The function of the throttle valve is to regulate air flow, filling the cylinders quickly and efficiently to improve the thermodynamic efficiency of the engine. Thus, vehicle intake throttle failures result in reduced power and increased consumption. It may happen that, due to wear, the valve remains open so that its use is ineffective, or it becomes completely blocked by dirt, in both cases the engine becomes unstable.
Why clean
The air mixture supplied to the intake tract of a car engine is needed for efficient combustion of fuel in the chamber. If there is not enough air or its volume does not correspond to that required for a given engine operating mode, then the fuel-air mixture will be burned less efficiently. This leads to unstable engine operation, a drop in power, and an increase in fuel consumption.
Prolonged operation of the machine with a contaminated damper can also lead to damage to engine parts.
The elements of the cylinder-piston group of the combustion chamber are designed to work with a certain volume and composition of the fuel-air mixture.
Cleaning the removed damper
Once the throttle valve is removed, you can begin cleaning it. First you need to remove all dirt from the main disk and the area surrounding it. The best tool for this is “Carb Cleaner” - a liquid produced for cleaning carburetors and other mechanisms, which is essentially a liquid solvent.
In addition to the indicated area, the idle speed control valve also needs to be cleaned. It is usually attached directly to the damper body with small bolts. The part must be removed, after which the surface of its active element must be thoroughly washed with the same solvent. Upon completion of these activities, the valve must be dried in the open air, and only then installed back. It is imperative to monitor the tightness, since if it is lost, the operation of the power unit will not be performed correctly.
Let us separately make a reservation that the most correct method of cleaning the throttle valve is the use of a spray solvent. Mechanically removing dirt is not recommended at all. This may cause scratches to appear on the surface of the throttle disc, which will affect the quality of its operation.
What causes pollution?
Among the main causes of pollution are the following:
- Operating a vehicle using low-quality fuel. Low quality gasoline with a large amount of sediment and impurities is one of the reasons for the formation of contaminants in the throttle assembly.
- Dirt entering through the air supply system. Dust and dirt settling on the parts of the throttle assembly enter the intake tract through a dirty air filter or an air duct with a broken seal. It is recommended to change the air filter in accordance with the manufacturer's regulations (maintenance).
- Fuel filter is dirty. A fuel filter, unlike an oil or air filter, needs to be replaced much less frequently, but this does not mean that it is less dirty and does not pose a threat to engine parts. Dirt from it can also get onto the damper.
Precipitation in the form of oil dust from crankcase gases is also dangerous. Oil with dirt and dust on the valve is formed from crankcase gases, which usually enter through the valve cover.
Signs of a dirty throttle valve
The throttle body is a mechanical and electronic component found in modern fuel-injected vehicles. It controls and regulates the amount of air supplied to the engine in the intake system. This is an important element, so you need to know when the throttle body needs cleaning.
Main features:
- Idle instability - the vehicle does not maintain idle speed.
- Engine light or service light is on: Trouble codes must be read to determine if the throttle body is faulty.
- Poor mixture: Due to a faulty intake air intake, the mixture becomes contaminated.
- Poor performance: Problems with power when accelerating the vehicle.
Causes of pollution and how to deal with them
The flow of air into the intake manifold is regulated using the throttle valve, which opens after pressing the accelerator. The throttle valve is located in a cylinder-shaped housing. It is exposed to exhaust gases, and for this reason soot and carbon often accumulate in it.
Cleaning the throttle body reduces fuel consumption and significantly improves the fuel mixture. Good engine performance and fuel economy are achieved.
Ignoring the need for cleaning will result in delayed starting and loss of power. As a result, engine performance is abnormal, fuel consumption is also affected by engine performance, and operating temperature indicates a problem. White carbon deposits may appear on the spark plugs.
How to clean
Every specialist in a specialized car service knows how to properly clean the throttle valve, but not every car owner. But it is recommended to perform this procedure at least 30–50 thousand km, depending on the quality of the fuel used, the condition of the filters and systems.
You can clean the throttle valve without removing the valve or by removing the part. In the first case, an intake valve cleaner is used. First, the air duct is dismantled, after which, with the damper closed, the product, which is usually released in the form of an aerosol, is applied to the surface of the part. Dirt and oil accumulations are removed with a soft cloth. Next, you need to open the damper (press the gas pedal all the way) and remove dirt from the side surfaces and channels. The procedure is performed several times.
Please note that partial cleaning, as well as washing the injectors without removing them, will not completely remove all contaminants from the part. Therefore, it is better to carry out the procedure with removing the throttle.
Complete cleaning
Complete cleaning of dirt and carbon deposits is only possible when the device is removed. The correct way to dismantle the unit is as follows:
- Disconnect the air duct.
- Remove the damper by unscrewing the bolts and disconnecting the connectors.
- Using a carburetor cleaner or a special compound for throttle valves, use a soft cloth to thoroughly wipe the part inside and out.
- Repeat the cleaning procedure several times, avoiding strong mechanical impact, which can lead to removal of the protective coating of the metal, damage to the damper itself and its position sensor.
- After cleaning the throttle, reassemble the entire air supply system assembly in the reverse order.
- “Train” the damper after installation by setting the idle speed to the required (factory) value.
How to clean the throttle position sensor
Contamination can also get onto the position sensor. Due to malfunction of the sensor, loss or poor contact, the information received by the vehicle's ECU about the position of the part will be incorrect. As a result, the engine will not gain speed - or, more dangerously, the throttle will open completely while driving, which will lead to an increase in speed instead of braking.
Use a liquid and a soft cloth to remove dirt and oil deposits from the sensor without using excessive force.
Step-by-step cleaning instructions
You can clean the damper with special aerosols (LIQUI MOLY DrosselKlappen-Reiniger (LM5111), Mannol Carburetor Cleaner, ABRO Carb&Choke Cleaner (CC-220)), that is, carburetor cleaning agents (carb cleaners). You can also use available materials (thinner, acetone, gasoline or WD-40). Many of these products have an aggressive chemical composition, so it is best to carry out manipulations with rubber gloves. Before cleaning, it is necessary to disconnect all rubber elements from the throttle body, otherwise there is a considerable risk that the selected product may damage them.
- It is necessary to clean not only the damper itself, but also the entire throttle assembly, including the additional air intake channels.
- For cleaning, you can use a regular brush; especially heavy dirt is best removed with a soft-bristled cloth. Metal brushes and coarse rags cannot be used, as they can damage the molybdenum layer on the surface of the assembly.
- Ideally, you need to apply the product for 10-15 minutes, then use a brush to remove it along with the carbon deposits. After rinsing, you should repeat the operation - apply the cleaning agent again, wait a while and remove it along with the dirt.
- After removing deposits, the assembly can be reassembled in the reverse order. First, you need to return all the rubber elements of the throttle assembly to their place, then install the idle speed regulator, then mount the assembly in place using a fixing bracket. Finally, install the air filter housing, then connect the air duct pipe.
Ideally, in addition to the cleaning agent, you can use a can of compressed air. It can be used to blow through all the channels and holes of the unit, which are difficult to access with a brush. Also, before installing the throttle assembly, it is advisable to replace the damper gasket with a new one, fortunately, it is inexpensive.
How much does cleaning cost at a car service center?
When cleaning yourself, the costs depend only on the cost of the selected liquid. As a rule, this amount is around 100–500 rubles, depending on the manufacturer and store.
The technician will tell you how much it costs to clean the throttle valve at a service center after preliminary diagnostics. Remember that the appearance of signs of contamination does not mean that only cleaning is required - there may be malfunctions of the air and fuel supply unit. Therefore, it is impossible to give an exact price without checking.
You can clean the car engine damper yourself, but if you do not have special skills, it is definitely better to contact the experts at a specialized car service center. In this case, you will definitely save time and will not be afraid of damage to the elements of the injection system, which you can cause by unqualified actions.
Washing methods
On a VAZ 2114, cleaning the throttle valve can be done in two ways: surface and deep washing.
Surface washing method
This method is easy and does not require knowledge of how to disassemble the throttle valve on the fourteenth. But the effect from it is insignificant - we walked superficially with a rag over the body of the unit, wiped off the dust and that was it. But even in this case, you need to have a small arsenal: a cleaning agent - the good old WD-shka will come in handy (many people believe that this is the best product for cleaning the throttle body), but you can also take alcohol, gasoline, carburetor cleaner, a rag and a brush. The process is like this:
- Removed the corrugation from the damper
- Sprayed all the insides of the assembly with cleaning agent
- Went through with a brush
- Wipe it off with a cloth
- The main thing is not to forget that the reverse side of the unit also needs to be cleaned - open the flap
- Then we put everything back in place - and that’s it!
Surface method from the word “surface”, the internal parts of the unit with this method of cleaning remain dirty.
Deep washing method
The method requires a more thorough approach, a little experience in removing the damper and a richer arsenal for cleaning: a cloth with a WD head remains, plus a cross-head screwdriver, a throttle valve gasket (if the engine is 1.5 liters) and a receiver O-ring (if the engine is 1.5 liters). 1.6 l) - an inexpensive pleasure, on average 40 rubles, cotton swabs, a 13-socket wrench and 2 M13 bolts. The process is as follows:
Removing the throttle valve on a VAZ 2114
- We remove the throttle assembly: pull the corrugation off the filter, then disconnect the pipes with antifreeze (for this procedure you need the same M13 bolts to plug the pipes; many recommend draining the antifreeze, but this is a waste of time, just very quickly disconnect and plug the ends), Next, you need to remove the adsorber pipe.
- All the hardest part is over, we move on to disconnecting the fasteners of the assembly itself, then disconnect the gas pedal cable and remove our assembly.
- As soon as the assembly has been removed, we disassemble it: let's start with the IAC and TPS sensors.
- They need to be washed thoroughly.
- Then wash the damper on all sides, after washing, blow through all the holes so that everything is dry.
- We assemble the assembly in exactly the opposite order and put it in place.
Remember the new gasket or ring? Well, they are needed because they cannot be cleaned, only for replacement. Don't forget to install these new spare parts according to the engine displacement.
