[obzen]

Went to dealer for oils change vehicle check on a 2017 f36 with 28k mi. Dealer says I need throttle body carbon clean up and coolant flush due every 3 years. Anyone done these already?

[328iX]

Originally Posted by obzen

Went to dealer for oils change vehicle check on a 2017 f36 with 28k mi. Dealer says I need throttle body carbon clean up and coolant flush due every 3 years. Anyone done these already?

No. That's BS

I'd ask for pictures of the throttle body it's probably spotless at that mileage.

If I remember coolant is 10years/ 150k HOAT

[Billfitz]

How much does he want to clean the throttle body? All he's going to do is use a $12 can of CRC spray, an easy DIY job. Coolant only needs to be flushed if it turns brown, indicating rust in the cooling system.

[chiefneil]

Coolant flushes aren’t on a fixed schedule anymore. I’d definitely be cautious with future service recommendations from that particular dealer.

[dmaxdmax]

Add a bottle of Techron every few months.

[obzen]

Thanks guys, I already did the maintenance but should of held off I'm thinking of going to a different dealer from now on as these guys just tag on shit to get you to pay seems like.

[Desertnate]

The throttle body "service" or "induction system service" seems to be standard fare these days with just about every dealership from every brand. Must be a great profit item for the service department.

I've had the same thing recommended by every dealership I've been to recently; VW, Honda, Toyota, and Mazda dealerships in my area. Oddly enough my BMW dealership hasn't mentioned it...yet.

[obzen]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

The throttle body "service" or "induction system service" seems to be standard fare these days with just about every dealership from every brand. Must be a great profit item for the service department.

I've had the same thing recommended by every dealership I've been to recently; VW, Honda, Toyota, and Mazda dealerships in my area. Oddly enough my BMW dealership hasn't mentioned it...yet.

As they don't actually take it off and clean it properly they just spay some shit in there as someone mentioned here.

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by obzen

As they don't actually take it off and clean it properly they just spay some shit in there as someone mentioned here.

Agree, and I've yet to see it on any service schedule for any car I own/have owned. Can't believe people fall for it.

[obzen]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

Agree, and I've yet to see it on any service schedule for any car I own/have owned. Can't believe people fall for it.

I guess I fell for it. They got me when they said it's due every 3 years. I guess I could have came back and researched it before giving the ok but now I know ha

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by dmaxdmax

Add a bottle of Techron every few months.

That's good advice for keeping the injectors clean, but not the throttle body, intake manifold or intake valves. You clean those with intake cleaner. Even better, install an oil catch can to prevent the oil that causes carbon deposits from making those components dirty in the first place.

The throttle body "service" or "induction system service" seems to be standard fare these days with just about every dealership from every brand. Must be a great profit item for the service department.

This is what they use. It's a 30 minute job. How much are they charging? I've seen it average $500. Profitable? You do the math. https://www.autobarn.net/crc05319cle...te=google_base

And they buy it wholesale by the case.

[dmaxdmax]

Thank you, Bill! I'd removed my TB to clean it and my idle control valve in e46 and it stayed clean for maybe 7-8 years. Didn't even think that this car might have other gizmos! I will put this cleaner on my list!

[BMWILUVU]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

The throttle body "service" or "induction system service" seems to be standard fare these days with just about every dealership from every brand. Must be a great profit item for the service department.

I've had the same thing recommended by every dealership I've been to recently; VW, Honda, Toyota, and Mazda dealerships in my area. Oddly enough my BMW dealership hasn't mentioned it...yet.

Based on my last visit experience, dealerships are recommending and doing service they usually don't these days. They are not as busy as before so you need to watch it.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by dmaxdmax

I will put this cleaner on my list!

When I use it I put a piece of wood from the driver's seat to the gas pedal, using the seat adjustment to move it forward just enough to keep the RPM at 2500 while injecting the cleaner. Spraying it with short bursts the engine never hesitates. I remove the MAF sensor, spraying through that opening. While you've got it off clean the MAF sensor, using MAF sensor cleaner. Don't use the intake cleaner on the MAF. It's the same active chemical, but the intake cleaner is far more concentrated, and will damage the MAF sensor.

[RAK92]

From the product’s info page, though...

“Not a throttle body cleaner”

So, does it do the actual job or were you recommending using this as an intake cleaner? Thanks!

[capt_slow]

Coolant changes used to be done as factory-recommended maintenance every two years. Now BMW sees it as lifetime fluids.

Mike Miller's maintenance guide still recommends a coolant change every two years. It's not required maintenance, but recommended preventative work if you plan to keep the car long term. Same boat as transmission fluid changes.

[Billfitz]

It's not a throttle body cleaner per se but when you inject it through the MAF it will clean the throttle body along with the intake manifold and valves. They probably say it's not a throttle body cleaner because throttle body cleaner wouldn't be sufficiently concentrated to clean the manifold and valves. Since deposits on the manifold and valves are far more problematic than deposits on the throttle body it wouldn't make any sense not cleaning all of them at the same time.

[Fliplegend]

If there was evidence that frequent coolant flushes prevented the plastic cooling components from crumbling, I'd probably do it yearly.

[obzen]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

How much does he want to clean the throttle body? All he's going to do is use a $12 can of CRC spray, an easy DIY job. Coolant only needs to be flushed if it turns brown, indicating rust in the cooling system.

Here's the rundown

[Billfitz]

If there was evidence that frequent coolant flushes prevented the plastic cooling components from crumbling, I'd probably do it yearly.

It would make no difference. Plastic degradation is primarily caused by heat. Some chemicals are harmful to plastic, but ethylene glycol and propylene glycol aren't. Cooling system flushing used to be a regular maintenance item when engine blocks were primarily cast iron. I remember having a rig that attached a garden hose to the radiator cap to pressure flush the system. That's when radiators had drain cocks for that purpose. Drain cocks are gone because iron blocks and the rust they cause are gone. I haven't found any rust in my coolant for thirty odd years, when aluminum blocks became the rule rather than the exception.

[capt_slow]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It would make no difference. Plastic degradation is primarily caused by heat. Some chemicals are harmful to plastic, but ethylene glycol and propylene glycol aren't. Cooling system flushing used to be a regular maintenance item when engine blocks were primarily cast iron. I remember having a rig that attached a garden hose to the radiator cap to pressure flush the system. That's when radiators had drain cocks for that purpose. Drain cocks are gone because iron blocks and the rust they cause are gone. I haven't found any rust in my coolant for thirty odd years, when aluminum blocks became the rule rather than the exception.

Doesn't coolant become acidic over time and start corrode some engine components?

[Billfitz]

It does, and corrosion can occur. If you don't see any change in color then a reasonable change interval is 6 years or 100,000 miles. If you don't want to fix what isn't broken, or fail to fix what is broken, get some coolant test strips. A lifetime supply will cost you less than $20.
https://www.amazon.com/Cool-Trak-311...ag=googhydr-20

Another method to test pH is with a DMM.