How do I clean the throttle body? (95 JGC V8)

I'm having idle and stalling issues with my 95 JGC (V8 5.2L). I replaced the IAC valve and sensor (helped slightly, but didn't fix the problem), and while I was installing the IAC valve, I noticed there was black chalky buildup around the top of the throttle body.

My question is, How do I go about -correctly- cleaning the throttle body? I don't want to mess with anything I shouldn't be messing with, and I don't want to spray anything in there that might drip down and cause damage to any components...

-Should I remove the throttle body before cleaning?
-What areas should I focus on cleaning (just the visible top area, or under the butterfly valve also)?
-What cleaning solution, if any, should I use?
-What type of brush/cloth should I use (wire, nylon brush? shop rags)?
-Should I lubricate the butterfly valve parts with anything?
-Is there anything I can spray inside the throttle body to help reduce future build-up?

Thanks very much for helping out an inexperienced motorist.

I'm having idle and stalling issues with my 95 JGC (V8 5.2L). I replaced the IAC valve and sensor (helped slightly, but didn't fix the problem), and while I was installing the IAC valve, I noticed there was black chalky buildup around the top of the throttle body.

My question is, How do I go about -correctly- cleaning the throttle body? I don't want to mess with anything I shouldn't be messing with, and I don't want to spray anything in there that might drip down and cause damage to any components...

-Should I remove the throttle body before cleaning?
-What areas should I focus on cleaning (just the visible top area, or under the butterfly valve also)?
-What cleaning solution, if any, should I use?
-What type of brush/cloth should I use (wire, nylon brush? shop rags)?
-Should I lubricate the butterfly valve parts with anything?
-Is there anything I can spray inside the throttle body to help reduce future build-up?

Thanks very much for helping out an inexperienced motorist.


Get a can of spray trottlebody cleaner , I use STP, no carb cleaner. use the straw from can, you can toss shop cloths over the sensors and their wires & harreness. Start hold on high idle spray using short bursts spray into idle passageway. Clean the AIC passageway good. Then you can spray, use bursts so you don't stall it out ,spray all around the walls of throttlebody bore and around the butterflyand shaft. You can clean the bore and it will run down the walls and clean below butterfly. DON'T SPRAY SENSORS OR HOUSINGS & WIRES. Take your time don't stall it out. ( don't use any wire brushes ) Questions holler at jeepman600@aol.com Dale Don't lubricate any part. :2cents:

Spray all around the walls of throttlebody bore and around the butterflyand shaft. You can clean the bore and it will run down the walls and clean below butterfly.

Okay, so it's safe to spray into the throttlebody and let the excess run down? Also, should I do this when the engine is cold or when it is hot? (Engine idles at 1000rpm cold, 300rpm hot).

You can do a really good job if you take the throttle body off.For the amount of time it takes,I actually think it's easier.I use throttle body cleaner,3M is one brand,use a rag or you can use an old tooth brush but like Dale says,no wire brush