cleaned my throttle body over the weekend - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

TroyDeJ · 03-11-2012, 08:42 PM

so i got a code for the TPS so i decided to clean the throttle body before i bought a new one for $400. I also changed the plugs while i was working on it but here are the before and after pics. it wouldnt be a bad idea for some of you guys to do this also if your able to.

blackbeast06 · 03-12-2012, 12:24 AM

just cleaned mine also, looked just like yours. i did a huge job over the weekend: valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket, spark plugs, micro filter, air filter, it was good work.
I wonder how the throttle body gets that oil all over it?

mlifxs · 03-12-2012, 06:16 AM

Curious how many miles on your car?

Did it solve your issue?

Eternal · 03-12-2012, 07:45 AM

Curious about the mileage since last clean as well.

TroyDeJ · 03-12-2012, 07:56 AM

Im at 103k miles and it was never cleaned before

Eternal · 03-12-2012, 07:57 AM

Looks like I need to do the same thing then!

SeriousE92 · 03-12-2012, 08:05 AM

Where is that film/oil coming from? Is that a problem long term and are there any fixes for it?

Wrngway · 03-12-2012, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeriousE92

Where is that film/oil coming from? Is that a problem long term and are there any fixes for it?

I haven't spent too much time under the hood of an e90, but I'd guess it could be EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) or PCV gasses. Both would be normal.

EGR systems take some exhaust gas and inject it into the inake air stream under certain conditions to reduce emissions. It contains carbon deposits that would build up over time.

PCV is positive crankcase ventilation. It releases pressure from the crankase. Instead of venting the air into the atmosphere, it injects it into the intake stream. This air also has unburned fuel and oil.

TroyDeJ · 03-12-2012, 09:02 AM

EGR is probably the best explanation. My other guess is just from exhaust gasses from other cars that pass by the filter and stick to the throttle plate because the intake manifold after the TB was clean

Dr.GumbyM.D. · 03-12-2012, 10:28 AM

Thanks for sharing the pics and insights on the cause of the buildups!

I don't want to derail, but are you using a torque wrench when doing all of this work? If so, a fancy one, or a Harbor Freight/Sears one? I'd love to do some of this DIY stuff, but know that proper tools are a necessity, and I wonder how you other weekend warriors are equipped. I know there is a lot of debate about these, but would like to do work like this and other things on my CPO car, so want to have a perspective of how you do it.

PINeely · 03-12-2012, 11:24 AM

Is that a Dickies jacket I see?

TroyDeJ · 03-12-2012, 12:03 PM

thats my dads jacket lol. he did the plugs while i did the TB

SeriousE92 · 03-12-2012, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TroyDeJ

EGR is probably the best explanation. My other guess is just from exhaust gasses from other cars that pass by the filter and stick to the throttle plate because the intake manifold after the TB was clean

Did you take any pics of the intake arm? I ask because there was a fluid of some kind in mine I noticed when changing air filters recently. See pics below.

e90pilot · 03-12-2012, 04:02 PM

What kind of filter did you have? If it's a K&N, that explains it. Those with WAY too much oil out of the box.

SeriousE92 · 03-12-2012, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e90pilot

What kind of filter did you have? If it's a K&N, that explains it. Those with WAY too much oil out of the box.

OEM filter, replaced with an OEM filter.

TroyDeJ · 03-13-2012, 05:36 PM

i have an oem filter also

froggy47 · 01-03-2013, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrngway

I haven't spent too much time under the hood of an e90, but I'd guess it could be EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) or PCV gasses. Both would be normal.

EGR systems take some exhaust gas and inject it into the inake air stream under certain conditions to reduce emissions. It contains carbon deposits that would build up over time.

PCV is positive crankcase ventilation. It releases pressure from the crankase. Instead of venting the air into the atmosphere, it injects it into the intake stream. This air also has unburned fuel and oil.

That's what it is on most engines, btw that picture in the OP does not look that bad.

Did you do both sides?

Never mind I see you have it off, you must have.

index1489 · 01-25-2013, 04:29 PM

Whats interesting is the N52 uses valvetronic to regulate throttle, that throttle body is only there for backup if valvetronic fails and usually stays completely open at all times.

Eelesy24 · 01-26-2013, 10:58 AM

The throttle is used more than just as a back up, it is used on cold start and also at other times when vacuum is required.

At cold start is when the build up is most likely to happen because the engine is not hot enough to completely burn it

03-11-2012, 08:42 PM	#1
TroyDeJ Banned Drives: around aimlessly Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 984 iTrader: (1)	cleaned my throttle body over the weekend so i got a code for the TPS so i decided to clean the throttle body before i bought a new one for $400. I also changed the plugs while i was working on it but here are the before and after pics. it wouldnt be a bad idea for some of you guys to do this also if your able to. Attached Images
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03-12-2012, 12:24 AM	#2
blackbeast06 adrenergic stimulation Drives: 2007 E92 335i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Akron Posts: 226 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	just cleaned mine also, looked just like yours. i did a huge job over the weekend: valve cover gasket, oil filter housing gasket, spark plugs, micro filter, air filter, it was good work. I wonder how the throttle body gets that oil all over it? __________________ 07 335i. Montego Blue/Saddle Brown. 6 MT.

03-12-2012, 10:28 AM	#10
Dr.GumbyM.D. Private First Class Drives: 2009 328i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 150 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for sharing the pics and insights on the cause of the buildups! I don't want to derail, but are you using a torque wrench when doing all of this work? If so, a fancy one, or a Harbor Freight/Sears one? I'd love to do some of this DIY stuff, but know that proper tools are a necessity, and I wonder how you other weekend warriors are equipped. I know there is a lot of debate about these, but would like to do work like this and other things on my CPO car, so want to have a perspective of how you do it. __________________ 2009 328i Jet Black with Dakota Brown interior - Nav, heated seats, Premium Package

03-12-2012, 11:24 AM	#11
PINeely Major Drives: 2009 E90 N54 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Jackson, MS Posts: 1,221 iTrader: (0)	Is that a Dickies jacket I see? __________________

03-12-2012, 04:02 PM	#14
e90pilot Freight Dawg Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 1,944 iTrader: (3)	What kind of filter did you have? If it's a K&N, that explains it. Those with WAY too much oil out of the box. __________________ --Marcelo '06 Arctic Metallic 325i \| Sport Package \| 6MT \| Dinan Stage III suspension \| Dinan exhaust \| 330i manifold swap! Click here! \| Active Autowerke tune \| 135i Brake Calipers \| Racing Brake 2-piece rotors Click here for review!

03-12-2012, 06:16 AM	#3
mlifxs Diamond Geezer Drives: Jet Black 2007 328i Saloon Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 916 iTrader: (0)	Curious how many miles on your car? Did it solve your issue?

03-12-2012, 07:45 AM	#4
Eternal Second Lieutenant Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 279 iTrader: (3)	Curious about the mileage since last clean as well.

03-12-2012, 07:56 AM	#5
TroyDeJ Banned Drives: around aimlessly Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 984 iTrader: (1)	Im at 103k miles and it was never cleaned before

03-12-2012, 07:57 AM	#6
Eternal Second Lieutenant Drives: 2006 325i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 279 iTrader: (3)	Looks like I need to do the same thing then!

03-12-2012, 08:05 AM	#7
SeriousE92 Private First Class Drives: E92 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: NOVA Posts: 102 iTrader: (0)	Where is that film/oil coming from? Is that a problem long term and are there any fixes for it?

03-12-2012, 09:02 AM	#9
TroyDeJ Banned Drives: around aimlessly Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 984 iTrader: (1)	EGR is probably the best explanation. My other guess is just from exhaust gasses from other cars that pass by the filter and stick to the throttle plate because the intake manifold after the TB was clean

03-12-2012, 12:03 PM	#12
TroyDeJ Banned Drives: around aimlessly Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 984 iTrader: (1)	thats my dads jacket lol. he did the plugs while i did the TB

03-13-2012, 05:36 PM	#16
TroyDeJ Banned Drives: around aimlessly Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 984 iTrader: (1)	i have an oem filter also

01-25-2013, 04:29 PM	#18
index1489 Major Drives: Out of warranty BMW Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Chino, CA Posts: 1,364 iTrader: (3)	Whats interesting is the N52 uses valvetronic to regulate throttle, that throttle body is only there for backup if valvetronic fails and usually stays completely open at all times. __________________ Gotta pay to play. WTB OEM Headunit E90/E92/E93 08+

01-26-2013, 10:58 AM	#19
Eelesy24 Enlisted Member Drives: 2006 E90 325i M Sport Manual Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: South East Posts: 30 iTrader: (0)	The throttle is used more than just as a back up, it is used on cold start and also at other times when vacuum is required. At cold start is when the build up is most likely to happen because the engine is not hot enough to completely burn it __________________ 2006 E90 325i M Sport Manual, BMW performance kidney grills, BMW performance air filter, plenty more to come

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