Throttle actuator/ITB lubrication?

Hey everyone. I have my plenum off atm, working on fixing the gasket whistle issue. While it’s off, I want to know if I should use some gun oil/WD-40 in some areas contacting the throttle actuators? TA’s were already replaced 10k miles ago, I am just thinking preventatively. Maybe a more lubricated/cleaned area would reduce friction

Appreciate any help!

Great question. I haven't heard anything about lubrication but am curious to hear what others say.

I did read about cleaning all the butterflies to help reduce sticking... Inturn reducing resistance on the throttle actuators. Not sure if this actually helps but I did mine when the plenum was off.

Asianoak wrote

Great question. I haven't heard anything about lubrication but am curious to hear what others say.

I did read about cleaning all the butterflies to help reduce sticking... Inturn reducing resistance on the throttle actuators. Not sure if this actually helps but I did mine when the plenum was off.

How did you clean them? I cleaned the outside but was scared to open them and spray a bunch of throttle body cleaner into ‘em

I'm not 100% sure, it's been a while. But pretty sure I more or less did exactly what you said. Throttle body cleaner sprayed on closed butterflies, let it sit and dissolve then gently wiped off. Did that a few times then I think I held them open and did my best to clean the undersides. They definitely seemed cleaner afterwards but not sure if it really helped with sticking. But figured I might as well do it just in case

What’s this gasket whistling issue? What causes it and what is the fix?

bsmoov wrote

What’s this gasket whistling issue? What causes it and what is the fix?

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1698102

I don’t have this issue but figured I would do the fix anyways. I already have the plenum off and already have gasket maker

EeeNinetyTwo wrote

Hey everyone. I have my plenum off atm, working on fixing the gasket whistle issue. While it’s off, I want to know if I should use some gun oil/WD-40 in some areas contacting the throttle actuators? TA’s were already replaced 10k miles ago, I am just thinking preventatively. Maybe a more lubricated/cleaned area would reduce friction

Appreciate any help!

BMW recommends dry spray lube with PTFE for those positions and the linkages. Do not use a wet lube like WD40 - they attract dust and makes things dirtier after a while.

Redd wrote

BMW recommends dry spray lube with PTFE for those positions and the linkages. Do not use a wet lube like WD40 - they attract dust and makes things dirtier after a while.

^ This

I'll try and find the name of the exact OE lubricant which was made by 3M, but it's NLA so I guess it doesn't matter.

I picked this up from Amazon and plan to use it when I do my FBV:

Super Lube Dri-Film Synthetic Lubricant

boesheild t9

a5m wrote

^ This

I'll try and find the name of the exact OE lubricant which was made by 3M, but it's NLA so I guess it doesn't matter.

I picked this up from Amazon and plan to use it when I do my FBV:

Super Lube Dri-Film Synthetic Lubricant

This stuff is great. I should pick up some.

a5m wrote

I picked this up from Amazon and plan to use it when I do my FBV:

Super Lube Dri-Film Synthetic Lubricant

This is the exact same brand that I use. Works well.

Redd wrote

This is the exact same brand that I use. Works well.

Hmm, this seems to be a US product only, although I can get it here in the UK it's ~£36 for a can!
Think I'll see what sort of PTFE lube I can find over here....
Btw, by dry lube, do you mean grease?

PS Thanks to the op for reminding me about this job (first saw it mentioned in a YT video only a last year).

[edit] Lol, well it turns out that the brand WD40 does a dry PTFE lube too, £10 incl. del. from eBay.