Cleaning fuel bowl questions

[GreenF350]

I have seen a FEW post before talking about cleaning out the fuel bowl. Well, everytime I change my fuel filter I cringe at the gunk in there, but I am not sure how to clean it out. I guess I would have to remove it to clean it out good? Any favored chemicals or tools for this job? I am afraid that if it isn't perfect that some of the gunk might find it's way to my injectors after it is disturbed. What do you guys think?
-Aaron

[jesilvas]

Pull it off? idk

[GreenF350]

At least I'm not the only one that doesn't know. I've been wondering about it for awhile, but I was reading this thread over on PHP's forums

Adrenaline + Overdrive = Overkill? I think NOT! - Power Hungry Performance Forum

and saw he mentioned cleaning out a really dirty fuel bowl. I decided I needed to do something about mine. I suppose I could ask over there, but I figure he is busy enough with money making projects and someone around here should know.

[majek5]

When I fixed my bowl heater I cleaned mine with q-tips and rags around a socket extension(to get down there good). Cleaned up really well.

[GreenF350]

That stuff isn't stuck on the metal real bad? I can handle that. A rag/Q-tips and some carb cleaner in the end to make sure anything loose is washed out? I guess I better find some o-ring and get on it soon. It is driving me nuts knowing it is that dirty. haha
-Aaron

[icysmooth]

Ok-don't laugh,but feel free to raise an eyebrow or two,what I found that works pretty good for me is draining down the bowl and taking a piece of small soft copper pipe (like 1/4 or 5/16 o.d.) and using my shop vac(with bag and pleat filter) and using my hand to seal around vac tube and it sucks all that junk right out and works great because it's all loose! -the bowl is empty so you're not pulling any fuel into the vac and blowing anything up.

[blowinsmoke7.3]

I cleaned mine like this: get a rag and soak up all the diesel in it then crank up the air compressor. Covers the engine in diesel but it washes off fine with some degreaser. Mine was NAAASSSTY. cleaned up real good