I'm planning to put a K&N air filter or equivilant in my truck in the next week or so and I've read in other threads that the oil from the air filter can over time foul the MAF sensor. I've scrolled through past threads trying to find information on this subject.

Is there any special procedures to follow to clean the sensor, and at what mileage intervals should I check and clean the sensor.

I've also been trying to find information on the Kool Blue filter, do they use oil like the K&N does?

Jayhawker in Texas
03 White King Ranch SuperCrew

 

What I do: Open the filter canister and spray the little sqiggly wires in the "barrel" on the left in the picture with some Brake Kleen spray. Put one of those little red tubes like from a wd40 can on the nozzle to direct the spray and blast the crud off with a few short bursts. The metal quiggly wires should be shiney white color when done. (edit: hold spray tube back 3-6 inches so you dont break the sensor wires when you spray, yikes)

I've been disconnecting my battery for 20 minutes and turning on the ignition and headlights to drain any residual voltage then rehooking it up to reset the computer. This will reset your computer back to stock form and turn off and check engine lights.

HOWEVER - I am thinking it is not needed if you dont have any CEL. I'd like to hear what others think, if it's needed or not if you dont have a CEL. I'm going to start spray cleaning my MAF at every oil change as a regular maintence item with my K&N air filter whether it needs it or not.

 

I'll second the brakleen. Even though it's not specifically recommended as an electrical contact cleaner, it is the most amazing degreaser around.

I clean mine every few months. It only takes a moment and heads off a potential problem before it develops.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm sure if the unit is cleaned regularly there won't be much build up of oil and crud so it shouldn't take much to clean the MAF.

I'm going out Friday and purchase the K&N. I ran one for 75,000 miles in my 94 ranger with no problems.

Jayhawker

 

Electronics parts cleaner...it's available behind the counter at auto zone...take off the entire barrel(you don't have to unplug it) so that you can spray the back side of the MAF...let it air dry for about 15 minutes and put it back together

 

I recommend electronic parts cleaner too. It costs about the same as good brake cleaner, and you can use it on all your other electricat connectors too.

 

How do you remove the MAF barrel? Does it unscrew, pop out ????????????


eidaj2

 

So should the MAF sensor be cleaned at any specific intervals? I do agree though with the electronics parts cleaner I would think it is much better for it than Brake-Kleen.

Richard D.

https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=2479

 

I don't know about religiously specific intervals.... Every 6 months should be enough.

As for the Brakeleen. I used to use electrical contact cleaner and just spray it on there. This was until I found corroded terminals on my transmission wiring harness. I sprayed them with the contact cleaner and also tried to remove the corrosion with a metal brush but it didn't come off. Simply spraying the Brakeleen on the terminals removed all of the corrosion and I haven't had the problem since. I prefer the Brakeleen now. I also had a similar situation with corrosion on my mirror control switch. Brakeleen removed it and the switch has been working again for a few months now. When I cleaned it with the contact cleaner, it would die again after a few weeks.

 

eidaj2,
Just insert a small scewdriver into one of the slots and the flange pops out.

 

The problem with using brake kleen is you risk breaking the fillaments in the MAF due to the high speed and pressure of the solvent as it exits the can. I recommend goining with electronics cleaner, it's a little more civilized and suited for cleaning the fillaments. You don't want to break them, MAFs are expensive to replace.

 

That's for sure but if you do happen ot break the wire that at least gives you a good reason to buy the Granatelli MAF sensor. At least that's what you can tell the wife anyway.

Richard D.

 

When I go new, I'm getting the Pro-M, more flexible and cost effective in the long run.