Cleaning MAF sensor?

gh0st3794 · 06-02-2011, 08:35 AM

Has anyone here cleaned their MAF sensors yet? How often/how many miles is usually commonplace before the MAF sensors should be cleaned?

Red__Zed · 06-02-2011, 08:43 AM

It really varies depending on what sort of driving conditions you are exposing it to. Maybe check them around 15-20K?

ChipsWithDips · 06-02-2011, 02:02 PM

Keep you air filter in good condition, and don't use an oiled air filter, and you shouldn't really have to worry about it.

Synack · 06-20-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChipsWithDips

Keep you air filter in good condition, and don't use an oiled air filter, and you shouldn't really have to worry about it.

What if you do? My MAF might be dirty.... I'm getting horrible mileage and power is meh.

ChipsWithDips · 06-20-2011, 05:24 PM

You can pick up a can of aerosol MAF cleaner at most auto parts stores. Just spray it on there and let it dry. Don't touch the filament as it is very delicate.

wstar · 06-20-2011, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChipsWithDips

You can pick up a can of aerosol MAF cleaner at most auto parts stores. Just spray it on there and let it dry. Don't touch the filament as it is very delicate.

^ This.

It's only 4 little bolts to unscrew from your air intake tubes to remove your MAFs and clean them, it's a very easy process. I do mine at every oil change just in case. Just hose them down with cleaner from all angles, let it drip/air dry (which happens very quickly, within a few minutes tops).

I use this stuff from my local store: http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/CRC0/05110.oap

Synack · 06-20-2011, 07:21 PM

Preciate it. I haven't looked under the hood yet. Just wanted to know where it was. I use MAF sensor cleaner all the time on my cobalt and it dries super fast.

Jamaica · 06-20-2011, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChipsWithDips

You can pick up a can of aerosol MAF cleaner at most auto parts stores. Just spray it on there and let it dry. Don't touch the filament as it is very delicate.

exactly.

ChipsWithDips · 06-20-2011, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synack

Preciate it. I haven't looked under the hood yet. Just wanted to know where it was. I use MAF sensor cleaner all the time on my cobalt and it dries super fast.

There's one for each bank, very simple to get to. I'm not looking at one right now, but I think they use torx screws IIRC.
Also, the MAF has an integrated IAT sensor, so make sure you clean the actual hot wire and not just the IAT thermistor.

Synack · 06-20-2011, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChipsWithDips

There's one for each bank, very simple to get to. I'm not looking at one right now, but I think they use torx screws IIRC.
Also, the MAF has an integrated IAT sensor, so make sure you clean the actual hot wire and not just the IAT thermistor.

Did this before you posted, its the same exact setup as my Slowbalt. Easy out, easy clean, easy back in. Mine seemed to be perfectly clean, bummer because I spent $7 for nothing lol. And theres 2 screws per MAF sensor and they're phillips head.

6MT · 06-20-2011, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gh0st3794

Has anyone here cleaned their MAF sensors yet? How often/how many miles is usually commonplace before the MAF sensors should be cleaned?

Ahh.... they really shouldn't be periodically "cleaned". It's not a "regular maintenance" type of thing. If you "over-oil" an air filter and you contaminate the screen on the MAF, well yes.... you can clean it (or attempt to).

Good luck.

Synack · 06-20-2011, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6MT

Ahh.... they really shouldn't be periodically "cleaned". It's not a "regular maintenance" type of thing. If you "over-oil" an air filter and you contaminate the screen on the MAF, well yes.... you can clean it (or attempt to).

Good luck.

Yeah I can imagine it being bad for the sensor if you spray this kind of chemical on it several times. It burned a lot like brake cleaner. Its basically the same thing but more safe for electronics.

wstar · 06-21-2011, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synack

Yeah I can imagine it being bad for the sensor if you spray this kind of chemical on it several times. It burned a lot like brake cleaner. Its basically the same thing but more safe for electronics.

It's safe. I mean, there's no pointing in dunking them in it every night or anything, but mine have been cleaned I'd guess about 7-ish times now. It's just a quick-evaporating mix of relatively tame solvent stuff. It's meant to not destroy MAFs

Synack · 06-21-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstar

It's safe. I mean, there's no pointing in dunking them in it every night or anything, but mine have been cleaned I'd guess about 7-ish times now. It's just a quick-evaporating mix of relatively tame solvent stuff. It's meant to not destroy MAFs

Good stuff.

darkphantom · 12-16-2015, 11:17 PM

If i've had a random limp mode, could this be the culprit?

06-02-2011, 08:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
gh0st3794 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: FL Posts: 121 Drives: 2012 NISMO 370Z Rep Power: 15	Cleaning MAF sensor? Has anyone here cleaned their MAF sensors yet? How often/how many miles is usually commonplace before the MAF sensors should be cleaned? __________________ -2012 Solid Red NISMO 370Z -2010 370Z 6MT sport pkg 301 whp 251.4 wtq (Dynojet) SOLD -K8 Suzuki GSX-R 600 Last edited by gh0st3794; 06-02-2011 at 08:37 AM.

06-20-2011, 07:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
Synack A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Houston Age: 36 Posts: 1,012 Drives: Sideways Rep Power: 16	Preciate it. I haven't looked under the hood yet. Just wanted to know where it was. I use MAF sensor cleaner all the time on my cobalt and it dries super fast. __________________ NO LONGER OWNS A 370 Turbo FR-S

12-16-2015, 11:17 PM	#15 (permalink)
darkphantom Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 425 Drives: 13 Z34 PW M6 Rep Power: 243	If i've had a random limp mode, could this be the culprit? __________________ '13 PW M6 \| Takeda \| ARK GRiP V2 \| H&R

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06-02-2011, 08:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	It really varies depending on what sort of driving conditions you are exposing it to. Maybe check them around 15-20K?

06-02-2011, 02:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
ChipsWithDips Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 279 Drives: '11 Gunmetal 370Z MT Rep Power: 14	Keep you air filter in good condition, and don't use an oiled air filter, and you shouldn't really have to worry about it.

06-20-2011, 05:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
ChipsWithDips Enthusiast Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 279 Drives: '11 Gunmetal 370Z MT Rep Power: 14	You can pick up a can of aerosol MAF cleaner at most auto parts stores. Just spray it on there and let it dry. Don't touch the filament as it is very delicate.