Cleaning Throttle Body

What's the best stuff to use to clean the throttle body on my Chevy Astro
van? Is carb cleaner OK or is there special stuff for throttle bodies? I
don't wanna screw up the cat or the O2 sensors (or anything else, for that
matter...).

Thanks...

There is a special can of spray for throttle bodies. Carb cleaner can
destroy some parts in a TB apparently.

The stuff works decent, but doesn't seem as strong a cleaner as carb
cleaner.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

ZZ wrote:
>
> What's the best stuff to use to clean the throttle body on my Chevy Astro
> van? Is carb cleaner OK or is there special stuff for throttle bodies? I
> don't wanna screw up the cat or the O2 sensors (or anything else, for that
> matter...).
>
> Thanks...

Carb Cleaner's ok, there's stuff specifically for it, throttle body cleaner.
personally, it's the same stuff.


"ZZ" > wrote in message
. ..
> What's the best stuff to use to clean the throttle body on my Chevy Astro
> van? Is carb cleaner OK or is there special stuff for throttle bodies? I
> don't wanna screw up the cat or the O2 sensors (or anything else, for that
> matter...).
>
> Thanks...

Carb cleaner is fine... It may be possible to remove some of the sensor
before cleaning the TB - the only thing to look out for is that carb
cleaner is often a bit hard on gaskets and rubber o-rings.

Gunk had built up around my Regal's throttle blade recently causing it to
stick closed in cold weather. I used a $3.99 can of 3M Throttle Blade
cleaner from a local ABC Auto Parts store. I chose it over tradtional "carb"
cleaner because I wanted something that was easier on gaskets and seals and
something that would leave behind a thin lubricating film, which this 3M
stuff does. Worked perfectly.

Roger

"ZZ" > wrote in message
. ..
> What's the best stuff to use to clean the throttle body on my Chevy Astro
> van? Is carb cleaner OK or is there special stuff for throttle bodies? I
> don't wanna screw up the cat or the O2 sensors (or anything else, for that
> matter...).
>
> Thanks...

On an astro your looking straight at the TB once you remove the airbox.
I like to take a rag and semi soak it with the cleaner of choice &
physically wipe out the plate & sides with your fingers. Wrap the rag
around a screwdriver for the tight spots. Saves spraying a whole can of
cleaner thru the top end & the worry about damaging any sensors or
gaskets downstream is gone. Laquer thinner works great when used this
way. Good luck.