Routine MAF, Oxygen Sensor cleaning, do you do it?

[mikeinaustin]

Just wondering how many of you clean your MAF sensor or your oxygen sensors on a regular basis. perhaps every 10K-30K miles.

1) what benefits are you hoping to get?
2) what product do you use to clean them?
3) what are the dangers to cleaning them?
4) for those of you who do not clean them, may i ask why?


thanks in advance.

 

[surfstar]

4) replaced my O2 sensor at 170k miles when it threw a code (MPG was unaffected before/after)
I've cleaned my MAF and noticed no difference either (it really varies by car on these IMO)

 

[ThirdeYe]

I've never messed with either of those in my car.

 

[huffmuds9320]

1) better fuel economy
2) CRC Mass Air Flow cleaner. I've heard people use like 90% rubbing alcohol and soak it in a big then let it dry.
3) You might mess up the MAF since it is kind of delicate and not cheap to replace. If you are in warranty, you don't want to mess with it. On my car I notice the MAF has tamper proof torx screws.
4) I don't clean it if it still works fine, if it is not broke don't fix it. Don't want to mess anything up unless its dirty, check engine light on, gas mileage decrease.

 

[chrome]

Depends on what type of MAF you are referring to. Many people like to clean a hot wire MAF, but maybe they don't realize that some of these hot wire MAF are self cleaning by means of heating the wire till very hot for a few secs everytime you shut the engine down.

You can't clean oxygen sensors successfully. Once they are contaminated, they are shot. The catalyst reaction which generates the voltage just stops, or becomes very sluggish. If your car throws an oxygen sensor code, best way is to change to new ones.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Used Berryman's B-12 liquid cleaner and a soft toothbrush (gently!) to clean the MAF on my old Escort occasionally after I switched to a K&N air filter. The MAF never seemed to have any residue from the filter oil on it anyway, but it still seemed prudent after seeing comments here about the issue. But I never had any problems with dust getting past the K&N as others on BITOG have reported, either. When that car finally went kaput at 313,000 miles, it was on only its second MAF.

I question whether trying to clean an oxygen sensor would do any good. The constant exhaust heat would bake on any contaminants and make them impossible to remove, it would seem. Silicon from the wrong kind of gasketmaker is supposed to be an example of a substance that bakes on in just this fashion, though I think by now virtually all the gasketmaker goop is supposed to be O2 sensor safe.

 

[mechtech2]

There are dedicated MAF spray cleaners. Brake cleaner works well, but use one with no residue. Spray a little on a mirror to test it - when dry, there should be nothing to see.
You can't clean an O2 sensor.

 

[heathenbrewing]

I do mine every year when I replace the air filter and my ride is still under warranty (~15K mi)

1) CRC Mass Air Flow cleaner - an excellent product meant for cleaning MAFs. I wouldnt use anything else.

2) I would NEVER recommend touching the MAF or IAS (although the IAS is a bit more robust, but still..) MAFs run $150 and up. Use caution and care when cleaning.

 

[cowsareholy]

i use the CRC Mass Air Flow cleaner every couple of oil changes. the first time i checked the maf wires they had a little gunk on them so now i use the cleaner every now and then

 

[Vaca]

MIA,

I think that the "best" answers to your questions are necessarily engine specific. For instance what may work or be necessary for vehicle 1 would not work, or might screw something up in vehicle 2.

But, that said, in general, the MAFs should stay clean without any special work or cleaning. Most MAFs are in the clean air stream downstream of the air filter, but before any crankcase or EGR air or fumes.

 

[mechtech2]

MAFs get contaminated from the other direction. When an engine is off, vapors from open valves and PCV residue in the manifold can collect on the MAF sensor.
Put it this way, if your throttle bore and plate get gunked up, so can your MAF.

 

[eljefino]

I cleaned my MAF once or twice on my 92 cutlass ciera 3300. Gave it slightly better throttle response. It had oily goo and stock paper air filter "lint" on the little wire.

 

[BUDSHAD]

I clean mine with non residual electrical contact cleaner as recommended by Darkdan every time I re oil my K&N CAI. Its a good idea to do this when you re oil. Oh yeah I use the CRC brand. It is used on my 05 F150 with the 5.4L engine. Did not have a problem before just a precaution from any oil blowing out of the filter onto the MAF.
Chad

 

[mikeinaustin]

so none of you clean your oxygen sensors? in theory they says to replace every 70k miles (2002 toyota tundra v8). but this truck has 4 of them each running from $70-$99 a piece, thats pretty expensive to get some better gas mileage.

 

[mechtech2]

mike - O2 sensors can often go way longer than 70k.
If things seems normal, that is the engine is running well with no change for the worse in gas economy , you can leave the O2 in there longer.
Without special testing, this is a reasonable alternative.
But also consider that $75 as a part of good maintainance - you aren't really getting hurt by replacing it.

 

[Islandvic]

Use Quick Dry Electric Contact Cleaner on the MAF. Do not use a brush or rag.

 

[Fatboymoe]

I just did my Toyota Echo with 148k. Changed the pre-cat O2 sensor, cleaned the throttle body with Berryman Air Intake Cleaner and the MAF with CRC Mass Air Flow Cleaner.

After all was said and done, I gained a couple of MPG. I did this because I had to smog my vehicle and I live in an area that requires the enhanced smog check with a dyno. I passed, but just barely.

My Echo runs better, but I think the Cat. is borderline. I will have to change it before the next smog check. I will also have to do a pre-test to make sure it will pass.