throttle body cleaning
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throttle body cleaning
Was driving today to go pick up the torque converter for my father's Fairmont. On the way, I took off from a stop light and noticed that I had to give the truck a little more throttle than normal to get any acceleration. Seemed almost like a newer drive-by-wire setup, small hesitation, then it started to pick up speed. Just didn't feel right, almost sluggish feeling. Dad and I were talking about his truck (2000 F150 ext cab, 5.4) throttle sticking at idle only...everything else worked great. I figured carbon buildup since it has 108,000 miles on it.
Got home, changed oil, filter in mine (03 Lightning bone stock except drop-in K&N). Pulled the air filter out to check it, found some oil in the tube as usual, so I pulled the tube to clean it out. While the tube was off, I noticed the throttle body had a ring of carbon just behind where the blades "seat" (well..almost seat) against the TB itself. This ring was quite substantial, so I cleaned it. Just used a toothbrush, some yamaha Ringfree and some elbow grease. It came out but took a while, as I expected. Put it all back together and it feels like a different truck. It seems to be a lot more responsive to minimal throttle input now. I am cruising along at 45-50 mph and JUST touching the pedal, where before I had to hold 1/8 throttle give or take. Doesn't seem to affect WOT, but the roads are wet and the air is cold, so I didn't want to try too much WOT stuff. Based on what I saw visually, the ring of poo behind the TB blades was restricting airflow past the blades at very slight throttle blade angles. Once you open it up a little, it takes off fine, just requires more throttle than normal. Cleaning the TB took care of that problem...at least until that crap builds up again.
Just a little bit ago, I pulled dad's truck in and cleaned his. The sticking problem went away. Basically, at idle with no throttle input at all, the blade would stick. When you hit the throttle to take off slowly, you could feel the pedal kind of stick, then with progressively more effort, it would release and the truck would accelerate rather abruptly. I don't drive it very often, but dad had said something about it the other day...when I drove it, I knew there was a problem. So, I pulled the tubes off and there was a much larger ring of carbon built up all the way around the TB blade. Same treatment, a little ringfree on a toothbrush, clean it a little, let it soak, then use a little mineral spirits to brush off the biggest parts of it. I got the ring completely cleaned off; and just like the Lightning, it feels like a new truck again. Very little throttle input is required to get it moving.
Just thought I'd throw a little bit of information out there. If you're like me, an notice every little thing, this might be of interest. Both truck accelerate much more smoothly now at part throttle and dad's 2000 5.4 now feels like new again, literally. Super smooth acceleration, smoother idle (was idling a little slow...525-550 RPM, IIRC where it used to be right around 600 when new) and it just feels like it now has more part-throttle torque. Should really help when pulling the race car around. I would suspect a slight improvement in MPG as well, since the TB isn't open as far, which allows the TPS a lower voltage. Maybe I'm thinking wrong who knows. I'll check my mileage and post results. 18.4 last tank. My truck has 60,000 miles on it (just turned over today) and again is bone stock except air filter. Dad's 2000 5.4 is also bone stock, FWIW, with 108,000 on the clock. Been a great truck so far!
Got home, changed oil, filter in mine (03 Lightning bone stock except drop-in K&N). Pulled the air filter out to check it, found some oil in the tube as usual, so I pulled the tube to clean it out. While the tube was off, I noticed the throttle body had a ring of carbon just behind where the blades "seat" (well..almost seat) against the TB itself. This ring was quite substantial, so I cleaned it. Just used a toothbrush, some yamaha Ringfree and some elbow grease. It came out but took a while, as I expected. Put it all back together and it feels like a different truck. It seems to be a lot more responsive to minimal throttle input now. I am cruising along at 45-50 mph and JUST touching the pedal, where before I had to hold 1/8 throttle give or take. Doesn't seem to affect WOT, but the roads are wet and the air is cold, so I didn't want to try too much WOT stuff. Based on what I saw visually, the ring of poo behind the TB blades was restricting airflow past the blades at very slight throttle blade angles. Once you open it up a little, it takes off fine, just requires more throttle than normal. Cleaning the TB took care of that problem...at least until that crap builds up again.
Just a little bit ago, I pulled dad's truck in and cleaned his. The sticking problem went away. Basically, at idle with no throttle input at all, the blade would stick. When you hit the throttle to take off slowly, you could feel the pedal kind of stick, then with progressively more effort, it would release and the truck would accelerate rather abruptly. I don't drive it very often, but dad had said something about it the other day...when I drove it, I knew there was a problem. So, I pulled the tubes off and there was a much larger ring of carbon built up all the way around the TB blade. Same treatment, a little ringfree on a toothbrush, clean it a little, let it soak, then use a little mineral spirits to brush off the biggest parts of it. I got the ring completely cleaned off; and just like the Lightning, it feels like a new truck again. Very little throttle input is required to get it moving.
Just thought I'd throw a little bit of information out there. If you're like me, an notice every little thing, this might be of interest. Both truck accelerate much more smoothly now at part throttle and dad's 2000 5.4 now feels like new again, literally. Super smooth acceleration, smoother idle (was idling a little slow...525-550 RPM, IIRC where it used to be right around 600 when new) and it just feels like it now has more part-throttle torque. Should really help when pulling the race car around. I would suspect a slight improvement in MPG as well, since the TB isn't open as far, which allows the TPS a lower voltage. Maybe I'm thinking wrong who knows. I'll check my mileage and post results. 18.4 last tank. My truck has 60,000 miles on it (just turned over today) and again is bone stock except air filter. Dad's 2000 5.4 is also bone stock, FWIW, with 108,000 on the clock. Been a great truck so far!
Last edited by cookie_monster; Dec 11, 2006 at 11:33 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Massachusetts
You forgot to mention the special throttle body cleaner required to clean the ford trucks. Since our throttle bodys are teflon coated, you cannot just use any throttle cleaner. CRC makes a throttle body safe cleaner. While your in there, might also want to pick up a can of mass airflow sensor cleaner. Stuff works good.
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