Throttle Body Servicing
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: South Jordan, Utah
Throttle Body Servicing
I am in the process of cleaning up and detailing my engine compartment and got to the throttle body. It has a sticker on it that says not to clean the inside of the throttle body. The butterfly's are pretty black and I can't see why a little carb cleaner would hurt. What I would really like to do is strip the body altogether, bead blast the outside and clearcoat it. But from the stickers and warnings I am a bit hesitant to do it now. But is there any special reason I can't? The manual I have on CD mentions only removal and installation, no servicing at all.
Many thanks, Rich
Many thanks, Rich
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
Some throttle bodies use a plastic coating on the inside to keep deposits from sticking as bad. Many carb/throttle body cleaners will dissolve this plastic coat which then causes the throttle body to get dirty quicker.
This is the explanation I have read several times over the years. It is possible there is something special about the Ford TB that might get damaged if you clean the TB, but I don't know about it. Might also be a way for the Ford to make sure the dealers get that nice easy couple hundred bucks cleaning the TB for you.
There are TB cleaners that are safe for the plastic coating so you might look around. If you plan to bead blast, I would say be sure to plug any orifices or holes and cover any electronic doohickeys, if any.
See if you get some other replies since like I said, there might be some other newer reasons not to do this.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
This is the explanation I have read several times over the years. It is possible there is something special about the Ford TB that might get damaged if you clean the TB, but I don't know about it. Might also be a way for the Ford to make sure the dealers get that nice easy couple hundred bucks cleaning the TB for you.
There are TB cleaners that are safe for the plastic coating so you might look around. If you plan to bead blast, I would say be sure to plug any orifices or holes and cover any electronic doohickeys, if any.
See if you get some other replies since like I said, there might be some other newer reasons not to do this.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: South Jordan, Utah
Thanks Jim, Your thoughts were echoed by a local carb/injection shop tech. I have decided not to go the blasting route but might try my hand at polishing it. I got the upper and lower intake manifold back from the machine shop that bead blasted them for me. I was disapointed that they were not more shiny and really very dull. I am right now treating them with POR15 Glisten PC which is making them shiny, but not by any means brilliant like I had hoped. I was envisioning something like what a brand new Edelbrock looks like. Its not appearing to turn out that way. Heck! I really need to stop messing around and get Big Blue back on the road.
Thanks for your help, Rich
Thanks for your help, Rich
