MAF sensor cleaning

Post by **c.morewood** » 01 Feb 2011, 17:25

I readn somewhere recently that MAF sensors should be replaced about every 50k or so and failing to do so could lead to diminished performance.
Mine has never been replaced in 11 years and has done well over 200k.
So I though I'd give the cleaning a go.
I just removed the top of the airfilter housing and unscrewed the intake hose, disconnected the MAF fom the filter housing by unscrewing the 2 torx screws and poured cellulose thinner through the MAF.
I also gave it a very gentle brush with a soft paint brush, cleaning a good bit of oil/carbon from the inside surface of the MAF and then reassembled.
There's a noticable performance improvement.. can't qualtify how much but I'll get back at the end of the monthafter I've used this tank of fuel.
Hope this helps someone.

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 01 Feb 2011, 21:07

hope the MAF dont die after soaking it with cellulose thinner,

i would have tried carb cleaner,

regards malcolm

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 01 Feb 2011, 21:11

Ive been tempted to try this with my XM, being 19years old and on the original Map and MAf sensors it could do with new ones but the map is built into the ecu, ive thought about cleaning it but since there is no real problem and ive heard they can die after being proded ive left well alone.

D

Post by **c.morewood** » 01 Feb 2011, 23:05

The website I was looking at said any light cleaner that didn't leave a residue.
I saw this on ebay and thought it was a bit on the expensive side
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAF-CLEANER-DIESE ... 4cf4c69f96

10cc for £8.20 hppe it smells like channel!!

Deanxm · Post by **Deanxm** » 01 Feb 2011, 23:08

you get a free vortex induction tuning kit with that dont you?

It should be fine, i think the reason many say cleaning kills them is they have an issue with the MAF so they clean it then days later it dies, the fact it was on its last legs anyway is cast aside.

D

citronut · Post by **citronut** » 02 Feb 2011, 08:26

i find the idle stepper motors seem to have a dislike to carb cleaner,

although a month or so ago i did a head gasket job on a 1.4 TU 206,

this car had more coolant in the oil than in the rad, it also had loads of mayo in all the air ways,

so i gave the stepper motor a blast of carb cleaner,

it seemed fine for a day or so afterwards but then intermitently it would not tick over,

so i took the S/M off placed it in my vive plundger upwards and squirted so duck oil into it, left it for a while tiped the excess out and bongo its been fine ever since,

i no this wont work for a MAF but the carb cleaner on its own might

and its a heck of a lot cheaper than that stuff in the ebay listting,

regards malcolm

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 02 Feb 2011, 10:05

Hmmm very interesting MAF info!

My 167k HDi exclusive 110bhp, is no where near as lively with the same tuning box fitted as a 99k HDi 110bhp one it was fitted to...

I put it down to rattley injectors, so now ill try a set of injectors and cleaning the MAF....

Paul

Post by **c.morewood** » 16 Feb 2011, 13:22

As promised, the result of the 1st tank since cleaning the MAF.
750 miles before reserve light came on.. that should give me a range of about 850 or so for the tank on the country roads of Aberdeenshire.
Thats an improvement of between 50-80 miles on a tank.
Well worth the money for the cellulose thinners.