Cleaning gas tube on AR-15?

[His lordship.]

I recently bought an AR-15 A4 rifle and while there is lots of info on servicing these rifles, I have not found any data on cleaning the front gas tube that goes lenghtwise from the barrel to the bolt body.  I have some long pipe cleaners that I bought for general use, specifically for black powder guns, that can get into some of the length of the gas tube.

On the SKS and AK rifles it is possible to run a cleaning tool into the gas channel that leads into the barrel, was wondering if this is or is not a problem with the AR rifle?  So far I have been using clean burning brass ammo, but might try some of the dirty Russian stuff.

Thanks.

[SHOOTALL]

They say GM top engine cleaner works , I spray them with carb or brake cleaner ( the kind that is not enviro safe ). There are speical toold aval. as well . Check online at Brownell's .

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got ars that i know have had 10000 rounds through them and some of it cast and have never had to clean a gas tube. I cant imagine how many rounds it would take to make it nessisary.

[dieselman]

They sell real long pipe cleaners made for the gas tube, I buy them at gun shows and don't know the price. I know Wal-Mart here sells a powder blast that can works like brake parts cleaner but is made for guns and has the tube that is made to go into the spray tip. I clean mine every 1000 rnd or so just cause, I shoot my reloads and I shoot a clean burning powder as well. 

[Bugflipper]

IMHO there isn't much to worry about. 16,000 psi of hot gas keeps it pretty clear. There is a little bit of residual build up of coarse. But not enough to detour functionality. I noticed when I swap back from 22 lr to 5.56 that the cleaned action is worse than when I started. Everything in the tube from firing 22 ammo is blasted out by the centerfire pressure.