs anyway, we're talking about throttle bodies and ICV's, the penetrating properties of WD40 are what we need to get in there and remove any gunk/corrosion.

100% correct! keep lubricating your kids bicycle chain with WD 40 and see how rusty it gets over time, it is not a lubricant contrary to popular belief , the WD stands for water dispersant and the 40 is because it was the 40th attempt at making it , carb cleaner will dissolve all the built up carbon and remove any lubrication that is on he moving parts as well , plus as pointed out already this is a throttle body and not a carb