Time affects your motorcar's engine only as much as its body. That's why the maintenance on college-mileage cars doesn't just stop at oil and air filter changes. Timing belts, spark plugs, ignition coils, head gaskets—these are but some of the things that need attention as the odometer climbs. One item that sometimes goes overlooked, though, is cleaning your throttle body. Luckily, it's something you can do yourself.

What does the throttle body do?

A 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata's throttle body
1999 Mazda MX-five Miata throttle body | Matthew Skwarczek

For an internal-combustion engine to brand power, it needs air. But before filtered air gets into the combustion chamber, it has to pass into the intake manifold via the throttle body. Or, in the example of some high-end operation cars, the air goes into the cylinders via several individual throttle bodies.

Your car's throttle body is controlled via the throttle/accelerator pedal. In older models, like my 1999 Miata, the two are connected with a metal throttle cable. When you press downwardly on the pedal, the cable pulls on the throttle plate, also known as a butterfly valve, Haynes explains. The valve opens, letting air into the combustion sleeping accommodation, and your motorcar moves. And when you 'let off the gas,' the cablevision goes slack, and the valve closes.

Mod cars, though, have throttle-past-wire, aka drive-by-wire throttles, Autoweek explains. Instead of a cablevision, in that location's a position sensor and a tiny electric motor, GarageWire explains. The accelerator is connected to a sensor linked to the engine reckoner, Jalopnik explains.

Pushing the throttle pedal downward sends a indicate to the ECU, which simultaneously receives information from multiple other sensors. The ECU interprets all these signals and tells the throttle body servo-motor to open up the plate a certain amount. And, equally with the cablevision-operated one, when you step off the accelerator, the valve closes.

Why and when should you clean the throttle trunk?

Although the schedule and services provided in a car tune-up have changed, mod vehicles still need them. And often, tune-up services include cleaning your throttle body, Jalopnik reports.

A 1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata's open throttle body
1999 Mazda MX-5 Miata throttle body interior | Matthew Skwarczek

RELATED: Practise Cold-Air Intakes Even Do Anything?

While this tin audio similar another unscrupulous business organisation trick, your throttle body can and does get dingy over fourth dimension, CarTalk reports. Whether information technology's because of ultra-fine external particulates, soot from fuel combustion, or general grime collection, it gets filthy. Eventually, the gunk builds up and then much it restricts airflow, Motor explains.

You can tell when a throttle trunk needs to exist cleaned, Autoblog reports. The trademark sign is a crude/unsteady idle. Your idle speed may also drop when you come to a stop, Autoblog reports, and potentially lead to an engine stall. I experienced this firsthand with my car. Other symptoms include the 'Bank check Engine Light' coming on and difficulties with shifting.

RELATED: How Much Gas Does Information technology Waste to Permit Your Automobile Idle?

Some idling issues don't necessarily stalk only from overall throttle torso dirtiness. The throttle torso as well contains the engine's idle air control valve, The Drive explains. If the valve is clogged, the air-fuel mixture within the engine is off. That leads to idling issues, starting issues, and fifty-fifty backfires. Some cars allow you clean the IACV separately from the balance of the throttle body, Autoblog reports. However, it's strongly recommended that yous clean the whole thing every 75,000 miles, The Drive reports.

How to do information technology and what to sentinel out for

The cleaning procedure is fairly straightforward. All you need is a screwdriver, some throttle body cleaner, a toothbrush, and some paper towels.

RELATED: The Best Method for Cleaning Your Engine is a Trivial Nuts

First, disconnect the battery to preclude any electric bug, Autoblog explains. Side by side, remove the air intake hose. And then remove any bolts, screws, hoses, and electrical connections going to it. After that, just spray the throttle trunk cleaner liberally in a ventilated surface area, and employ the toothbrush to gently scrub at any stubborn spots. Finally, wipe away any residue with the paper towels, and reinstall everything.

In that location is one affair to keep in heed before you start cleaning, though. If you accept an electronic throttle body, do non motility the throttle plate during cleaning. That can harm the servo-motor and lead you to buy a new throttle body.

RELATED: How Do Yous Adjust a Carburetor?

However, if you have a cable-operated 1, yous can open up and shut the plate with relative impunity. And, technically, this means you lot can do a limited clean-out without really removing information technology from the engine. Say, if you lot're continuing in an uninsulated garage in below-freezing Midwestern winter temperatures.

Subsequently you make clean the throttle body, your engine may idle strangely for a chip every bit any leftover cleaner burns away. Merely after cleaning my Miata'south throttle torso, its idle drop issue vanished. And then, if your car has a rough idle, information technology may but need a clean-out.

Follow more updates from MotorBiscuit on our Facebook page.