Throttle Body Heater Bedding Compound

[RRoller123]

Anyone know what is used to bed down the throttle body heater? I took mine off and cleaned and painted it and want to properly reinstall it. There was some form of material that seemed like clay on the underside when it was removed. Thanks.

Pete

[narfire]

I see you have a 80 FI so the heater is conected to the two long bolts on the intake and the tab goes between the plastic hose and clamp. I have never had anything between the two surfaces...metal on metal or real close on my car and no issues to date(5 years) other than a seam started to weep and some silver solder fixed that.

[divace73]

living in Australia I have removed mine, maybe in the colder climate it is needed??

Is the aim if it to stop the butterfly from freezing??

[RRoller123]

Narfire: Is it possible that yours was also serviced sometime in the past and that the bedding compound (I would guess originally was factory applied?) was not replaced? Our cars are probably pretty much all like this. I don't drive in cold weather but I have this odd, nagging persistence to keep it somewhat original. I guess that having the metal-metal contact is pretty much ok, but even a small air gap isn't going to transfer the heat as needed. My understanding is that the TPH keeps the throttle plate from icing up in freezing weather. Maybe a sheet of thick gasket material or something similar might help. The original stuff is like semicured grey RTV. Very solid but you can pick it away with a fingernail. Like a clay, but more rubbery and stronger bonding.

Pete

[narfire]

TPH keeps the throttle plate from icing up in freezing weather

If the air temp is several degrees above freezing, the moisture in it will attatch itself to the butterfly and shaft as it is rushing by. I've seen rotor blades ice up at 3-5 deg C on occasion.
Like you, I'm a warmer weather driver with the Fiat. I could almost loose the heater but When the roads are clear on a nice day in Dec., Jan or Feb, I'll take the car around the block..

[RRoller123]

Good info about problems occurring ABOVE the freezing point. The more I think about this, the more I like the idea of using a small sheet of pliable material to place between the TPH and the Throttle housing, rather than slathering on a clay-like substance. Need something thermally conductive and that will conform to the shapes of the 2 parts. Like a heat-sinking gasket if there is such a thing.

[divace73]

maybe try a thin sheet of copper if it can be punched of cut accordingly...

[JammerX19]

Removed mine as well, and replaced the heater pipe with an early style one to eliminate the T for the circuit.