TECH: Clean your MAF, don't replace! - Page 2

marcvip · 9th April 2005, 03:40

Louv you are the man!...........but I found the "Formula 409" to work best since it is a degreaser and contains Isopropyl Alcohol all in one....

http://www.walgreens.com/store/produ...&id=prod372197

paulbondy · 19th April 2005, 16:34

Sorry to jump onto an old thread. I went to my dealer yesterday and asked that they clean the MAFs for me...I'm not much of a tech guy, and I was told that the MAFs are self cleaning. Is that true? If so, why is it necessary to clean it? I'm confused and you seem to be the authority on the subject. Thanks for the help.

volcanom5 · 19th April 2005, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulbondy

Sorry to jump onto an old thread. I went to my dealer yesterday and asked that they clean the MAFs for me...I'm not much of a tech guy, and I was told that the MAFs are self cleaning. Is that true? If so, why is it necessary to clean it? I'm confused and you seem to be the authority on the subject. Thanks for the help.

Paul,

There is no self cleaning going on. I've cleaned them myself and its pretty straightforward. I've never had success getting the dealer to clean, they only want to replace.

allan

paulbondy · 19th April 2005, 17:35

Okay, I've called two other places...1 one a BMW dealer service department and another is a shop called Alexandria Bavarian which only services BMWs and are not a dealer. Both places told me the MAF is self cleaning. Can you do a confirmation on your end?

volcanom5 · 19th April 2005, 17:44

Let's say that they *are* self cleaning..... the collective experience of the board is that they still benefit from manual cleaning. In my case, cold start up issues and rough acceleration were cured completely by cleaning.

allan

paulbondy · 19th April 2005, 18:21

Do you have a special air filter or is your car stock?

volcanom5 · 19th April 2005, 18:26

Stock

MAH · 21st April 2005, 16:30

Of course they are self cleaning! But in this case you are the "self". Is there not a little fluid injector in there like the ones on the headlights that squirt chemicals on the MAFs? Come now guys, I think you need to look at the manual a bit closer

.

Yes they want to replace them but we all know better here. Don't you just love this board!?

Mark

paulbondy · 21st April 2005, 17:33

The MAF might as well be a flux capaciter to me...nothing "of course" about it. Maybe I'm the only one on this board that doesn't know how his engine works...I just enjoy it from a distance.

You folks seem to know your proverbial doody, but I'm not sure it's applicable as widely as this post would seem. From the mechanics I've spoken to it sounds like this is really only needed for people that have K&N filters or something similar because they accumulate more particulates. Is that true...I have no idea. Does it make your car run faster or smoother...no clue. And frankly, I don't think it even matters if it really does help as long as the perception is that it does. My car feels faster after I detail it!!

The real question I have is...what's the potential downside if any?

MAH · 21st April 2005, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulbondy

The MAF might as well be a flux capaciter to me...nothing "of course" about it. Maybe I'm the only one on this board that doesn't know how his engine works...I just enjoy it from a distance.

You folks seem to know your proverbial doody, but I'm not sure it's applicable as widely as this post would seem. From the mechanics I've spoken to it sounds like this is really only needed for people that have K&N filters or something similar because they accumulate more particulates. Is that true...I have no idea. Does it make your car run faster or smoother...no clue. And frankly, I don't think it even matters if it really does help as long as the perception is that it does. My car feels faster after I detail it!!

The real question I have is...what's the potential downside if any?

Ok 1st this is a air flow meter that the engine uses for any number of parameters to manage how the engine will respond to other inputs. Simple put, if these (MAFs) are dirty, your engine will potentially run rough or at a lower performance level than you might want.

Keep them clean no matter what air filter you use. You can clean them yourself without a dealer trying to replace them at a considerable cost.

Mark