Right way to clean a Throttle Body?

[2500HD4x4]

I've got a '98 K2500 w/ the 5.7L and need to clean the throttle body. I've seen posts that recommend cleaning the throttle body in place and others say to remove the throttle body for cleaning.

Obviously removing the throttle body would allow for a more thorough cleaning, but if I can clean it almost just as well without removing it, I would rather do that than go through the trouble of taking it off. My only concern with cleaning it in place would be the debris of all the old carbon deposits ending up in the intake and clogging up other systems downstream.

What is the general consensus?

Thanks,
Webb

[eeservicecenter]

Buy some THROTTLE BODY cleaner. Hold the butterfly open (engine off) and spray till clean. Start engine and hold gas till engine clears out. DONE!!!

[J-Ri]

Another member had a very hard time getting his truck started after doing that.

Since it's easy to do, and in your case I'm guessing a weekend project, just pull the throttle body off and get it spotless. Just be sure to buy a new gasket if you do. If you do it without removing it, stuff a rag under the throttle valve to soak up as much cleaner as possible and then spray cleaner on the throttle valve. Using a nylon brush (or an old toothbrush), scrub the carbon off until it starts to dry between strokes. Keep spraying and scrubbing until you get it as clean as you can.

[Will Help]

I usually use a soft cloth with cleaner and hold the plate open as I clean it and the port contact areas. This eliminates alot of mess.

[eeservicecenter]

Scrubbing the throttle plate is not recommened. It removes the protective coating from the throttle plate. Just spraying with approved throttle plate cleaner is safer. Throttle body on or off is your call. hold that baby to the floor it will crank.

[bigcoconut]

I cheated a little... Took mine off , dis-assembled completely, dumped metal pieces into cut off milk jugs with carb/throttle body cleaner, let them soak. Gave engine a tune-up, BTW it's real easy to get at the distributor with the TBI out of the way. Re-assembled TBI with new re-build kit (washers, gaskets, etc.), put it back on. Done... One Saturday afternoon, after mowing the lawn.

The TBI response is much better now, very noticeable from before. The old 350 has little more get-up-n-go now. I'm a little picky, I don't like cleaning the TBI on the engine, but that's just me, this Rochester/GM set-up is real easy to take off and re-build.

[J-Ri]

I have a feeling scrubing a tomato with a nylon brush wouldn't take anything off. Anyway, I'd rather take the coating off the throttle valve than dump a whole can of TB cleaner into the cats. Without some assistance, the TB cleaner won't get more than a light film of carbon off.

[Will Help]

I am with you 100%. Any damage that could be done has probably already happend if it has alot of miles on it. Dumping alot of cleaner into an engine that isn't running will wash down into open intake valves and take the protective oil film off the cylinder walls and piston rings as well as disrupting some engine sensors/O2 sensors.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by eeservicecenter

Scrubbing the throttle plate is not recommened. It removes the protective coating from the throttle plate. Just spraying with approved throttle plate cleaner is safer. Throttle body on or off is your call. hold that baby to the floor it will crank.

using a tooth brush with throttle body cleaner will not remove any coatings....also the use of a soft cloth to absorb cleaner getting into engine is recommended...

after cleaning allow time for cleaner to evaporate before starting engine...use a hair dryer if cold out to speed up process..then close up air intake.

if this is done every 20,000mi you will only require a small amount of cleaner...