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Fixed the old man’s car today. He drives a rav4, which are apparently notorious for getting sticky on the throttle body over the years. He had been getting a short high rev when he started the car for quite some time. Then yesterday he tells me he stalled out a few times when he let off the gas. So he’s finally down to let me help him out. Pull the snorkel, and honestly it didn’t look too bad, but may as well give it a spray of carb cleaner and a wipe. Kind of a pain to get the snorkel seated again, but that’s cars. Starts her up, no rev, takes her out no stalls, says she even sounds a lot better. All for $4.24, pretty sure I saved him about $80 from an honest mechanic.

Fixed the old man’s car today. He drives a rav4, which are apparently notorious for getting sticky on the throttle body over the years. He had been getting a short high rev when he started the car for quite some time. Then yesterday he tells me he stalled out a few times when he let off the gas. So he’s finally down to let me help him out. Pull the snorkel, and honestly it didn’t look too bad, but may as well give it a spray of carb cleaner and a wipe. Kind of a pain to get the snorkel seated again, but that’s cars. Starts her up, no rev, takes her out no stalls, says she even sounds a lot better. All for $4.24, pretty sure I saved him about $80 from an honest mechanic.

(post is archived)

[–] • 2 pts

You're doing the lord's work my friend! People don't know that even though gasoline evaporates it leaves a residue that is sticky. More now than ever since they put corn oil in it(ethanol). Thanks for the reminder. I need another can of sea foam.

[–] • 1 pt

yup yup, people don't know a lot these days.

[–] • 1 pt

Who was that masked mechanic?

[–] • 0 pt

Not sure I get your meaning.

[–] • 0 pt

I was referencing an old catchphrase from the lone ranger. Just a boomer joke, carry on.

[–] • 0 pt

i see now, perhaps i would have gotten it if you typed manchanic... but now that i've typed it i'd say probably not. i was more into Bonanza anyway.

[–] • 0 pt

Yeah I can't tell if he's discussing a crime or mistaking this place for some auto forum.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

HOW DO I USE CARB CLEANER WHEN I HAVE NO CARB, HUH???

[–] • 0 pt

its not that tricky. identify your non-carb, point and spray and wipe.pretty sure its just acetone and toluene. you can clean all sorts of stuff with that mix.

[–] • 0 pt

and good luck finding an honest mechanic

[–] • 0 pt

Lucky enough I grew up with one or two... mechanics that is... don’t know that they’re honest with the plebs, but I can use an empty bay on the weekend and pay cost for parts, which of nice.

[–] • 0 pt

i worked for the #1 rated Buick GMC dealer in America. Their service dept was dishonest.

[–] • 0 pt

Many cars have blowby gasses that are recirculated through the PCV. There is likely 2 pcv valves on that car, one that goes to the intake pipe before the throttle and one that goes to the intake body.

Often times oil makes it through and leaves carbon deposits throughout the intake. Usually the permanent fix to this is an oil catch can. If you don't have that, you should inspect and clean the throttle body as you did fairly regularly.

[–] • 0 pt

You sound like you know a thing or two. How do you feel about EGRs and DPFs?

[–] • 0 pt

I don't know that much, this is just info I hear on YT.

With EGRs on diesels, you most certainly have to use a catch can system as soon as you buy a new diesel. Else the oil vapors will combine with the diesel soot and make a sludgy tar that'll clog up the EGR system.

On gasoline vehicles, the oil vapors will form carbon deposits within the EGR system. This will vary depending on the amount of blowby your engine has. An oil catch can should be able to solve this problem, but you need a decent designed catch can with a good filter, else, the oil vapors will just go through.

EGR systems can be a headache.

DPF and the new gasoline particulate systems have their own problems. DPF causes more harm than good, as you need to run the engine to heat the DPF during regeneration. There should not be a DPF system for passenger vehicles, and pickup trucks. They are very costly, emit more emissions, and will emit more emissions as they will likely break and need to be produced again.

They force DPF systems on diesels so they can make sure you don't have an efficient mode of travel. It's designed to destroy the industry.

[–] • 0 pt

Thanks for the tip

[–] • 0 pt

Good reminder, just did some other work didn't even think about cleaning the MAF.

[–] • 0 pt

Good on you, friend. Honest people are really hard to come by and you should sleep well for at least one night knowing you've done a good deed for the day. Please repeat this experience as often as possible. Amplify the good in the world. In humans, positivity is not as powerful as negativity, thus positivity requires a much higher current in order to compete.

[–] • 0 pt

It is getting warmer out. Perfect time to go over all the car's maintenance.

[–] • 1 pt

yeah, next weekend i should do brakes and fuel filters on my ol' heap