so when should I start thinking about doing a throttle body job? How many miles? When it runs rough @ idle? Is there any machine that could clean out the system?

 

Just pop the tb hose off of it and see if there is any oil crud in it. If so, remove the (4) 5mm bolts holding it on and spray it with TB or carb cleaner. It basically disolves the oil out

 

I've already done that once. Only a marginal difference if any. I have to have more built up somewhere. Is there any machine that does the cleanout process? I heard someone say seafoam?

 

That will work also. However if you dont do something like add in a catch can, you will always have oil building up in the TB and IC.

 

I cleaned mine the same way cincy mentioned above, then a TB alignment and cleaned my MAF sensor and I could definitly tell a difference in throttle response...The side mounts on the other hand I am skeptical about taking the time to take off and clean. I recently had both of mine off for FMIC install (75k on the clock) and there was minimal oil in them...definitly not enough for me to recommend taking the time to clean them. (a 180 maybe different since only one cooler to accumulate oil)

 

how does the seafoam thing work? Is it something I can do?

 

It basically increases the temp in the engine and desolves any oil sludge and carbon deposits. Its not going to clean the TB or the IC if thats what you are thinking. You need to add in a catch can, THEN clean those and it wont happen again since the oil cant get there