Do I Have To Clean The Throttle Valve After Driving A Car for 20000 Kilometers? What Is The Impact of Not Washing?

As long as you go to the 4S store for maintenance, in addition to regular oil changes, the reception staff will recommend that the owner do other maintenance items after reaching the mileage. Today we are going to talk about cleaning the throttle valve, which is a very common maintenance project. Almost all car owners have encountered suggestions to clean the throttle valve. When a new car is driven for about 20000 kilometers, it will be recommended to clean it after maintenance. Some stores require only cleaning the throttle valve, some require cleaning the throttle valve and intake duct, and some even clean the entire set, including the throttle valve, fuel injectors, intake duct, and carbon deposits in the cylinder. The cost of cleaning only the throttle valve is relatively low, around 200 yuan, and the cost of a full set of cleaning is relatively high, about 1000 yuan. Depending on the vehicle model, the price also varies. The more high-end the car, the higher the price, mainly in terms of labor costs. Do you really need to wash the throttle valve after 20000 kilometers?

Washing the throttle valve is to clean the carbon buildup on it. Only when there is carbon buildup, it needs to be cleaned. If there is no carbon buildup, it naturally does not need to be cleaned. So there is no specific mileage requirement for cleaning the throttle valve, just like changing oil. The number of kilometers that must be cleaned depends on the actual situation. No matter how the car is used, carbon will definitely accumulate on the throttle valve, but the speed of carbon accumulation will vary greatly depending on the usage environment. Some people get dirty after ten thousand kilometers, while others get dirty after fifty thousand kilometers. Based on regular maintenance experience, if used in urban areas, the number of kilometers driven per day is not very high. Most cars have dirty throttle valves after reaching 20000 kilometers, so the 4S dealership receptionist will recommend cleaning without inspection. It can be cleaned, but only the throttle valve needs to be cleaned. There is no need to clean other aspects, such as the intake duct of the fuel injector, which is still too early to clean now.

What will happen if the throttle valve is dirty? The most obvious phenomenon is unstable idle, which means that there is a noticeable vibration when idling, and the engine tachometer also fluctuates up and down. It is not easy to start a cold car when starting, and it requires two steps or stepping on the accelerator to start. If it is an electronic throttle, there may be other symptoms, such as slow acceleration response, no response after stepping on the accelerator, and an increase in engine speed after one second, except for some new car models. There will also be abnormalities when braking, and when it is about to stop, it will jump forward. Some car models may even light up the fault light due to severe carbon buildup on the throttle valve, and the fault code is a throttle valve malfunction. This kind of car with a fault light on, as long as it lights up, it must be washed.

What impact will it have if the throttle valve is dirty and not washed? To determine the degree of dirtiness, it can be divided into three levels. For beginners, if it is slightly dirty, not washing it will not affect it, and there are no malfunctions. It is completely possible to not wash it and use it normally. Intermediate level is considered a bit dirty and can cause the above fault phenomena. Not washing it will lead to increased fuel consumption, decreased power, and decreased comfort. It is best to wash it. The last level is very dirty, which can cause the vehicle to not idle. As long as the accelerator is released, it will shut down and cannot drive normally. It must be cleaned. As for how dirty it has become, a computer can detect the opening of the throttle valve at idle speed. If you don't need a computer, you can open the throttle intake hose and observe the degree of dirt with the naked eye. A slightly experienced repair technician can also determine the degree of dirt. Therefore, it is best to conduct a thorough inspection before deciding whether to clean the throttle valve. Do not directly write about cleaning the throttle valve when issuing a work order. It is also possible to skip the inspection and wait until there is a malfunction before cleaning, so as not to be fooled into washing too early. However, this requires a separate visit to the repair shop, which wastes time and fuel. It is suitable for car owners who have free time or are close to the repair shop. If you don't have much time usually, why not check it together during maintenance and clean it in advance.

From：WONDEE Auto parts

2024-6-26