MAF contaminated again
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 7,695
Likes: 51
From: Imperial Beach CA
MAF contaminated again
I can't believe that as little oil as I put on the Donnalson filter, every couple hundred miles the cars throtle crispness starts to go away. Hard WOT pingging horible and then check engine light. Spray MAF sensor wires with solvent and the car rocks your world again. I wonder how many out there have this and don't know it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,577
Likes: 3
From: Southern Maryland Maryland
Re: MAF contaminated again (Mike Mercury)
I have been using K & N filters and re-oiling them for the past 5 years. I have NEVER had this problem or heard of this happening. How exactly are you cleaning it? How much time are you letting the unit dry before you reinstall it.
Phillip
Phillip
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 4
From: Slidell La
Re: MAF contaminated again (Mike Mercury)
I've had no issue w/my KN.. I clean it every 10,000 miles and just lightly oil it. I do let it sit for 1 hr before starting to allow the oil to soak in.. vettdvr
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,607
Likes: 1
From: San Francisco CA
Re: MAF contaminated again (jimman)
I believe your MAF is going bad. When semiconductors start to go bad they often get hot and act funny. When you spray the solvent on, it cools them down and they act normal again until the solvent evaporates and they get hot again.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 7,695
Likes: 51
From: Imperial Beach CA
Re: MAF contaminated again (SFVetteman)
I'm familiar with semiconductor theory but this will work fine for a couple of weeks and then again. I used K&N oil and sprayed as litely and as far away as I could. Was fine, I think before the oiling. It is such a slow process that one doesn't notice the problem till it starts to rattle.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 16,719
Likes: 1
From: Redacted
Re: MAF contaminated again (jimman)
Try using Ams-oil filter tack-oil. It's thick and sticky and less likely to migrate.
I'm not a dealer or amsoil user. I've just seen people on other car forums use this to solve the MAF contamination problem.
I'm not a dealer or amsoil user. I've just seen people on other car forums use this to solve the MAF contamination problem.
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Re: MAF contaminated again (larrysb)
When semiconductors start to go bad they often get hot and act funny. When you spray the solvent on, it cools them down and they act normal again until the solvent evaporates and they get hot again.
Are you spraying down the entire MAF assembly... or just the exposed sensor wire?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,033
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Re: MAF contaminated again (jimman)
I'm familiar with semiconductor theory but this will work fine for a couple of weeks and then again. I used K&N oil and sprayed as litely and as far away as I could. Was fine, I think before the oiling. It is such a slow process that one doesn't notice the problem till it starts to rattle.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=261415
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 7,695
Likes: 51
From: Imperial Beach CA
Re: MAF contaminated again (batsallover)
Now that makes sence and I've asked everyone and no one thought it was a problem. But as soon as I oiled is when the problems started. I couldn't get it on any thinner and I let it dry for over an hour.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Seguin Texas USA
Re: MAF contaminated again (jimman)
Whats the BEST way to clean the MAF sensor? Im getting a check engine light which the dealer blames on my Vortex Rammer intake... Dealer is FOS cause Ive had that intake for two years...maybe the MAF is dirty?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,635
Likes: 2
From: Aloha, Oregon
Re: MAF contaminated again (jimcork1)
this is actually a more common problem than most think. Ive been aware of this for years. That is why i am very sparing with the Recharge oil for the filter. any time i have my air intake apart (whether just a filter clean, or some other work) i always take a q-tip and IPA and clean the MAF. Most people just get tired of this happening and throw away their reusable filters and go back to paper.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,635
Likes: 2
From: Aloha, Oregon
Re: MAF contaminated again (blktie8)
IPA = isopropyl alcohol. the stuff in your medicine cabinet.
Also, the 'sensors' in the MAF are thermistor type discrete devices, not semiconductors, per se. They're like little heating elements or thermocouples where the resistance values change as air flows across them. this change is transduced to an operable frequency that the PCM operates on. This is putting it quite generally and simplistic. anyway, if the elements get gummed up with petrols or other substance, this will change their values across the range. This affects performance. The effects of cleaning them off with IPA or Acetone is not to cool them, but to clean them back to original operating condition. Hope this helps.
Also, the 'sensors' in the MAF are thermistor type discrete devices, not semiconductors, per se. They're like little heating elements or thermocouples where the resistance values change as air flows across them. this change is transduced to an operable frequency that the PCM operates on. This is putting it quite generally and simplistic. anyway, if the elements get gummed up with petrols or other substance, this will change their values across the range. This affects performance. The effects of cleaning them off with IPA or Acetone is not to cool them, but to clean them back to original operating condition. Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 7,695
Likes: 51
From: Imperial Beach CA
Re: MAF contaminated again (rwj383)
I sprayed mine with an electronic parts cleaner from the Auto Store and it seems to work great. Just have to figure out how not to over oil. I understand with Donnalson that one has to use mineral oil instead of the standart oil. Just now have to figure out how to apply it.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 7,695
Likes: 51
From: Imperial Beach CA
Re: MAF contaminated again (jimman)
Also, I stated on another thread that GM tech support points to that any time there is an oilable aftermarket filter on. Was standing right next to the dealer repair guy when he was on speaker phone.
