Throttle Body Cooling
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Throttle Body Cooling
Im new to this Site! 1992 F150 5.8.Im rebuilding my 5.8 an have the motor down to removing Throttle Body. Was wondering why the stock Throttle Body needs cooling or heating from the coolent? Do aftermarket Throttle Body’s need this too?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,579
Likes: 1,162
From: San Jose, CA
It's usually not for cooling, but for keeping warm in the winter due to icing issues from the fast moving air stream.
If you're living in the southwest it's not as big an issue (but it still can be) but if you're living in the colder climes I would certainly keep it intact and functioning.
I don't know if aftermarket setups have them, but don't remember seeing the feature on the ones I've looked at.
But likely most factory bits have that, or some other way of keeping icing to a minimum.
Paul
If you're living in the southwest it's not as big an issue (but it still can be) but if you're living in the colder climes I would certainly keep it intact and functioning.
I don't know if aftermarket setups have them, but don't remember seeing the feature on the ones I've looked at.
But likely most factory bits have that, or some other way of keeping icing to a minimum.
Paul
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,579
Likes: 1,162
From: San Jose, CA
Hmm, I wonder if it's at least partially a matter of size. If the factory TB's are smaller diameter and the aftermarket ones are larger (typical scenario anyway) maybe the expected higher velocity for a given engine of the smaller bore can promote more icing potential?
Never really thought about it, but it seems plausible.
And the factory tries to keep all conditions in mind that granny and the kids might drive in when developing this stuff. Whereas the performance oriented aftermarket only has to think about horsepower numbers, and a little bit of drive-ability. Drive-ability is a major part of what the factory thinks about.
That's just spitballing and getting my post count up.
No idea if it has any merit in the real world.
Paul
Never really thought about it, but it seems plausible.
And the factory tries to keep all conditions in mind that granny and the kids might drive in when developing this stuff. Whereas the performance oriented aftermarket only has to think about horsepower numbers, and a little bit of drive-ability. Drive-ability is a major part of what the factory thinks about.
That's just spitballing and getting my post count up.
No idea if it has any merit in the real world.Paul
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,716
Likes: 583
From: Chillicothe
Had my coolant bypassed for several years. Started leaking and just hooked the hoses together and have had no problems with icing. Will find out in the next couple days, supposed to get to -45 Wednesday
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,666
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
It has nothing to do with icing.
It is to heat up the air for better vaporization of the fuel.
The old carburetors had an venturi effect that dropped the temp of the air and ice would form with high humidity.
Fuel injected engines do not have a venturi. So no icing.
It is to heat up the air for better vaporization of the fuel.
The old carburetors had an venturi effect that dropped the temp of the air and ice would form with high humidity.
Fuel injected engines do not have a venturi. So no icing.
Trending Topics
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Oh contraire..
At small throttle openings this is plenty of venturi effect which can and does lead to icing if there isn't a system in place to heat the throttlebody, Ford used a couple different systems on EFI motors including a heat riser to the intake plumbing similar to what was used on old carbed motors and these TB coolant tubes.
The Lower intake portion on the V8 motors has both coolant and exhaust gas running through it which does a much better job of heating the intake air.
At small throttle openings this is plenty of venturi effect which can and does lead to icing if there isn't a system in place to heat the throttlebody, Ford used a couple different systems on EFI motors including a heat riser to the intake plumbing similar to what was used on old carbed motors and these TB coolant tubes.
The Lower intake portion on the V8 motors has both coolant and exhaust gas running through it which does a much better job of heating the intake air.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,666
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
I was just going by what the Ford shop manual said about what the throttle body hoses was for.
Note also neither my 1993 or 1994 460 engine have any water hoses going to the throttle body.
Why does the 460 not have this venturi effect?
Note also neither my 1993 or 1994 460 engine have any water hoses going to the throttle body.
Why does the 460 not have this venturi effect?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,579
Likes: 1,162
From: San Jose, CA
I don't disagree with any of that. Midway through today a thought popped into my head that, while I do still believe in icing as a possibility, that because it's not passing liquid/vapor like a TBI or carb, they also want to cool things. More of a temperature moderator, rather than just cooling or heating.
My Bronco's Explorer engine actually uses some of this to cool the EGR plate. And certainly EGR is going to keep any ice at bay I would think. Especially if it's introduced close enough to the TB to warm things up.
But there is still moisture in the air, and big changes in pressure and speed when everything is passing through the throttle body. So icing still has some potential I would think. Just not as much of a thing as it used to be.
Maybe it's not a thing at all anymore after all? I believe Ford manuals over just about anything, especially my own memory. But I'm gonna check into it anyway just to get it clear in my own mind.
But for me, for now, in the immortal words of Dan Aykroyd... "It's a floor wax, AND a dessert topping!"
Paul
My Bronco's Explorer engine actually uses some of this to cool the EGR plate. And certainly EGR is going to keep any ice at bay I would think. Especially if it's introduced close enough to the TB to warm things up.
But there is still moisture in the air, and big changes in pressure and speed when everything is passing through the throttle body. So icing still has some potential I would think. Just not as much of a thing as it used to be.
Maybe it's not a thing at all anymore after all? I believe Ford manuals over just about anything, especially my own memory. But I'm gonna check into it anyway just to get it clear in my own mind.
But for me, for now, in the immortal words of Dan Aykroyd... "It's a floor wax, AND a dessert topping!"
Paul
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
It does.. any time there is a narrowing of an air passage a venturi effect is generated but the TB is a lot closer to the lower intake than it is on the smaller V8s and the motor is a lot bigger and generates more heat so I suspect it's not as much of an issue.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,704
Likes: 2,626
From: SE Florida
It probably won't ice at -45. There isn't enough moisture in the air to form ice. Try it one day at +33°F and raining. Then you'll wish you had heat in your throttle body.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,716
Likes: 583
From: Chillicothe
Not saying you're wrong. In my personal experience, in the 8 years it's been unhooked I've never had a problem.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,324
Likes: 1,301
From: Central Mississippi
Everything I've come across says preventing EGR heat soaking the TB primarily & keeping the shafts from freezing as a secondary benefit.
If EGR cooling is not the reason, then why where all the 80s-90s single blade TBs built with completely separate water cooled EGR plates?
If EGR cooling is not the reason, then why where all the 80s-90s single blade TBs built with completely separate water cooled EGR plates?