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Throttle body cleaning

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Old Dec 26, 2006 | 05:53 PM
  #1  
cavemancan's Avatar
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The forgestar be with you
 
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From: Miami, Florida
Lightbulb Throttle body cleaning

I used to do this to my piston engines but I was not sure if using carborator cleaner in a Rotary is bad.

I was hoping to take my intake tube off and have at it with a tooth brush and some carb cleaner. I may even clean out my intake itself for shitz and gigles.


I did a search for this but the last reference for "throttle body cleaning" was made a year ago. I guess not many people even think about this. I have a feeling that it may be rather clean due to the fact that I see 9k rpm's everytime the car is driven but I have nothing better to do...

Thanks!
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Old Dec 26, 2006 | 06:18 PM
  #2  
theboy's Avatar
RX8 newbie!
 
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when i was cleaning the air filter i took off the tube before the trhottle body and after the airfilter box. i found a lot of grease on it. is this normal?
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Old Dec 26, 2006 | 08:38 PM
  #3  
lone_wolf025's Avatar
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I'm no expert but carb cleaner shouldn't hurt the engine. However I was once told that some throttle plates have a special coating that carb cleaner can damage. I dunno if the 8 is one of those or not, nor do I know if it would cause any real damage. Personally I stick with WD-40 just to be safe.

Oh and I think it goes without saying that its not something to do while the engine is running
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Old Dec 27, 2006 | 12:11 PM
  #4  
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the WANKEL made me do it
 
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From: Pittsburgh
I've used Sea Foam on my volvo 850 (162K miles) and can say that this stuff works miracles. I had a rough idle and a little knocking at low rpms and it went away after a 1/2 of bottle of this stuff. You just leave the car idle while you suck the Sea Foam into one of the vacuum hoses on the TB. Turn the car off for 15-20 min to let it soak in and then take it for a spirited drive. I can't see how it could be unsafe for the 8.

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...light=sea+foam
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Old Dec 28, 2006 | 10:49 PM
  #5  
Razz1's Avatar
Mu ha.. ha...
 
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From: Cali
Damn I remember using that product too. Several years ago.
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Old Dec 28, 2006 | 11:00 PM
  #6  
cavemancan's Avatar
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I dont suppose Rotary God could come in here and give us his 2 cents. I would like to also know what he recomends too
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 12:34 AM
  #7  
Silver_Surfer's Avatar
I4NI
 
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From: Hawaii
Originally Posted by cavemancan
I dont suppose Rotary God could come in here and give us his 2 cents. I would like to also know what he recomends too


He would tell you to search young jedi
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Old Jan 6, 2007 | 09:32 PM
  #8  
cavemancan's Avatar
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The forgestar be with you
 
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From: Miami, Florida
Originally Posted by Silver_Surfer
He would tell you to search young jedi

I will quote my very first post...

I did a search for this but the last reference for "throttle body cleaning" was made a year ago. I guess not many people even think about this.
I did not find the information I was looking for and since I trust Rotary God's opinion it would be nice to hear from him. I would simply send a PM but I thought everyone could benefit from this. If it turns out that performing a throttle boddy cleaning is completely useless then may this thread be deleted and forgotten.

Last edited by cavemancan; Jan 6, 2007 at 09:36 PM.
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Old Mar 18, 2007 | 07:08 PM
  #9  
tevaburns's Avatar
drives a wagon
 
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From: Clawson, MI
I was just thinking about this. I sprayed a whole can of cleaner into the throttle body with a buddy holding throttle at 2k. I did this about every 30,000 on previous cars. Then again I always used synth oil too. Rotory = Different.
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Old Mar 18, 2007 | 07:32 PM
  #10  
tevaburns's Avatar
drives a wagon
 
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From: Clawson, MI
GOOD GOD!!!

There is a epic long discussion about this on the RX7club.com forum:

http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?p=524311

I read parts, nobody agrees if it's good or bad for the seals on a Rotory.
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Old Mar 18, 2007 | 07:56 PM
  #11  
lone_wolf025's Avatar
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From: Chicago, IL
So bypass the problem and do it when the engine is off. Frankly spraying anything into an engine while its running with fuel still being injected is a bad idea IMO. If you wanna clean the engine out use something recommended for that purpose.
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Old Mar 19, 2007 | 12:23 AM
  #12  
rx8mod83's Avatar
Lifting Rx8 Society
 
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From: C-Town
Use Sea foam i used it and it works great, i recommend it.
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Old Mar 19, 2007 | 01:57 AM
  #13  
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Nope
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From: Denver
I cleaned my throttle body on my old 1974 Chevy 1/2 ton truck and got 3-mpg better. I would say do it, I know I will at some point soon.

Dave
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