I would like to know how often you clean your maf sensor. I usually do mine about once a month or so.

I've never cleaned mine

If you have a dry type air filter you wont need to clean it near as much.

I try to do it somewhat regularly which I would say is about once quarterly.

FYI, CRC's "MAF Sensor Cleaner" product, at $5.99 a can, is 100% identical to their "QD Electronics Cleaner" at $3.99 a can.

Not true. Bone stock STI with 2000miles, still with stock filter - and the MAF sensor was filthy when I pulled it out to swap the intake.

once a year

I usually do mine about a week after cleaning the filter.

brake clean for 1.69 a can ftw.

you should clean your maf before you get any kind of tune, and before / after doing mods to the car, and generally speaking once per oil change is enough to keep it clean and reading properly. (typically 3-4 mo)

check the ingredients on brakleen. It is definitely NOT the same and not very safe for the plastic and rubber on the maf sensor.

I just cleaned my MAF w/ brakekleen. I will agree it will eat plastic and swell rubber, thats why i didnt spray any on the o-ring. I think ill invest in some other type of cleaning solution though.

just fyi - if you do mess up that little o-ring, replacements are hard to find. i had to resort to using a completely different o-ring and "making it fit"

Every 3000 miles or less. Something so simple shouldn't be overlooked.

does cleaning it so often damage the MAF?

not if you do it correctly.

which means:
-carefully remove it from the intake
-spray cleaner onto the IAT probe (the part you can see that looks like a tiny kernel of red corn)
-spray cleaner indirectly up into the hollow of the tube to clean the heater wires. You should avoid blasting the heater wires directly, as it could damage them somehow.
-let air dry
-carefully replace MAF, beign sure to get it pointed the correct direction (plug in front, not in back)
-reset ECU to clear out the AF Learned trims

+1^^^^


and im really surprised that 'most' people that have polled do not clean their MAF. I guess as a Ford tech, and seeing how many engines have been DESTROYED by faulty MAF sensors...I am over cautious.

BTW, by DESTROYED, it has ALWAYS been from an engine running lean. 'usually' from dirty air filters (lack of maintenance by the customer) and/or oil bath filters.

can I just dip it in rubbing alcohol?

DoOd...look 2 posts up

LOL, you edited before i posted

not sure about rubbing alky, dont see why not though

FWIW, with my blow-through setup, any blow by from the turbo can also dirty the MAF. My car was running almost a full point lean under boost (12.1). I noticed a black spot on the MAF and that cleared it up. I was convinced a line had popped off... Wish I had checked the MAF sooner...

i'd say do it every oil chnage or every other. +1 from a tech that's seen his fair share of bad maf sensor problems that could of possibly been avoided by keep ing it clean

I think resetting the ECU is not nessessary and counter productive. The small varience will be quickly corrected by the ECU and you won't lose the learned knock correction.

knowing that it takes at least a couple days for the trims to normalize to where they need to be, you should definitely reset the ECU when cleaning, especially if you plan to be getting tuned the next day, driving hard, track day, etc...

but for run of the mill driving around, i agree, no need to reset it.

It can be true when people buy K&N or other brand oiled filters and load them up with way too much oil. The MAF will get dirty very fast and the car will run like poop.

That isn't nessessarily the opinion of a number of respected tuners in these forums. Most recommend not to reset if the changes you made are small. The car will make small adjustments within seconds of driving.

ok i popped out my maf and it looked clean as a whistle, as in brand new. ANyone got a pic of a dirty one??

Why play devil's advocate when a 10 second reset 'wipes the slate clean'?

The ECU doesn't learn within seconds. It takes a minimum of four key cycles for it to maximize effeciency and/or power output.