Hey Guys
I bit the bullet and did the throttle body decarb job yesterday ... in an effort to resolve the rough idle at cold start issue.
What a crappy crappy job ... but it's super easy and took only 2.5 to 3hrs. I think my mechanic wanted something like $800 just to run some type of chemical through the system to do the job ... but I'm doubtful that anything but direct physical removal of the carbon build up is a long term solution.
Props to the video I used as a guide below. It's pretty close to accurate ... but he does neglect one bolt on the forward throttle body that needs to come off. Also, be careful of the light insert/aluminium washer that sits between the black plastic body component and the the braided hose below. Mine pinged off during hose removal ... luckily I found it.
Cleaning tools needed ... 1 x full roll of paper towel, sacrificial rags, decarb spray, throttle body cleaner, a metal teaspoon with a long handle, and a couple flat blade screw drivers (long and short) to loosen and scrape everything off before using the sprays. A plastic bag that stays open so you can dump the used paper towel and rags straight in.
In terms doing the job, all I can say is choose to do the component cleaning somewhere where a bit of a mess wont be a problem. By the looks of it, the guy in the video drove all the way to the outback to do it ... a wise move.
That carbon looks soft and powdery, but I assure you that under the surface is PURE gooey gooey nastiness. It's like diesel vaseline mixed with squid ink.
I cleaned everything out in the yard within a large Bunnings plastic tub. Made the job and cleanup after easier ... but inevitably some goo escapes. I wouldn't do the cleaning job on the driveway. Probably pick a day that isn't too windy either.
One thing I did that the video didn't cover was spending time cleaning past the forward throttle body into the manifold area. This is where the spoon was real handy. You can only get so far in there ... but I scooped/dragged out a ton of goo out of there as well. I made a bit of a dam with paper towel in each inlet chamber and blasted the decarb spray in there and started scooping goo out. Did that a couple of times. Obviously use lots of paper towel around the area to protect the goo from messing up other components.
Here's looking forward to better idling and fuel economy. 🍻
Good luck.
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I bit the bullet and did the throttle body decarb job yesterday ... in an effort to resolve the rough idle at cold start issue.
What a crappy crappy job ... but it's super easy and took only 2.5 to 3hrs. I think my mechanic wanted something like $800 just to run some type of chemical through the system to do the job ... but I'm doubtful that anything but direct physical removal of the carbon build up is a long term solution.
Props to the video I used as a guide below. It's pretty close to accurate ... but he does neglect one bolt on the forward throttle body that needs to come off. Also, be careful of the light insert/aluminium washer that sits between the black plastic body component and the the braided hose below. Mine pinged off during hose removal ... luckily I found it.
Cleaning tools needed ... 1 x full roll of paper towel, sacrificial rags, decarb spray, throttle body cleaner, a metal teaspoon with a long handle, and a couple flat blade screw drivers (long and short) to loosen and scrape everything off before using the sprays. A plastic bag that stays open so you can dump the used paper towel and rags straight in.
In terms doing the job, all I can say is choose to do the component cleaning somewhere where a bit of a mess wont be a problem. By the looks of it, the guy in the video drove all the way to the outback to do it ... a wise move.
That carbon looks soft and powdery, but I assure you that under the surface is PURE gooey gooey nastiness. It's like diesel vaseline mixed with squid ink.I cleaned everything out in the yard within a large Bunnings plastic tub. Made the job and cleanup after easier ... but inevitably some goo escapes. I wouldn't do the cleaning job on the driveway. Probably pick a day that isn't too windy either.
One thing I did that the video didn't cover was spending time cleaning past the forward throttle body into the manifold area. This is where the spoon was real handy. You can only get so far in there ... but I scooped/dragged out a ton of goo out of there as well. I made a bit of a dam with paper towel in each inlet chamber and blasted the decarb spray in there and started scooping goo out. Did that a couple of times. Obviously use lots of paper towel around the area to protect the goo from messing up other components.
Here's looking forward to better idling and fuel economy. 🍻
Good luck.
