What hapens when your MAF is contaminated with filter oil? Does the engine want to run rich? I used the K&N kit last year on my Halltech and I am running rich. I did not spray much oil on he filter. I actually thought I applied too little. I have some CRC MAF cleaner, I'll use that tonight. And, what about oil build up in the intake manifold? any help there?

2001 C5 manual.

 

the k & n website says their oil doesn't mess up the maf.

 

The CRC should clean up the MAF just fine.
You won't get enough oil (from the filter) inside the intake to notice.

 

I've been oiling my Halltech for many years, now (sometimes twice a year after cleaning) and have never had a problem with the MAF. I believe its heated wire temperature changes as the intake air volume and velocity changes. However, if the wire is coated (insulated) with oil, the ecu would think that there is less air flowing past it, which would indicate the need for less fuel, not more. After all, the ecu is trying to maintain the correct air/fuel ratio.

By the way, oil in and on the intake and throttle body is oil that is pulled from the engine (in blowby gasses) and "recycled" back through the engine. A good catch can will trap much of this oil. I run a glass version, which keeps my intake very clean.

 

the oil itself doesnt. its the crap it collects that slightly skews the readings.

 

This is how much oil that was caught by my catch can in less than 200 miles of non spirited driving. After seeing this I should have made a catch can one of my first mods.



Easy to install and looks stock...

 

Use the MAF cleaner then take a shop vac and suck the excess oil on the air filter from the inside. (Don't use the vac on the outside of the filter of course.)

EDIT: Oh and don't let the vac hose close up against the inside, that would be too much suction.

 

I have not looked at it yet. If I have oil like that I'm going with the overflow can.

 

I've found in the past that it's quite easy to apply too much oil on K&N filters. I've already contaminated the MAF on a previous car I had. For me, that was the last time I used oiled gauze filter elements. I now just stick with regular paper filters. I figure why take the chance for little to no performance gain.

 

Heres the technical answer to ease your mind, The MAF pulses over 50,000 volts to the filaments to burn off anything that contaminates or attaches to them. That translates into making the filaments over a 1000 degrees and self-cleans them when the engine key is turned off each time.

 

Engine, A/T - Shift/Driveability Concerns/MIL ON


Bulletin No.: 04-07-30-013B

Date: February 01, 2007

INFORMATION

Subject:
Automatic Transmission Shift, Engine Driveability Concerns or Service Engine Soon (SES) Light On as a Result of the Use of an Excessively/Over-Oiled Aftermarket, Reusable Air Filter

Models:
2007 and Prior GM Cars and Light Duty Trucks
2007 and Prior Saturn Models
2003-2007 HUMMER H2
2006-2007 HUMMER H3
2005-2007 Saab 9-7X

Supercede:

This bulletin is being revised to add models and model years. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 04-07-30-013A (Section 07 - Transmission/Transaxle).







The use of an excessively/over-oiled aftermarket, reusable air filter may result in:

Service Engine Soon (SES) light on

Transmission shift concerns, slipping and damaged clutch(es) or band(s)

Engine driveability concerns, poor acceleration from a stop, limited engine RPM range

The oil that is used on these air filter elements may be transferred onto the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor causing contamination of the sensor. As a result, the Grams per Second (GPS) signal from the MAF may be low and any or all of the concerns listed above may occur.

When servicing a vehicle with any of these concerns, be sure to check for the presence of an aftermarket reusable, excessively/over-oiled air filter. The MAF, GPS reading should be compared to a like vehicle with an OEM air box and filter under the same driving conditions to verify the concern.

The use of an aftermarket reusable air filter DOES NOT void the vehicle's warranty.

If an aftermarket reusable air filter is used, technicians should inspect the MAF sensor element and the air induction hose for contamination of oil prior to making warranty repairs.

Transmission or engine driveability concerns (related to the MAF sensor being contaminated with oil) that are the result of the use of an aftermarket reusable, excessively/over-oiled air filter are not considered to be warrantable repair items.







Disclaimer

 

Do not use any type of compressed air (or vacuum suction) on an oil gauze media. It will potentially damage the fine cotton fibers trapped between the wire mesh.

A hair dryer with low pressure air flow may help hasten the drying process after cleaning only.

Look at #19 on the K&N faq page...

http://www.knfilters.com/faq.htm

 

When I installed the K&N filter in my 2003 it states on the package that for all intensive purposes, you never need to clean the filter other than the 50K miles mark or you do a lot of desert driving. But for someone like myself who drives on paved roads and never goes over a 100 MPH, well not too often, I'll never need to clean or re-oil the filter. But most everyone here concerning K&N filter re-oiling has said the wash the filter, re-oil and wrap it in newspaper overnight, then install.

The instructions that came with my K&N filter said if the filter looks like it's loaded with dirt, but under 50K miles, it most likely is not to worry about issue !

 

I've never heard of wrapping an oil gauze media filter in newspaper overnight. I've heard of doing that for a CALIFORNIA DUSTER though. Same principle, I suppose. A newspaper wrap can't hurt anything. If that's your preferred method, go for it.

I don't think it's necessary if you follow the directions and don't over oil.

Here's the K&N filter instructions...
http://www.knfilters.com/cleaning.htm

Here's the S&B filter (suppler of many after market "CAI" intakes) instructions...
http://www.sbfilters.com/Store/Filter-Maintenance

Neither one mention wrapping the filter in a newspaper.

I clean my K&N or S&B filters with every other oil change, no matter how many miles have been driven. I see it as not much different than changing oil/filter at one year (if that's your choice) no matter what the DIC shows on the oil life monitor.

S&B filters comments to oil on the MAF on their faq section. See #10...
http://www.sbfilters.com/Support/FAQ#faq10

 

New to corvette, bought a 2008 coupe a couple of months ago, going through filters and general clean up. When it comes to the MAF sensor it is a small item (rectangular in shape) inserted in the "poly bridge" between the air filter and the throttle body.
Not sure if this should be cleaned or how to clean. Any help on this question?

 

This should explain it!

 

Kevin, First thanks for your quick reply, However the MAF on the 2008 corvette I purchased looks like this.
https://www.corvettemods.com/C6-Corv...saArKOEALw_wcB
It is inserted directly into the poly air tunnel "or bridge" with no tubular body involved. It appears to be a standard GM part.

 

Please post up your question in the C6 section since you have a 2008. :