[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 20-Mar-01 AT 05:23 PM (EST)[/font][p]
There is a sticker that says there is a special coating on throttle body...Do not clean.
What is the recommended cleaner for cleaning the bores?

95 F-150, 302 EFI, catback flowmaster, Jacobs Ignition

 

First off, why do you want to clean the TB? Since no fuel goes through it, it should not be dirty. It is not like the old carbs, you dont spray anything into them.

Dave

http://a2ztowing.homestead.com/a2ztowing.html

 

Actually the throttle body does need to be cleaned at times! It will accumulate all sorts of nasties. I clean mine on my 88 5.0 at least once evey six months, whether it needs it or not. But for the new ones I don't really know. Check with Ford on how to clean it. I also have my engine de-gunked once a year.

There is a shop close to me that has a Motor-Vac, which they run the engine on and removes all of the carbon from the injectors, heads, and exhaust. Plus the cleaner they use, cleans the catalytic convertor, and the truck definitely is happier after the cleaning is done.

1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
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1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

You can clean the TB with THROTTLE BODY CLEANER and a soft bristled plastic brush. DO NOT use CARB CLEANER! Carb Cleaner will destroy the coating.

 

On my 88 TB I took some 2000 grit wet dry sandpaper to it, and smoothed out the casting. My throttle body is fried anyway, the throttle blades have worn spots into the tubes and the blades stick when they are closed. But when I buy a new throttle body I am thinking about doing the same thing. I think by polishing the tubes out the air will flow better. Also, I am going to look at having a mufler shop fab me up some pipes the same size as the throttle body openings and run that over to the air box.

I have heard about an intake silencer on alot of Ford vehicles. But I can't seem to find one on this 88 model. I am also thinking about putting the 6 cylinder intake tube (from the front of the truck ahead of the box) back on. I think the V8 Intake is cool looking and all, but I would rather have something that would not accidentally catch a screw or tool dropped in close proximity to the opening.


1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
=======================================
1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

Yes, some of the newer cars and trucks have a special, I think plastic like, coating on them to reduce deposits. You should only use throttle body cleaners that have a specific note that they are safe for that type coating. There are some out there, but I haven't looked for one recently and can't remember a name.

Throttle bodies DO get dirty. It would take far too much space to explain but even though no wet fuel passes thru the throttle body, there are Reversion Pulses that pass backwards thru the throttle body. Reversion Pulses are basically the air fuel mix bouncing off of the back side of an intake valve that is closed. The "wave" of bounced air/fuel can travel quite a distance backwards, resulting in deposits on the throttle body. If you ever pulled the air cleaner off of an old style carburetor, you would have seen a greasy film on the underside of the lid. Much of that was a result of the reversion pulses.

ANyway, a throttle body does need periodic cleaning. Most people seem to recommend about 50K to maybe 100K miles. Most delaers love to push this service at aout 100K. Kind of depends on the car and the kind of driving you do. I go by "seat of the pants", if it feels a bit slow, take a look and clean it.

The best way is to remove the TB and clean it on a bench. Alternatively, many people have good results with a toothbrush and the CORRECT TB cleaner.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

I just cleaned my idle valve and it was full of crud. The engine has a breather with it's own filter in the air filter box and it is crudded up too, so if this "clean" air is getting to the throttle body it only stands to reason that it will get dirty after a while. I also removed the snorkle from tha air box after I addeda a bug deflector and found that it blocked the air flow to it. I will devise a way to get clean air to the filter box soon as it is now open just above the wheel inner fender. I also took apart the solinoid valve ( by the coil) that contols the EGR. I found it was full of dirt too and the disk valve wouldn't close causing a Egr fault code. All better now.

 

Thanks to all!!
I talked with dealership today and they said throttle body cleaner is stronger than carb cleaner. They also said either one would be alright...just don't use anything that would eat aluminum. Duh!!!
I had throttle body and intake off so I could get to air injection check valve which bit the dust and noticed egr puke on the throttle body. Thought I ought to clean it up a little.

95 F-150 extended cab,302,cat back flowmaster, Jacobs Electronics Ign.

 

 

Hotrod ford 88 if your gonna polish your throttle body why not extrude hone the upper and lower intake's ? this greatly increases flow and improves performance and isnt very expensixe

 

Mainly because I don't have the $500+ to have it done.


1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
=======================================
1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

Good enough reason for me

 

Come on hotrod88, dont be a wussie, I'm sure you've got a dremal lying around...I managed to port/polish the upper and lower intakes and heads on my truck without too much trouble, I got a home kit from either summit, or northern auto parts for about $40, had all the tips and tools and instructions that you could need...seat of the pants? about 30-50 horses from that

On the airbox silencer, there is none on the trucks, as on the mustang 5.0's the air silencer is in the fenderwell by the air intake, since the trucks air intake is from above the grill (at least on mine) there is no silencer, I do not run the air tube that goes from the grill to the box, just have the box open on the spot where it would be, the crankcase vent filter on my truck was black, cracked and splitting when I replaced it last weekend, its just one of those things that I never think about checking, then when I did check it was all messed up!

Anyone wanna buy the air intake tubing that goes from the grill to the air box on my truck? huh? any takers? How about the air silencer or stock air intake from a `93 5.0 mustang? what...no one wants that? aww man...

1995 F-150XL SC/SB
http://members.sounddomain.com/blind
5-Star Rated F-150 (Big Stereo)