I've gathered, from posts on here, that the MAF is not a service item hence why we clean it ourselves. The question is, how often does it need to be cleaned? Every 6 months/5,000 miles? And, if I was cleaning it more often to maintain performance, is that an indication it needs replacing?
I'm not saying mine is problematic, it's just for information.
I clean mine when I change the oil. That seems to suffice.
Same here, once a year generally. Just tie it in with a service.
We run a stock airbox and filter, and have only cleaned the MAF once in 16 years just because it was off. It made no difference. But we have changed the filter a number of times. Perhaps one option is to clean the MAF when you change the filter. If you are running a CAI, many of those filters are not very good, and so the MAF will probably need cleaned more often.
I run a pod filter, I've never cleaned my MAF in 10 years.
Car pulls as strongly as ever.
2ZZ mind you.
The MAF being behind the air filter should mean that it is in clean air and as #3 and #4 above, iirc I have cleaned the MAF only once or twice in my ownership.
My car is stock in every way. If I'm cleaning the MAF approx every 1-2,000 miles, do I need a new one? It makes a difference every time I clean it. The car has done about 71,000 miles and serviced with a new air filter.
Quote from: Joesson on November 25, 2023, 17:36The MAF being behind the air filter should mean that it is in clean air and as #3 and #4 above, iirc I have cleaned the MAF only once or twice in my ownership.
For one filtering is always a compromise so some fine dust always passes through and secondly the flow of air creates mild static so over time there will be sóm
coating´ on the sensor.
Quote from: Petrus on November 25, 2023, 19:16For one filtering is always a compromise so some fine dust always passes through and secondly the flow of air creates mild static so over time there will be sóm
coating´ on the sensor.
That could be a valid consideration. Conversely could the MAF cleaner fluid have an adverse affect if
over used I wonder. NB Does not apply to me and certainly not my daily that is @North of 100k, serviced regularly by Ford Dealer and MAF cleaned once by myself.
MAF cleaning is not mentioned in the service schedule.
As something that is not even mentioned in the service schedule. A 1 time clean is, by default, over used.
I take comfort from cleaning, knowing the maf is providing accurate info to the ecu.
Quote from: Ardent on November 25, 2023, 19:44I take comfort from cleaning, knowing the maf is providing accurate info to the ecu.
There is ample evidence, incl. personal experience, that cleaning makes the info more accurate and addresses measuring accuracy.
Same applies to sports filtering fluids. Both the minutest coating with foam filter type sticky stuff or K&N filter type static fluid will upset the measuring.
Quote from: Joesson on November 25, 2023, 19:36Conversely could the MAF cleaner fluid have an adverse affect if over used I wonder.
That's interesting. The first time I cleaned it could have been the first time ever in the car's history. But I'm using electrical contact cleaner which was the only thing available at the time. Perhaps not the best cleaner for a MAF?
Quote from: fawtytoo on November 26, 2023, 11:44But I'm using electrical contact cleaner which was the only thing available at the time. Perhaps not the best cleaner for a MAF?
Some people think
it's the only product to use.
Quote from: fawtytoo on November 26, 2023, 11:44That's interesting. The first time I cleaned it could have been the first time ever in the car's history. But I'm using electrical contact cleaner which was the only thing available at the time. Perhaps not the best cleaner for a MAF?
Pretty sure that's what I use, I could go and check, but it's dark and cold outside on the way to the garage, so maybe another time.
There are other questions and answers on the www. concerning this cleaning procedure.
That it should be done is likely the consensus of my reading. How frequently is the debatable part.
I do very little mileage in my 2 and may have cleaned it twice. I did not find it rewarding, rather more a chore as is anything around the OE filter box.
Much more mileage in my 100k plus daily and I've done that once. As mentioned / not mentioned / on service schedule.
@Petrus mentioned oil soaked air filter systems, that surely can't be beneficial to a device such as a MAF, but otherwise my thoughts would be to clean it as frequently, or infrequently as you feel comfortable with.
Remembering of course that our 2's are sports cars and must perform as such. As with beauty such performance is in the eye of the beholder and we each have our own way of doing or not doing things.
Clean maf vs filthy maf.
E5 vs e10.
For me. All about optimising what I have.
Quote from: Ardent on November 26, 2023, 21:34Clean maf vs filthy maf.
E5 vs e10.
For me. All about optimising what I have.
Ditto Iridium plugs and premium oil. Per km the cost uplift for optimising is peanuts.
This falls firmly into the 'leaving it alone unless I have an issue' category, but appreciate others seem to have found positive results.
You might have an issue you are not aware of.
Less than optimal economy or efficiency, if filthy then will be sending poor info to the ecu.
Quote from: Ardent on November 27, 2023, 20:43You might have an issue you are not aware of.
Less than optimal economy or efficiency, if filthy then will be sending poor info to the ecu.
Possibly, but the car pulls well, returns decent mpg and I scan for codes periodically. Might clean it at some point for comparison.
Quote from: McMr2 on November 27, 2023, 19:10This falls firmly into the 'leaving it alone unless I have an issue' category.
Exactly this.
Quote from: McMr2 on November 27, 2023, 22:22Possibly, but the car pulls well, returns decent mpg and I scan for codes periodically. Might clean it at some point for comparison.
No direct codes for the maf.
For completeness, I also reset the ecu at the same time I clean the maf.
Quote from: Ardent on November 28, 2023, 07:55No direct codes for the maf.
Indeed, but plenty of (most?) codes don't correspond to specific components and highlight a fault condition instead. The car runs well, on top of servicing so if it ain't broke...
Quote from: McMr2 on November 28, 2023, 08:39Indeed, but plenty of (most?) codes don't correspond to specific components and highlight a fault condition instead. The car runs well, on top of servicing so if it ain't broke...
The point is that there is quite a lot of leeway in the tolerances either way of optimal. The engine will work ok, just not optimal.
Again the ´if it ain´t broke´ applies to spark plugs, engine oil. even valve play too. Even tyres! The latter are perhaps the clearest example without electronic fault codes. Those will go more and more suboptimal till onesélf decides enough is enough.
I have replaced both front and rear AD08R rubbers with quite a lot of profile still. The fronts even only just over half worn. They were however getting gradually less till in mý opinion totally cycled out and new ones made a world of difference.
Cleaning the MAF is a lot simpler/cheaper :))
...and seeing how much lack of 1ZZ hp is lamented, one would think keeping all horses in optima forma would be as important ;-)
Quote from: Petrus on November 28, 2023, 09:40The point is that there is quite a lot of leeway in the tolerances either way of optimal. The engine will work ok, just not optimal.
Again the ´if it ain´t broke´ applies to spark plugs, engine oil. even valve play too. Even tyres! The latter are perhaps the clearest example without electronic fault codes. Those will go more and more suboptimal till onesélf decides enough is enough.
I have replaced both front and rear AD08R rubbers with quite a lot of profile still. The fronts even only just over half worn. They were however getting gradually less till in mý opinion totally cycled out and new ones made a world of difference.
Cleaning the MAF is a lot simpler/cheaper :))
...and seeing how much lack of 1ZZ hp is lamented, one would think keeping all horses in optima forma would be as important ;-)
Not really a valid comparison - tyres/spark plugs, engine oil are all regular serviceable items. If someone can show me hp gains to back up the last statement I'm all ears.
As I said in my original post, I recognise other members for it and seem to have positive responses.
No hp gains to had. May or may not recover some lost ones, but no actual gains in the traditional sense.
Quote from: Ardent on November 28, 2023, 13:29No hp gains to had. May or may not recover some lost ones, but no actual gains in the traditional sense.
Of course, I mean the principle of having a measurable benefit from the pre-cleaned state.
Doing something as it gives a subjective benefit is a fine reason for this type of thing, my point was that having tried this many years ago when I got the car, the subjective difference was the square root of naff all so I don't waste my time.
Fair enough.
I seem to have missed your post about having previously done it. My apologies.
Quote from: Ardent on November 28, 2023, 18:09Fair enough.
I seem to have missed your post about having previously done it. My apologies.
I didn't go into that much detail TBF, jumped straight to the part about not doing it!
Quote from: McMr2 on November 28, 2023, 12:53If someone can show me hp gains to back up the last statement I'm all ears.
As I said in my original post, I recognise other members for it and seem to have positive responses.
I wouldn't say that I get more hp from cleaning the MAF. What I do get is a more responsive pickup from the throttle. And it's quite noticeable.
The MAF never "looks" dirty when I clean it, but certainly is making a difference when I do.
Quote from: fawtytoo on November 28, 2023, 20:49I wouldn't say that I get more hp from cleaning the MAF. What I do get is a more responsive pickup from the throttle. And it's quite noticeable.
The MAF never "looks" dirty when I clean it, but certainly is making a difference when I do.
My suggestion to anyone who has not cleaned it is to drive the car, clean the MAF, then drive the car again on the same route under the same conditions.....does it feel different? I think it does with better throttle response. I have had a K&N panel fitted for nealy 19 years & I think cleaning the MAF definitely helps & does no harm. Each to his own mind you... ;)
Quote from: Alex Knight on November 25, 2023, 14:37I run a pod filter, I've never cleaned my MAF in 10 years.
Car pulls as strongly as ever.
2ZZ mind you.
I stoped cleaning mine as well ever since I switched from a oil gauze filter to a dry flow.
On my Lexus it has never been cleaned except once and there was no difference so I stopped. I think there is value in cleaning it if there is a problem with dirt contamination on the MAF wires but that is a problem with what is upstream, if that is the case you are ruining your engine. Cleaning it is just trying to solve an unintended consequence of bad filtration. When I removed my MAF a year ago to clean my dry flow filter I checked the MAF and it was clean.
I have a new theory on this. The MAF never looks dirty but "cleaning" it makes a difference. Perhaps the MAF is not working 100% and the cleaner fluid is "fixing" it due to it being cold from a pressurised aerosol can. So maybe it's not that the MAF is dirty but the cold cleaner fluid somehow revives it temporarily. And given a MAF doesn't throw codes (correct?), I can't say for certain the MAF is 100% ok.
Interestingly, I haven't "cleaned" it for a while and performance is excellent still with a good throttle response. But then it is Winter and ambient temperatures are lower.
I'm going to assume it's temperamental and just needs replacing.