Throttle Body Coolant Lines

Rooskey · 10-15-2010, 08:01 PM

Has anybody contemplated removing the coolant lines from the throttle bodies so no more hot coolant runs through them? Seems like it would help out on the cold air entering the intake manifold. Or has anyone already done this? Just a thought.

theDreamer · 10-15-2010, 08:17 PM

Posting quickly, look up a member called wstar.

Rooskey · 10-15-2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

Posting quickly, look up a member called wstar.

Thanks! That answered all my questions.

travisjb · 10-15-2010, 08:53 PM

yeah, I think Wstar created a DIY post on this last year... I should do this too... in DIY section if I recall correctly

N8GTOL · 10-15-2010, 09:00 PM

I wouldn't do it to a daily driver. Maybe if you're just going to go track the car on a warm day where the rpms will remain high you could take it off.

I believe the coolant lines are there to keep the throttle body from icing up. Similar in function to the carb heat knob found on older carburetor airplane engines. With respect to airplanes, you can get carb ice on a warm clear day at a low altitude where the air temp is well above freezing (72F). I realize we dont have carburetors in our engines but there can still be a significant pressure drop down stream of the throttle butterfly where ice can form under the right low rpm conditions...ice can also form on the throttle body itself which could choke off the engine. Some really old cars were made without heated throttle bodies and there were a lot of issues that forced automakers to retrofit heat sources onto the throttle bodies.

6spd · 10-15-2010, 09:42 PM

Those lines are there, like others around the engine, to increase the speed at which a motor gets to operating temp. This is done for emissions and fuel economy. Warmer motors that intake warmer air have a leaner fuel/air mixture, or optimum when considering fuel economy. Removing the lines will likely have no tangible positive results. The temperature of the throttle body is irrelevant in the grand scheme of intake temps. Once an engine is warmed up, radiant heat quickly heats up surrounding metal parts, meaning the throttle bodies are hot, no matter whether they have the coolant lines running through them or not. Intakes temps are determined by the IAT sensors and flow by the MAF and MAP sensors.

Moral of the story, disconnecting the lines make no real, tangible difference, performance wise. But if you must, and you think it'll make you happy, by all means do it, just try not to make a mess!

Rooskey · 10-16-2010, 01:28 AM

Project Done! Thanks for everyone's response on the situation. BTW this forum has been awesome for me as I have built numerous muscle cars in my days and this is my first japanese sports car. All my friends were so suprised when I pulled up in the Z!

ajames1463 · 04-07-2011, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N8GTOL

I wouldn't do it to a daily driver. Maybe if you're just going to go track the car on a warm day where the rpms will remain high you could take it off.

I believe the coolant lines are there to keep the throttle body from icing up. Similar in function to the carb heat knob found on older carburetor airplane engines. With respect to airplanes, you can get carb ice on a warm clear day at a low altitude where the air temp is well above freezing (72F). I realize we dont have carburetors in our engines but there can still be a significant pressure drop down stream of the throttle butterfly where ice can form under the right low rpm conditions...ice can also form on the throttle body itself which could choke off the engine. Some really old cars were made without heated throttle bodies and there were a lot of issues that forced automakers to retrofit heat sources onto the throttle bodies.

A simple updraft carburetor with a fixed venture illustrates basic carburetor action. Intake air charge, at full or reduced atmospheric pressure as controlled by the throttle, is drawn into the cylinder by the downward motion of the piston to mix with the unscavenged exhaust remaining in the cylinder from the previous combustion.

______________________________________
MR GASKET CARBURETOR LINKAGE BALL JOINT,
2 PIECES -- Standard, A Premium Quality
Replacement Linkage Component

10-15-2010, 08:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rooskey Track Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 974 Drives: 2014 Alpha7 GTR Rep Power: 15	Throttle Body Coolant Lines Has anybody contemplated removing the coolant lines from the throttle bodies so no more hot coolant runs through them? Seems like it would help out on the cold air entering the intake manifold. Or has anyone already done this? Just a thought.

10-15-2010, 08:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4210	Posting quickly, look up a member called wstar. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

10-15-2010, 08:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
travisjb A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: GSO Posts: 2,803 Drives: VIR Rep Power: 188	yeah, I think Wstar created a DIY post on this last year... I should do this too... in DIY section if I recall correctly __________________ 2009 370Z #104 For Sale

10-15-2010, 09:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Florida Posts: 3,001 Drives: Q50RS Rep Power: 24	Those lines are there, like others around the engine, to increase the speed at which a motor gets to operating temp. This is done for emissions and fuel economy. Warmer motors that intake warmer air have a leaner fuel/air mixture, or optimum when considering fuel economy. Removing the lines will likely have no tangible positive results. The temperature of the throttle body is irrelevant in the grand scheme of intake temps. Once an engine is warmed up, radiant heat quickly heats up surrounding metal parts, meaning the throttle bodies are hot, no matter whether they have the coolant lines running through them or not. Intakes temps are determined by the IAT sensors and flow by the MAF and MAP sensors. Moral of the story, disconnecting the lines make no real, tangible difference, performance wise. But if you must, and you think it'll make you happy, by all means do it, just try not to make a mess! __________________ -Jay- jonathanjamesphotographer.com

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10-15-2010, 09:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
N8GTOL Base Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 228 Drives: and flies Rep Power: 21	I wouldn't do it to a daily driver. Maybe if you're just going to go track the car on a warm day where the rpms will remain high you could take it off. I believe the coolant lines are there to keep the throttle body from icing up. Similar in function to the carb heat knob found on older carburetor airplane engines. With respect to airplanes, you can get carb ice on a warm clear day at a low altitude where the air temp is well above freezing (72F). I realize we dont have carburetors in our engines but there can still be a significant pressure drop down stream of the throttle butterfly where ice can form under the right low rpm conditions...ice can also form on the throttle body itself which could choke off the engine. Some really old cars were made without heated throttle bodies and there were a lot of issues that forced automakers to retrofit heat sources onto the throttle bodies.

10-16-2010, 01:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
Rooskey Track Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 974 Drives: 2014 Alpha7 GTR Rep Power: 15	Project Done! Thanks for everyone's response on the situation. BTW this forum has been awesome for me as I have built numerous muscle cars in my days and this is my first japanese sports car. All my friends were so suprised when I pulled up in the Z!