Hello all,
I'm about to clean my throttle body with valvoline spray carb cleaner and read that it is bad to use this and that I should use fuel injector cleaner instead. Is this true? If so, can anyone suggest a good fic and give me any tips to prevent messing anything up while I clean my throttle body? As always much thanks.

 

You should only use cleaner that is designated for fuel injection system use or on throttle bodies, not carb cleaner. Too strong. The Volvo manual suggest wiping the throttle body with a clean rag soaked in cleaner, or just removing to clean. Be careful not to get any in the TPS.

 

Remove the throttle body from the car and the Carb cleaner will be fine.It will not mess anything up at all.
It really won't mess anything up on the car at all if you clean it on the car either.But it is alot safer to clean it off the car.


I have seen these cars run off the Carb cleaner to move them when the fuel pumps were bad.

 

I guess I will have to agree to disagree on the use of the carb cleaner. Everything I have read, either in factory service manuals or trade publications, since the mid-eighties has warned against the use of full strength carb cleaner in vehicles with FI systems or computer carbs. But.... if you are using it on a professional basis, and are having good results with no call backs, then that is all that matters. Results. I on the other hand will continue to use the FI/TB cleaner. I am much too poor ( or cheap) to risk having to replace a TB or sensors over a $4 can of spray.

 

This is going to seem like a really stupid question, but I have to ask it. I posted above about irratic idle on a 240.......... but I've actually since found out that it's a 1990 740. It may just need to have the throttle body cleaned, but I don't know what this entails or how much it would cost to take it somewhere to have it done, or how to determine if it's what it needs.

My uncle, who is pretty knowledgeable when it comes to Fords, knows nothing about Volvo's, but he says he would have no clue where or what the throttle body is or why it even has one if it is fuel injected. Which leads me to my question(s) -- where is it located, what does it look like, how do we remove it to clean it, and should we replace it or spray it like i see suggested here?

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I've got to make a decision before the end of the weekend of whether or not to take this car for free.

 

where is it located, what does it look like, how do we remove it to clean it, and should we replace it or spray it like i see suggested here?

Well, since I'm the one who started the thread it is obvious I'm no expert but I can lead you to some good info. Check out this site for good info. I too have a 740 wagon 1990 and it along with this forum has been a life saver.

http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/faq/FAQSummary1.shtml

 

What a GREAT website! Thank you!!!
My son is going to take the car. I was almost tempted to take it myself but I think he would've hurt me!

 

What do you all think of the valvoline carb/throttle body cleaner for cleaning????????

 

Valvoline's probably OK. I'm using STP Intake Cleaner right now, probably because of the "25% More!" sign on the can... [&:]

The trick is to use it on a warm engine, spray it generously, wipe down the butterfly and mating surfaces, then rinse with more spray. Then start the engine, it will run rough for a few seconds with all that spray cleaner in there, but it will settle-out after a short drive.

 

The Valvoline Synpower cleaner is good stuff.

 

Great, I wasn't sure if it was good because it says carb cleaner/throttle body cleaner. I think I'm just going to remove the throttle body anyway.

 

That sounds good should work fine.