Cleaning MAF sensor?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: Alameda Ca
Cleaning MAF sensor?
I've heard a lot of people saying the oil from a K&N will gum up the MAF sensor. Anyone know the right way to clean it? I've heard use alcohol or throttle body cleaner, but i'd rather get a second opinion from the board before trying. Any advice?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 124,400
Likes: 288
From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
Use electronic component cleaner, you can get it at places like radio shack, carb cleaner is too harsh and could damage the coating on the wires.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,898
Likes: 5
From: Plainfield, IL
I just use a couple Q-tips and small amounts of rubbing alcohol. Be sure to be very gentle when cleaning them just whip across them without applying any real pressure. You will actually see the dirt buildup come off.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 49
From: Sun Devil Country
Originally Posted by SFengineer
I've heard a lot of people saying the oil from a K&N will gum up the MAF sensor. Anyone know the right way to clean it? I've heard use alcohol or throttle body cleaner, but i'd rather get a second opinion from the board before trying. Any advice?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
From: Morgan Hill Ca.
I just went through the exercise. Everyone told me that there would be a film from the filter oil. Welp, I tore mine apart last week. It had been on the car and buttoned up for 60K miles plus. I had done numerous filter cleanings and oiling and a couple of times thought I over oiled.
Whelp, upon tear down and inspection, nothing, clean as a whistle. There was no residue at all, I could not believe it. I wiped down the outer edges of the MAF and put it all back together. I stayed completely away from the little wires (thermisters).
I really modified my MAF a few years ago with the Halltech ends, removed the screens and hogged out all the unnecessary plastic. After a recalib and a tune it has performed so well I really was stressing about having to go in and clean it. I have the old style Halltech intake where you just cut the hole in the radiator shroud and the air filter is right in front of the radiator. I have been running this system since 1999 and currently have 120K on the car.
Moral to the story? Before you go in there and spray things and swab things, check to make sure it really needs it. I was totally impressed with the Halletch system and the Donaldson filters. It just blew my mind how clean it was in there.
Whelp, upon tear down and inspection, nothing, clean as a whistle. There was no residue at all, I could not believe it. I wiped down the outer edges of the MAF and put it all back together. I stayed completely away from the little wires (thermisters).
I really modified my MAF a few years ago with the Halltech ends, removed the screens and hogged out all the unnecessary plastic. After a recalib and a tune it has performed so well I really was stressing about having to go in and clean it. I have the old style Halltech intake where you just cut the hole in the radiator shroud and the air filter is right in front of the radiator. I have been running this system since 1999 and currently have 120K on the car.
Moral to the story? Before you go in there and spray things and swab things, check to make sure it really needs it. I was totally impressed with the Halletch system and the Donaldson filters. It just blew my mind how clean it was in there.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: Alameda Ca
Well i finally got around to cleaning the MAF sensor, it was a little dirty. The only reason i did it was to hopefully get the MPG up from 23, my best as of yet with sub 75 driving, all freeway. After doing it, my RPMs are around 1700 all the time, i'm assuming it'll be this way until the car completely "relearns" the new air flow. Is this normal? I have to step on the brake pretty hard in neighborhoods to keep the car at a reasonable speed.
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 0
From: Morgan Hill Ca.
No, you need to back and make sure you have everything hooked up right. It should have settled right back to where it was before you cleaned it. What did you wind up using to clean it and how did you do it.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Originally Posted by SFengineer
I've heard a lot of people saying the oil from a K&N will gum up the MAF sensor. Anyone know the right way to clean it? I've heard use alcohol or throttle body cleaner, but i'd rather get a second opinion from the board before trying. Any advice?
HTH
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: Alameda Ca
I just used electronics parts cleaner - just sprayed it on and let it evaporate. Never actually touched the sensors. I also cleaned the throttle body with throttle body cleaner, could that help account for what's happening? The RPMs are around 900 now, so i think it's somewhat fixing itself. I haven't driven more than 10 miles since the work
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,744
Likes: 9
From: FL
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Originally Posted by stevenll
I use electronic Contact Cleaner from Radio Shack. Just spray it on.
You never have to touch the wires. The cleaning fluid does all the work.
You never have to touch the wires. The cleaning fluid does all the work.
Yeah
A qtip and alcohol works great too...
