MAF Cleaner
07-24-2006, 08:44 PM
#1
Fleet of Foot
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MAF Cleaner
I was out picking up a few things in order to finish up my intake/cam cover restoration (gonna look great, can't wait to show it off!) and found a product by CRC that is used to clean the platinum wires or substrates in MAF's. I haven't tried it yet, and will not until I have the engine back together and running. I had no issues with my engine other than a bad knock sensor, so I had no complaints, but I am wondering if anybody here has tried this product or something like it? They claim it is perfectly safe if used as directed. Any thoughts?
07-24-2006, 10:43 PM
#5
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I had a lot of MAF trouble. I took off the screens and used brake cleaner (leaves no residue) to clean it off- it was in really bad shape from sitting so long I guess. Anyway, it has run beautifully since! No problems on the first start and burn off time either, I was pretty pleased with the result.
07-24-2006, 10:51 PM
#6
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Brake cleaner is one of the products that CRC warns against using in the instructions printed on the label 
Perhaps a ploy to keep you from buying only one of their products. Nice to hear you had some success by just cleaning the wire.
Perhaps a ploy to keep you from buying only one of their products. Nice to hear you had some success by just cleaning the wire.
07-24-2006, 10:56 PM
#7
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When I had my audi, we had alot of maf concerns (some oil reltaed to K&N) the 'gurus' over there only suggested cleaning in potent isopropel alcohol, but i guess if something isn't 'caked' on there or there isn't oil residue the burn off should take care of it?
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07-24-2006, 11:01 PM
#8
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A quick scan of the ingredients:
MAF Sensor Cleaner... Methanol, Hexane, Isohexane and Petroleum distillate
Brakleen... Methanol, Toulene, Acetone, Heptane & Xylene. Mmmmmm no wonder it smells so nice!
There are some differences, but Methanol is the common denominator & listed first on both cans. I'm no chemist so maybe somebody else can say what the real differences are.
MAF Sensor Cleaner... Methanol, Hexane, Isohexane and Petroleum distillate
Brakleen... Methanol, Toulene, Acetone, Heptane & Xylene. Mmmmmm no wonder it smells so nice!
There are some differences, but Methanol is the common denominator & listed first on both cans. I'm no chemist so maybe somebody else can say what the real differences are.
07-25-2006, 02:08 AM
#10
Under the Lift
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Acetone is not good for plastics unless you like them soft and gooey. I think the MAF cleaner formulation is designed not to harm the MAF plastics.
07-25-2006, 08:02 AM
#12
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Unless your engine is a real oil burner, or you have over-oiled your K&N filter, then the normal burn off cycle should clean light contamination off the wire.
If badly oiled, then it may be worth the risk of using a cleaner.....but as Bill says, test first of the venturi plastic.
Bear in mind the hot wire is only 80micron, and can snap quite easily.
If the real problem with your MAF is ageing of the wire, rather than contamination of the wire, then obviously a cleaner isn't going to help.
If badly oiled, then it may be worth the risk of using a cleaner.....but as Bill says, test first of the venturi plastic.
Bear in mind the hot wire is only 80micron, and can snap quite easily.
If the real problem with your MAF is ageing of the wire, rather than contamination of the wire, then obviously a cleaner isn't going to help.
