Cleaning Ford Throttle Bodies?

[Tim Martin]

What is the latest on cleaning the throttle bodies for the Ford Products? In the early 80s to early 90s it was ok, then all a sudden they started putting some teflon coating on the throttle blade and said that cleaning them was not recommended. Is it still that way? I got one off of a 4.0L Ranger motor that is in a bad need of cleaning and am not sure if it gots the teflon coating. It doesn't have a sticker saying do not clean like they used to. Any ideas?

[sbebenelli]

This is what I do and I'm not saying it's right. I use air intake cleaner and on the can it says it's safe for all air intakes. The way I see it is if it's dirty and causing a problem then you have two choices replace it or clean it, so I clean it. I have not had a problem cleaning even the one's that say not to.

[ricmorin]

Same here. Clean it!

[liljoe]

I clean them all, first I will use a plastic scraper and remove the chunky parts and then use a rag with carb cleaner on it and wipe all the gunk off the bore and the blade, I use as small of an amount of carb cleaner as I can get away with and make extra sure to keep it from the TPS and IAC or the throttle motor if it has one. I agree, it is better to clean something tha is not supposed to be cleaned as opposed to replacing it due to a build up...

[crmeyers]

I've cleaned plenty of the Fords that have the "special coating" (real impressed with the coating...NOT!) and never had a problem. You have to be very careful on some manufacturers throttle body designs though. I do not spray throttle bodies that have IACs located on the underside or ones with drive-by-wire. Also be careful with spraying at the throttle shaft portion near the TPS. I've had cleaner wick through the shaft and damage the TPS sensor. I take a shop cloth, dampen it with cleaner, hold open the the throttle, and wipe it out (multiple times & multiple rags if needed) until clean.

[brianp87]

I use bg cleaner all the time

[Tim Martin]

I use bg cleaner all the time

I'm revealing my ignorance but what is BG cleaner? Where do I get it?

[brianp87]

http://www.bgprod.com/products/fuelair2.html

[steven kiser]

b&g for me as well. some of the best intake cleaner that i've ever used was removed from the market because of it's contents. b&g is the replacement that i chose in it's place but if i could get master blaster i would.

[liljoe]

My fav is cabmedic from gunk co. It has to be the ones labeled "not for sale in california and new jersey" or it is not what I like.. It is the best have ever used..