Cleaning spray for throttle body/intake

[mbrownone]

Is there anything safe to use for cleaning the intake throttle body and intake? The little butterfly valves in the aluminum intake were coated with carbon, but i didnt want to touch them for fear of making a mistake. I just finished replacing the isolator bolts and plenum gaskets. The engine light is no longer on, and the van runs ok with 92000 miles. Everything is back together.

I wanted to use a spray in the throttle body, but dont want to damage the MAF sensor. Should i just remove the intake tube from the throttle body beforehand?

Thanks for any suggestions.

2000 Windstar LX
3.8L with 92000 miles

[RickMN]

CRC makes a spray can of throttle body cleaner. So does 3M. I've also used CRC MAF sensor cleaner. Works GREAT. Some people use electrical contact cleaner for the MAF. But one thing you should never use on the MAF is brake cleaner.

Here's a detailed view of how to clean a MAF on a Taurus. Similar to a Windstar.

[Freakzilla69]

Are you trying to spray it in there with the engine running? If I take that intake tube between the MAF and throttle off it will choke and stall. I've sprayed throttle body cleaner into the hole where the air sensor (temperature?) goes, downstream from the MAF and upstream from the throttle body using the straw that typically comes with the cleaner. Seemed to work well if you just spray a little at a time. Not sure if your model is like that, but it worked for me.

[mbrownone]

Thanks. I figured it may stall with the tube disconnected. Didnt think to use the opening downstream from the MAF. Good project for this weekend.

I may also attempt to clean the MAF using the specific cleaner for it, but not sure I want to mess with it yet since that seems to operate fine so far.

Thanks for the tips!