Cleaning IAC passage on throttle body

[3XJFamily]

I have my TB off and was doing a good cleaning used most of a can of cleaner and a toothbrush but, I can't seem to get the crud out of the IAC plunger passage. Any tips?

 

[BingBing]

Remove the IAC valve and clean the passage by spraying carb cleaner on q-tips and scrubbin her out. Be carefull of the IAC not to bang it or push it in.

 

[mikejwil]

If you haven't already... Remove the IAC itself. I just did mine, and it the plunger had crud all over it too. As stated above, be careful with it...and the Q-tips do work well for the passage.

edit - didn't mean to repeat...i see removing it was already suggested. sorry!

 

[3XJFamily]

Yup, had the IAC out, I guess it's just going to take more "elbow grease" . . .

The crud was SLOWLY coming off scrubbing at it with the carb cleaner and toothbrush, I'll go at it again tonight, and try Q-Tips too. The rest of the TB looks great but one wall of that plunger passage has a tough carbon deposit.

 

[wilcharl]

stick it in the dishwasher when no one is looking

 

[Slip Kid]

stick it in the dishwasher when no one is looking

:laugh3: the dishwasher cleaned my whole intake manifold nicely

 

[Gerr]

you can use plastic toothpick to pick at the buildup if its going to slow with the toothbrush and q-tips. I ended up using the type with a kind of knife edge to scrape it clean.

 

[3XJFamily]

:laugh3: the dishwasher cleaned my whole intake manifold nicely

I like the way you think! I had a friend hot tank my intake, I don't think my dishwasher would have ever been the same. . . Blow-by was outta control - I actually drained oil from my intake. . . Did I mention I'm in the middle of a long block replacement and engine bay degreasing? . . .

I think I'll try using the dishwasher for the air box, and a few other plastic pieces that need degreasing when I'm SURE no one is looking and make sure I don't use the drying cycle and warp something. I've got some of those plastic picks which I think would speed up cleaning the TB and still be safe on the aluminum.

 

[wilcharl]

I dishwasher everything...but I live alone... in college i would come home for the summer and sneak parts in my parents dishwasher at night... the hot water and just some standard greese cutting dish sope works wonders.. the only thing is the drying heat will mess with plastics like stated earlier... anything else is fair game for the dishwasher

 

[RichP]

CLP breakfree will also decarbon stuff.
As for the dishwasher and plastic, you can use the drying featuer just don't put the plastic stuff on the bottom rack or it will warp from the heat.
I also agree, make sure the wife is out of the house. For some reason they get really bent about that stuff....