30 mph: Cleaned my MAF sensor.

[Peter B]

So in the fall I noticed a drop in my mileage by about 2-3 mpg. I used to easily get 26/27mpg per tank. But starting in the fall and all winter I was lucky to get over 24. Thought it might be bad gas, bad tunning, clogged filters. Car got its 35K mile tune up at the dealer, and still the MPGs were down.

Then, this past saturday I changed my oil. I also cleaned my MAF sensor, which I realized I hadn't done since sometime last summer when I did my oil last. (I dont do my own oil change in the winter, I don't have a heated garage.

Anyhow, I noticed quite a jump in my average MPG. My instantaneous on the highway now reads 30-38 mpg, usually around 33 or 34. Before that I was having trouble keeping it over 29mpg at times. Current average for the tank is 30.5mpg. I will do the math next gas station and see how it is.

-Pete

 

[StealthWyvern]

winter gas will do that as well to your gas mileage.

 

[not yellow]

naive question, but... how do you clean the MAF?

 

[MAZDA_SPEED]

They use more ethanol during the winter season I believe.

 

[Biggs]

naive question, but... how do you clean the MAF?

I would also like to know this.

 

[MS3 GT]

I would also like to know this.

u can buy it from any auto stores, just spray on it and let it dry. thats it

 

[Biggs]

u can buy it from any auto stores, just spray on it and let it dry. thats it

just pop off the filter and spray it in directly on the sensor?

 

[Ajburr]

Pull the maf housing out and spray the sensor, at 30k mine had a thin layer of black soot. The maf cleaner breaks all of the gunk loose and blasts it away, then dries within seconds.

 

[not yellow]

how often should one clean a MAF?

 

[Ajburr]

They don't need to be cleaned very often unless you live in a particularily dirty/dusty area. Like I said I cleaned mine at 30k and there was a thin sooty film on it. Probably not a bad idea to clean it whenever you clean your air filter. If you re-oil your filter, you may want to drive your car for a day or two and then clean it just in case a little oil gets on it, it only takes 5 minutes to do.

 

[bluelion]

judging by the title (30mph) i thought you cleaned your MAF driving at 30mph...hahah

 

[probin94]

judging by the title (30mph) i thought you cleaned your MAF driving at 30mph...hahah

you have to have someone else drive while you are on the car under the hood spraying it in while the car is being driven. everyone knows this. (drive)

 

[bluelion]

you have to have someone else drive while you are on the car under the hood spraying it in while the car is being driven. everyone knows this. (drive)

ah, it all makes sense now......(2thumbs)

 

[Peter B]

you have to have someone else drive while you are on the car under the hood spraying it in while the car is being driven. everyone knows this. (drive)

Yeah if you are a little b****! The pros do it solo... which is how I of course did it. Just remember its a stretch from the peddle to the front of the hood, so limber up.


Oh and I tend to clean it roughly every Oil change...aka 5000 miles. Its usually about half covered in black by that point.

And its super easy.

 

[probin94]

Yeah if you are a little b****! The pros do it solo... which is how I of course did it. Just remember its a stretch from the peddle to the front of the hood, so limber up.


Oh and I tend to clean it roughly every Oil change...aka 5000 miles. Its usually about half covered in black by that point.

And its super easy.

lmao awesome

 

[BillTheCat]

naive question, but... how do you clean the MAF?

LINK

Basically, pull the sensor and spray it down with electrical parts cleaner in an aerosol can. I use CRC brand, but it doesn't matter what brand you choose. Some folks will use brake cleaner. I don't know if the two are significantly different, but since the MAF sensor is an electrical part, I use electrical cleaner on it. Should cost under $5/can at most auto parts stores.

Just remember not to manhandle the sensor, and don't touch the sensor element itself. It's fragile, so treat it as such.

Edit: Apologies for the broken photo links on that linked page. They were there just a little while back. Instructions still apply.

 

[Peter B]

Bill pretty much summed it up. If you go downstream of your airbox you will see a fixture sitting on top of the hose going from the airbox to the engine. There are two screws in opposite corners holding it on. Remove them and pull it out. There will be a plastic housing and two wires coming down with what looks like a match tip on the end of them. When its dirty it's black. When it's clean it's kind of amber or dark amber in color and somewhat transparent.

To add to Bill's instructions: MAKE SURE YOU TURN YOUR CAR OFF! Two reasons for this. One is you now have an open hole in your intake and anything that wants to can get sucked into your engine. Two if there were to be a spark/short, that CRC MAF cleaner is highly flammable ... oh yeah and you are two so don't try that s***.

The can says to unhook it from its wires and completely de-energize it. I just turn the car off and pull the keys out of the ignition. Although the sensor housing just clips into the wire harness so it wouldn't be hard to remove it completely. I have heard though that doing this, even with the car turned off can throw a check engine light.


Anyhow
Filled up on gas today. She took 12.212 gallons of gas. Made it 362 Miles since my last fill up. Total Mileage 29.624 average. Not bad. Computer said 30.6 average mpg. Between my work, the gas station and the highway it dropped to 30.5 mpg. Using CC at 70 mph with the AC on I managed to get it back up to 30.6 mpg.

All you prius owners can eat your hearts out!

HA!

 

[jmonterr]

Fuh that's awsome milage I live and work and go to school in and around downtown la so it traffic 24/7 and I'm lucky if I get 24 mpg