"Decarbonizing" Honda Odyssey

My dealer recommends "decarbonizing" the throttle body (by soaking it in
solvent) of my Odyssey every 2 years for $179. He says it's due to the
cheap gas and, god forbid, the carbon migrate all the way to the catalytic
converter.

I'm a little confused since I picture the throttle body as being before the
cylinders/combustion, and the catalytic converter as after...

But, none the less, has anyone heard of this and is it worth it?

Thanks

 

You can do it yourself if you're the least bit handy with an $8 bottle of
throttle body cleaner. Oh, and avoid the $200 "injector" service. You can do
that too with a $4 bottle of Techron.

Josh

 

You can do it yourself if you're the least bit handy with an $8 bottle of
throttle body cleaner. Oh, and avoid the $200 "injector" service. You can do
that too with a $4 bottle of Techron.

Josh

 

Or just buy better gas for a few weeks, or, y'know, always.

I guess the issue is whether this is "de-carbonizing", or
"de-gunking".

J.

 

Or just buy better gas for a few weeks, or, y'know, always.

I guess the issue is whether this is "de-carbonizing", or
"de-gunking".

J.

 

Or "de-dollaring".

 

Or "de-dollaring".

 

It's not a big deal - the only symptom I've seen of this gunked up throttle
body is a sticking accelerator when cold: you press on the pedal and it
feels sticky and when it lets go the car lurches a bit. IME I haven't seen
this on non-EGR cars so I figure that's at least partly responsible for the
gunk build-up.

$179. seems excessive for what's required - remove the rubber intake from
the throttle body, hold the throttle plate open, spray with TB cleaner and
brush with a toothbrush, wipe off with a clean rag. It shouldn't take more
than 30mins - 15mins with practice.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

It's not a big deal - the only symptom I've seen of this gunked up throttle
body is a sticking accelerator when cold: you press on the pedal and it
feels sticky and when it lets go the car lurches a bit. IME I haven't seen
this on non-EGR cars so I figure that's at least partly responsible for the
gunk build-up.

$179. seems excessive for what's required - remove the rubber intake from
the throttle body, hold the throttle plate open, spray with TB cleaner and
brush with a toothbrush, wipe off with a clean rag. It shouldn't take more
than 30mins - 15mins with practice.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) Valve sends back some of those
unburnt/not entirely consumed sooty exhaust gases back through your
throttle body for better emissions.

 

EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) Valve sends back some of those
unburnt/not entirely consumed sooty exhaust gases back through your
throttle body for better emissions.

 

: My dealer recommends "decarbonizing" the throttle body (by soaking it in
: solvent) of my Odyssey every 2 years for $179. He says it's due to the
: cheap gas and, god forbid, the carbon migrate all the way to the catalytic
: converter.
:
: I'm a little confused since I picture the throttle body as being before
the
: cylinders/combustion, and the catalytic converter as after...
:
: But, none the less, has anyone heard of this and is it worth it?
:
: Thanks
:
I recently had the throttle body of my 2000 Accord cleaned by my local shop.
They told me my sticky throttle was a result of using "cheap gas." Well,
maybe. They charged me $64, and I don't have a sticky throttle anymore. $179
every two years seems excessive, especially since you didn't say you're
actually having any throttle body-related problems. I'd get a quote from a
good independent shop if I were you.

I have decided to use only Chevron gas from now on, as a precaution. We'll
see if it helps. Oddly, the prices at one of the local Chevron stations are
as good as or in some cases better than the prices at the "cheap gas"
stations.

Paul

 

It is worth it to your dealer to recommend this worthless service. They
make a hefty profit. A good way to double check this is to look at the
service schedule that came with your car. See if this so called service
is needed.

 

It is worth it to your dealer to recommend this worthless service. They
make a hefty profit. A good way to double check this is to look at the
service schedule that came with your car. See if this so called service
is needed.

 

LOL. When I said "cheap" gas, I guess I meant "lower quality". I buy what
I think is good, "name brand" gas. The dealer says Florida has less
stringent gas requirements than some place like California and hence we get
a lower quality of gas.

 

LOL. When I said "cheap" gas, I guess I meant "lower quality". I buy what
I think is good, "name brand" gas. The dealer says Florida has less
stringent gas requirements than some place like California and hence we get
a lower quality of gas.

 

Absolutely. It is worth every bit of $179 to your dealer.

 

Absolutely. It is worth every bit of $179 to your dealer.

 

Yikes. Stay away.

It's true, throttle bodies can get gunked up--and the old style Odyssey
and its brother the Accord are famous for that. But a throttle body
clean is nowhere near $179 at any reputable dealer. It's a half hour or
so labor, maybe a bit more. That's it.

 

Yikes. Stay away.

It's true, throttle bodies can get gunked up--and the old style Odyssey
and its brother the Accord are famous for that. But a throttle body
clean is nowhere near $179 at any reputable dealer. It's a half hour or
so labor, maybe a bit more. That's it.