Cleaning the MAF
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,612
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Cleaning the MAF
Does anyone using this forum clean their Mass Airflow Sensor? If so, which part of the MAF needs to be cleaned? The wires? There are wires on the outside of the MAF and there appear to be wires inside as well (which I circled in yellow) as you can see from the picture below. Do they both need to be cleaned? Also there appears to be a window or film on my MAF that was somewhat dirty (under where the inner of the two arrows is in the last picture), does that need to be cleaned? What do you guys use to clean the MAF? The posters in thread in the 996 Turbo forum used either intake cleaner, carb cleaner or electronics cleaner but no one there was specific as to which part of the MAF to clean.
By the way, if anyone wants to clean their MAF and has never done so before, I'd recommend an offset ratcheting screwdriver so that you don't have to remove the air filter housing, in the event that you would like to clean the MAF but do not need to replace the air filter. Also I bought a set of the torx security bits on ebay for $3.00 which work great with the offset ratcheting screwdriver.
Incidently, my MAF wasn't that dirty. The pictures were all taken before I cleaned it. I have about 19k miles on the car and I use a K&N filter, do they usually get dirtier by then?
By the way, if anyone wants to clean their MAF and has never done so before, I'd recommend an offset ratcheting screwdriver so that you don't have to remove the air filter housing, in the event that you would like to clean the MAF but do not need to replace the air filter. Also I bought a set of the torx security bits on ebay for $3.00 which work great with the offset ratcheting screwdriver.
Incidently, my MAF wasn't that dirty. The pictures were all taken before I cleaned it. I have about 19k miles on the car and I use a K&N filter, do they usually get dirtier by then?
Last edited by The_Phantom; Mar 28, 2006 at 11:31 AM.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jun 2004
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By the way, this is the link to the thread from the 996 Turbo Forum:
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2918152
https://rennlist.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2918152
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 19
From: New York, NY
Great photos. As per a question I had in a post earlier, I am going to clean the sensor this weekend. To answer your question, couldn't hurt to clean both wires, right?
By the way, it looks like you just unscrewed the whole MAF sensor housing rather than muck around with trying to unclip it. Is that correct? I recall that Dell uses that technique as well.
By the way, it looks like you just unscrewed the whole MAF sensor housing rather than muck around with trying to unclip it. Is that correct? I recall that Dell uses that technique as well.
Thread Starter
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jun 2004
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Originally Posted by nycebo
....By the way, it looks like you just unscrewed the whole MAF sensor housing rather than muck around with trying to unclip it. Is that correct? I recall that Dell uses that technique as well.
Rennlist Lifetime Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,577
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From: Kansas City
This is the area you want to clean. Use CRC electronic cleaner and spray in the hole. The sensor is inside there and when you spray it will spray across the sensor and clean it. DO NOT USE COMPRESSED AIR!
Race Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,159
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From: Chicagoland
Yes, clean all areas of the MAF, plastic (below O ring) and metal. The MAF has various exposed resisters that can get gummed up. I make cleaning the MAF as part of every oil change. It cannot be cleaned too often. When you spray it, saturate it in order to wash any contaminants out.. This cleaning is not only necessary if you have an aftermarket filter, but often is required with the stock filter setup. The moisture in the air contains alot of contaminants, and some minerals will attached themselves to the MAF over time.
Chandler!
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 52,996
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From: Nashville, TN
OK, I've owned 996's since my 2001. I've never cleaned the MAF, is this something the dealer does automatically when you get the oil changed?
What happens when you don't clean it?
What happens if you fill the entire area with Play-Doh?
What happens when you don't clean it?
What happens if you fill the entire area with Play-Doh?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 808
Likes: 1
From: DC/NC
Originally Posted by riad
OK, I've owned 996's since my 2001. I've never cleaned the MAF, is this something the dealer does automatically when you get the oil changed?
What happens when you don't clean it?
What happens if you fill the entire area with Play-Doh?
What happens when you don't clean it?
What happens if you fill the entire area with Play-Doh?
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 19
From: New York, NY
We just talked about this a couple days ago on a different thread. Here's the link:
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/262690-rpm-needle-jumping-around.html
ToolPants offered a link lower down to the exact same concern that I raised and that you have. Let me know how it turns out for you.
https://rennlist.com/forums/996-forum/262690-rpm-needle-jumping-around.html
ToolPants offered a link lower down to the exact same concern that I raised and that you have. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 773
Likes: 1
From: CT
Dumb Question, but what kind of tools are they (Fishman's 1st pic)? Is it some kind or ratchet screwdriver?
Sorry, but long term Boxster owner and short time 996 owner, not used to needing tools or seeing engine.
Sorry, but long term Boxster owner and short time 996 owner, not used to needing tools or seeing engine.
Chandler!
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 52,996
Likes: 37
From: Nashville, TN
Originally Posted by galeriehughie
Dumb Question, but what kind of tools are they (Fishman's 1st pic)? Is it some kind or ratchet screwdriver?
Sorry, but long term Boxster owner and short time 996 owner, not used to needing tools or seeing engine.
Sorry, but long term Boxster owner and short time 996 owner, not used to needing tools or seeing engine.