Cleaned the IACV today

[6670charger]

Cleaned the IACV today. Was having some problems with rough idle and generally crappy running for the past couple of days beginning with the -14 temps the other morning on the way home from work. Check Engine light on. The car would just barely stay running at idle. Same thing when I started it up to back out of the driveway this afternoon. Figured I'd start by cleaning the IACV. Decided it couldn't hurt, anyway.

 

Car is an 88 325ic. Pulled the IACV and took a look at it. Didn't look too dirty just eyeballing it, but, got some brownish drainage when I sprayed it out. Sprayed it until it drained clear. Did the same with the rubber hose and metal elbow going into the TB. Put it all back together again, and although it ran a little rough for the first couple of seconds after initial ignition, it smoothed right out, and no more Check Engine light. Went for a drive to warm it up, and it drove great the whole time!

 

Question: How frequently should one clean this part? Thinking that maybe I should do this twice a year when I do my oil changes; early spring and late fall just to be safe. Any thoughts? Am I going overboard?

[B C]

Run an oil catch can and you will probably never have to mess with it again. The moisture, oil, and petrol byproducts can corrode or gunk up the ICV depending on if your engine runs at operating temperature normally or only does short drives in the winter. I have never had to clean mine out in the 4 years I have owned my car fwiw

[6670charger]

Mine usually does a 50 mile round trip back and forth to work 4 times a week, with some around town running in between. Might not need it as often as I think, as I have no idea when the last time was that it was cleaned, if ever. 

[jc43089]

I cleaned mine 5yrs/45k ago and just now it is starting to stick again.  I do mostly highway driving, 30 miles one way to work.

[6670charger]

OK. Sounds like I don't need to clean mine as often as I was thinking. Maybe once every few years will do.

 

Thanks for the info folks!!

[I love my E39]

I neef to clean the iacv on my e39 any tips on how to clean it out good? Mine has not liked the cold at all I know the 5 series are notorious for their cold bloodednesd

[YoungCR]

I neef to clean the iacv on my e39 any tips on how to clean it out good? Mine has not liked the cold at all I know the 5 series are notorious for their cold bloodednesd

 

Tooth brush and some carb cleaner is all you should need!

[6670charger]

Tooth brush and some carb cleaner is all you should need!

 

Yep. I sprayed mine out with cleaner about four times. Kept spraying and dumping out the liquid until it came out clear. 

 

Mine only took a few minutes as the unit sits right on top of the engine. Yours, if I recall from working on an E39 IACV in Germany, is buried somewhere under the intake and requires removing a few items to access it. The cleaning aspect, once you get to yours, is quick and simple.

[I love my E39]

Ahh the removing parts is what Im afraid of.lol

[6670charger]

Ahh the removing parts is what Im afraid of.lol

 

Actually, this is probably the easiest part to remove and re-install short of the steering wheel on a non airbag car. The cap on my windshield washer bottle is harder to take off and put back on than my IACV is.