TB Cleaning

[huskyfan23]

Lots of buildup in my TB, what do I do to clean it? Can I use carb cleaner?

 

[dogfriend]

Yes, on the early Explorers, you should be okay using carb cleaner. Avoid spraying directly at the TPS. You can do a better job of cleaning if you remove the TB from the manifold, but you will need to replace the gasket if you do.

If you have a newer Explorer, you may have a sticker warning not to use any solvents to clean the TB. This is because the TB has a coating that is supposed to prevent buildup and the solvent will damage the coating.

I have the sticker on my 97, so I just wiped it carefully to remove some buildup (after 85K miles)

 

[huskyfan23]

I wanna take it off but right now my headers are getting put on (he's been working 8 hours so far), but I saw a post saying the TB bolts are real hard to get off usually, so if I don't take it off, just use a toothbrush or something? How far can I go in?

 

[dogfriend]

You can clean it without taking it off, it will just be harder to get the backside and near the pivot points. Yes, you can use a toothbrush to reach inside.

 

[lupus]

just use a tooth brush or or any other brush with plastic bristles and u can use carb cleaner and after you get done cbrushing it out spray it away with brake cleaner. also while you are doing it take off your IAC and spray carb clean in it until it gets clean, don't brush anything just kinda let it soak the put it back on. a dealership will call this an induction service they also use a bg cleaner through the fuel system but any injector cleaner will do

 

[huskyfan23]

Why spray brake cleaner?

 

[lupus]

just washes all the stuff away. thats what i do at the dealership. basically i spray carb cleaner, then brush away the carbon ring then rinse with brake cleaner.

 

[huskyfan23]

It's cool you work at a dealership, so can I go inside the butterfly flap too? I'm not sure how safe it is to spray with the flap open.

 

[SteveVB]

GET some Throttle Body cleaner

Gum Out and others make Throttle body cleaner which wont damage the coatings on the TBs and can be burned by the engine with no cat damage etc. Most cleaners will say whether they are safe for use on coated surfaces- simple to check. I wouldnt use brake cleaner at all, some brake cleaners have chlorine products in them which will melt just about any coating. The TB cleaner will do fine and rinse all of the residue away after youve scrubbed it down.

I clean my TB every second oil change, Spray it on, toothbrush to scrub, block open the throttle plate clean it really well, particuylarly where the valve rests at idle, pull the IAC clean it and the passages - I use maybe 1/2 a can spraying it into the intake and IAC passages.

 

[huskyfan23]

Glad to see I've got some Gumout, the IAC was cleaned a week ago. After I get my X back I'll clean the TB, thanks all!