ETB Coolant Bypass Mod

[goldwing2000]

As discussed on one of the other threads, the Electronic Throttle Body on the 3 is heated by engine coolant.

While this is done to aid in fuel vaporization and produce a cleaner burning vehicle (and prevent ETB icing in the winter), the warmer air does hamper performance.

The nice folks over at Mazda 6 forums were kind enough to write up a quickie procedure for bypassing the coolant flow (http://www.mazda6tech.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=35) but I'd like to offer a possibly more viable solution for those of us in the colder climates to help prevent ETB icing while still getting the colder air benefit from the mod.

Simply put, we could place a valve in the hose that feeds coolant to the ETB. There are numerous ways to accomplish this but the two that come two mind are as follows:

#1 Use a simple ball valve, available at any hardware/home improvement store. I don't know what temperature they are rated for or if there may be different valves for different applications but this would be a simple way to place a manual valve inline to close off the coolant flow. This would be the cheapest option, maybe $10.

#2 Use an actual heater control valve. These are designed for use with automotive coolants and are generally lever or vacuum controlled. It wouldn't be difficult to rig up a switch and vacuum solenoid to control the coolant flow so it could be controlled from inside the vehicle. This would be optimal for the chilly morning drive/shut it off as the car warms up scenario but would be a bit more expensive, possibly up to $100 depending on how involved you want to get.

DISCUSSION!!

[Glowspeedp5]

Or do not worry about it. Us Florida people HEHEHEHE. It should still work in the winter but car take a while to warm up..

[Paul Ruebens]

link no workee

[goldwing2000]

link no workee

Fixed.

[Loose]

1. Has the 6 ppl done this and how do thy percieve the modification to improve performance, i.e does it help?

2. If it seems to help performance, your question: how do we in the colder climates control the flow to the TB? The ball valve appears to be the simplest thing to do. The vacuum line with a switch seems REALLY involved but a do-able thing. I guess i would want to hear from the 6 community as to thier percepition of the mod.

This is exactly why I follow this forum. I think this is a great question. If we can find out more info from ppl who have done this and it appears to help I would consider researching the valve/no-valve question further.

Thanx

Tim

[goldwing2000]

6 ppl have done it (check the link I posted). They have a forum over there you could browse through if you want to get their opinions.

[Da 6]

mazda6tech and ********** has the how-to.....and as for the valve.....that coolant runs back into the head somewhere so I'm still not shure on that one....would it be like a "t" conection....or maybe a y with split rotaing ball valves on both sides of the tb?....Thats what I ment as in going back if you tb ever freezes up so you can rectify the situation on the spot. I was thinking of getting another resovoir and windshield washer pump and rig something out of trial and error (If I ever get that thing called "Free Time") so there would be coolant running in it but not as hot as the coolant is now....The line runs from the engine to tb then back to engine now....I beleve this would also cool the intake down since it is also directly attached to the tb and already suffers from the heat blasts from the fans(reason you don't go sri) may not have mentioned it but all the mods and how-to's are "At Your Own Risk" so no one is to blame if you incorectly install a cai and damage abs harnesses or do a complete brake fluid flush while painting the calipers...If you are unshure please ask someone before taking a wrench to the car. most the mods don't void warrenty "As long as you don't tear anything up" IE not conecting the 2 lines securely (Temp Job) leaking all the fluid causing the engine to overheat...or going to some drive thru lube shop with your 2.3 and they hill billy rig a fram spin-on w/o mazda spin-on adaptor and pump your pan dry a few blocks down(true story) and one more thing to add....if you are one of those people who get t stats that open up 20-30 degrees lower than stock cause someone said it adds like 10 hp don't do it cause you will not burn fuel correctly making gas mileage and quality of ride SUFFER...

so to sum it up....best to ask before you do! You may feel stupid to ask but better than being dumb for not.

[Loose]

6 ppl have done it (check the link I posted). They have a forum over there you could browse through if you want to get their opinions.
Goldwing, I checked the link repeatedly and I can only read the page with the how-to on it. If you would be so kind as to post another link as to the ppl's opinion or just give me some guidence. My wife is standing over me as I type saying " I think I regret letting you buy a BRAND NEW car." lol She doesn't even know how much she will regret this, HAHAHA.

Tim

ps. Happy Memorial Day.

[goldwing2000]

Goldwing, I checked the link repeatedly and I can only read the page with the how-to on it. If you would be so kind as to post another link as to the ppl's opinion or just give me some guidence. My wife is standing over me as I type saying " I think I regret letting you buy a BRAND NEW car." lol She doesn't even know how much she will regret this, HAHAHA.

Tim

ps. Happy Memorial Day.

On the left side of the page is a link to "Mazda6Tech Forums". There's a search feature on the forum and you should be able to find anything that's been written. If you can't find what you're looking for... well, just join their forum and post the question. (2thumbs)

[goldwing2000]

Da 6:

Do you know off hand which is the supply line and which is the return line?

I'm just about positive that the intake manifold will get coolant from someplace else in addition to the return from the ETB. That would just about negate any cooling effects from the aux cooler.

Anyway... I haven't even looked at it yet.

I'll know more after some "quality time" with my engine. ;)

[Da 6]

you want 1 thread?.....here goes...I suck at search engines so all I could find was just 1...I still posted it cause whats the point in hiding a thread? (You'll see what I ment by cliking the link below)....gimme a sec and Ill retreve the ones for grounding and post it in other thread...



http://***************/forums/read.php?TID=15276&page=1

[TX2000]

are those the coolant lines??

i went to the Mazda6 link and wasnt able to look at the photos

and btw the TB gets hot preatty fast.. i only ran the car for like 6 mins ant the thing was way hot...

[Da 6]

yep thats them...

[Loose]

What if we made the mod with the male/male connector and utilized the it only during the summer months? Do you think the connector could be placed/removed w/ minimal trouble? I will be honest the thought of my TB freezing on the way to work scares the shit out of me.

[Dead Ringer]

I will be honest the thought of my TB freezing on the way to work scares the shit out of me.


move to Phoenix Arizona (hehe).. I bet I would never have to worry about this mod affecting me here, I think the coldest it ever gets here is low 50's

[Loose]

move to Phoenix Arizona (hehe).. I bet I would never have to worry about this mod affecting me here, I think the coldest it ever gets here is low 50's
Moving to Jacksonville, Fl 7/1/05 but not soon enough. Up here on Lake Erie is nice now but in Janurary it never got above 17 degrees F

[TX2000]

omw to pick up a male to male 3/8 conector hehe... the sad part is that im going in my 3 soo gotta wait a long time before i install it...

[TX2000]

Got the conector.. now waiting for the car to cool down :mad:

[goldwing2000]

You might want to get some rubber caps to put over the pipes on the ETB. You don't want any crap getting in there while it's disconnected.

[Loose]

Let me know what you think of the mod and tell us what all you have done to the 3. I saw on another thread a box of stock parts w/ your name on it. I am about to purchuse a CAI and a pipe and want to know if the mods are worth the ching (money). Thanx

[Nathan G]

Let me know what you think of the mod and tell us what all you have done to the 3. I saw on another thread a box of stock parts w/ your name on it. I am about to purchuse a CAI and a pipe and want to know if the mods are worth the ching (money). Thanx
I did it over the weekend. Not a real noticeable change in performance but I do have more pick up with the A/C on, as crazy as that sounds.

[TX2000]

well i didt the bypass .. performance gains?? i dont know (my butt dyno isnt calibrated yet) but the ETB stays cool after a 20 mins drive...

[TX2000]

now i need some rubber caps.. ill get those tomorow

[Nathan G]

now i need some rubber caps.. ill get those tomorow
Let me know what size you got and where you got them. I need to get some myself.

Yeah, no real performance gains. Don't expect any at least. It just seams like the engine isn't as bogged down under 2000RPMS with the AC on.

[IllBinfrontofya]

Let me know what size you got and where you got them. I need to get some myself.

Yeah, no real performance gains. Don't expect any at least. It just seams like the engine isn't as bogged down under 2000RPMS with the AC on.
Ok boys and girls, justr to let you all know a few things that happened to me recently.
I recently have removed my resonator, and have noticed a weird jolt or almost bog in in 1 - 3rd gear under 2500, which is weird becuase i keep the pedal at the same point when this happens. I recently also bypass the coolant lines into the TB. So, I decide to go ahead and dissconect the batter for about 3 hours. I reconnect it, turned the car on and let it sit for about 3 min to reset everything. Took it out driving, and WOW!!! Things just seem to run a lot smoother, and it gets up there pretty damn quick now.
My advice to you all is this, RESET if you think any new mod you have added/taken off might have done something. It never hurts to re-teach your ECU. Also it is kind of a reason to take the car out at night and push her a little! :) (headbang)

[TX2000]

well well well i just took the car out for a spin and i did feel smoother acceleration from 1000 to 3000 rpms.. really nice

[Nathan G]

Ok boys and girls, justr to let you all know a few things that happened to me recently.
I recently have removed my resonator, and have noticed a weird jolt or almost bog in in 1 - 3rd gear under 2500, which is weird becuase i keep the pedal at the same point when this happens. I recently also bypass the coolant lines into the TB. So, I decide to go ahead and dissconect the batter for about 3 hours. I reconnect it, turned the car on and let it sit for about 3 min to reset everything. Took it out driving, and WOW!!! Things just seem to run a lot smoother, and it gets up there pretty damn quick now.
My advice to you all is this, RESET if you think any new mod you have added/taken off might have done something. It never hurts to re-teach your ECU. Also it is kind of a reason to take the car out at night and push her a little! :) (headbang)
hmmmm...I disconnected my battery for about 10 minutes. Is that enough? 3 hours seems like a long time.

[goldwing2000]

10 minutes is plenty.

[Loose]

10 minutes is plenty.
is disconnecting the battery necessary say... after removing the resonator?

[goldwing2000]

Couldn't hurt. Would give the ECU time to re-learn the increased air flow.

[Loose]

Couldn't hurt. Would give the ECU time to re-learn the increased air flow.
Cool, Thanx. Doing it now. BTW do you guys have poplar trees in Mi.? They give off these white fuzzy things it looked like it snowed here, and they stick to everything. I got tire-wet on my rubber and it looks like my 3 is wearing "fuzzy bunny slippers". It sucks.

Thanx again
Tim

[Da 6]

I was also told you can make it like 6-8 mins if you attempt to start the car after disconnection.....supose to drain capasiter in pcm(Reason you wait for so long...so it losses power and forgets everything) This is good and bad....god cause it's a gain but bad if you make it a habbit when you get a cel...I'm gonna say it will also help out on a dyno....I then got a ice blanket to wrap the intake in between runs when I go(yippy)

[goldwing2000]

Cool, Thanx. Doing it now. BTW do you guys have poplar trees in Mi.? They give off these white fuzzy things it looked like it snowed here, and they stick to everything. I got tire-wet on my rubber and it looks like my 3 is wearing "fuzzy bunny slippers". It sucks.

Thanx again
Tim

Oh yeah... not poplars but cottonwood. It's not too bad just yet but eventually my front lawn looks like it got snowed on.

Interesting theory on the capacitors. It makes sense but I don't know if it would actually work. (dunno)

[Da 6]

It will also help out on a dyno

Meaning: the tb mod helps cause the car sits there in a room with a fan trying to assist in cooling process. both the tb and the intake get hot but the intake has heat resistant paint so it absorbs the heat withought transfering it to the air...

[Loose]

Disconnected the battery, let it sit for 10 min and while I was waiting I turned the ignition key. Reconnected the battery and went for a spin. I could appreciate a little less bog on the low end but that was it. Thanx Da6 and Goldwing. I think I'm gonna figure a way to bypass the ETB next as so I can reconnect it in Oct/Nov when the temps start to drop. I'll let ya know what I came up with when I tackle it.
Thanx again,
Tim (headbang)

[goldwing2000]

Meaning: the tb mod helps cause the car sits there in a room with a fan trying to assist in cooling process. both the tb and the intake get hot but the intake has heat resistant paint so it absorbs the heat withought transfering it to the air...

Ummm... the intake has NO paint. It's plastic. (uhm)

[Da 6]

for those who did the mod...remember to leave those tools and cup in the car incase you need to go back stock "Roadside"....

[Nathan G]

10 minutes is plenty.
Excellent. (cool)