# Substitute for throttle body cleaner?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/substitute-for-throttle-body-cleaner/58542>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** pedal, mitsubishi\
**Created:** [December 11, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/substitute-for-throttle-body-cleaner/58542 "2010-12-11T14:02:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kayweb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@kayweb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kayweb)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/substitute-for-throttle-body-cleaner/58542/1 "2010-12-11T14:02:28Z")

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Trying to use advice from this site to help a relative in England improve a sticky gas pedal. Two local auto part shops didn’t have “throttle body cleaner”. What sort of substance is it, and might something similar be sold under a different name (or for another purpose)? One of the shops advised applying spray grease and pumping the pedal a bit, but the purpose of the cleaner seems to be removal of dirt with a clean cloth, so I hate to just add grease to existing dirt. Any ideas? (The same shopkeeper advised using Vaseline in place of dielectrical grease after cleaning wiring contacts; I also don’t know if that advice was sound).

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/substitute-for-throttle-body-cleaner/58542/2 "2010-12-11T14:28:00Z")

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The shopkeeper may be a decent character and interesting to have tea with, but I wouldn’t rely on him for automotive advice.

If throttle body cleaner is unavailable, any petroleum based solvent will work. That includes carb cleaner. Avoid any that leaves a lubricating residue, as that will attract deposits.