what should i use to remove engine gunk from ports?

[TJeepin]

while replacing the intake/exhaust gasket on my 00 2.5 i decided to take the manifolds and sandblast them in and out to clean them up and remove old engine gunk. both manis came out beautifully but, i still want to clean the ports of the head while it's still on the block in the engine bay. what's a good cleaner that i can use to maybe spray on a rag and clean the ports on the head? 9 years of gunk have built up and since i removed it all from the manis i wanna do the same on the head, especially the intake side. please let me know what to use to clean the ports.

also, what purpose does the pcv valve serve? i think i'm just going to block it and put nipples on the valve and intake. wouldn't sucking in fresh air from the intake be better than sucking in oil from the pcv valve?

[Bada-Bing.]

Do some reading before you plug up it up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCV_valve

[MJMPC]

If you plug it up you will have all kinds of oil leaks...............

[05ruby]

just go to an autoparts store and grab a gallon jug of carb/parts cleaner it works well with a small brush. as far as the pcv valve goes, if u block it off it will allow the crankcase " the C in PCV" to build up to much pressure and the oil will find it way out thru gaskets like mjmpc said

[TJeepin]

I used some stp throttle body cleaner abd it worked great. I may have an idea for the pcv valve. I'll be sure to post pics if I do it.