Wells TechConnect Ep. 19--Does cleaning a mass air flow (MAF) sensor really work?

[@guillermosamaniego8828]

I love how you go in the technical side of the MAP sensor, thanks for training our new techs.

[@twwtb]

I think cleaning is a good option for a DIYer with access to a decent scan tool to monitor the engine performance. A pro, however needs to avoid comebacks and having customers feel like you charged good money but didn't really fix the problem. Nice to give the customer the option if they want to save money, but that should be accompanied by a good explanation that cleaning may only be temporary. On my own vehicles, I will always try cleaning first, then monitor the results.

[@luiszaragoza3721]

I’ve used MAF cleaner with great results, never have I’ve seen a sensor with so much built up crud, good idea to remove every oil change and give it a lil TLC. Just saying! 🤙🏼🍻

[@Bonkrr]

Great information. I had already tried cleaning my MAF and saw little result in the way the engine ran. Was just shopping online for a replacement MAF and stumbled upon your video. Made the decision an easy one. Thanks for the clear, concise presentation.

[@kevinschlossser7858]

I have to say that while this was entertaining it is also entertaining to watch because the person in the video I have to question their knowledge. A MAF sensor is a very simple sensor. It consists or a heating element and a sensor that reads heat. So the larger piece inside is the heating element and the smaller one is the sensor that measures the heat. How a MAF sensor works is power is applied to the heating element to get it all toasty warm. There is a specific target temperature the element is supposed to hold the the sensor is responsible to measuring the heat from the element and telling the IC in the MAF what that temperature is. The IC then adjusts the PWM signal going to the heating element to either make it heat up or cool down. OK so what gives... what is the purpose of doing that?? Well when you step on the accelerator and the throttle plate opens more air gets pulled in and across the MAF. That additional air causes the sensor to cool down and the goal of the MAF is to keep that temperature on target. So it is going to make the changes needed in order to get that element to target temperature. The frequency that is used to keep that element at temperature is what is used to determine the amount of air going in. the ECM has lookup tables for this purpose. So in function air bubbles in the coating would not effect the sensor. unless the coating has been complete compromised the pitting seen on the heating element would not effect the reading. The dirt would because it keeps air from getting to the element. It acts like a fur coat a person would use to keep toasty warm in the winter. That will cause the sensor reading to be all messed up. Having an oversimplified understanding of how the MAF works you can then understand the reason for keeping it clean. In the video at the end there was a blurb about the re-manufactured sensor reading lower than the OE sensor. APPLES to APPLES folks. did you happen to also catch when he said that he took the readings for the OE sensor at some other point in time in the past. sounding like days before maybe? Well that is a tilted test. simple things like air temperature, humidity, barometric pressure. time of day. the proximity of the moon to the earth are all factors that can change air density and that difference in air density means you will have a change in the amount of air the engine is pulling in over a given time. the measurement a MAF uses is grams over a second. weight (density) over time. so chances are there is not a single thing wrong with the re-manufactured MAF and it was the test that caused the reading variance. So now that you have been given some actual useful knowledge that explains the mechanics of a MAF watch the video again and see how much information in this video is actually irrelevant to the proper operation of the MAF. Being told to go and buy a brand new OE MAF if your has dust on it is a great way to waste money buying something that is NOT needed. I also wanted to point out that the 5 grams/sec equates to about 6HP at WOT. I don't think that in and of it's self would be me go run out and spend 100+ on an OE MAF. It's a 2% difference.

[@JA-gx4hb]

You also might want to take readings from 10 or so new sensors and another 10 remanufactured ones, then take the averages to compare. I'm wondering if any 2 sensors might typically be a little different? In any case, not exactly great science being demonstrated.

[@johnchambers12]

Just found this channel and i have been learning from it! I have used MAF cleaner to bring the car back to a proper running engine and then suggested a new sensor with 50/50 approval/ pass on that offer. Most who pass on the offer to replace the sensor come back for a rescan and replace, some find it easy enough to replace themselves and never fess up to their decision. I never used a microscope to see the sandblasting of the sensor but that is not hard to understand because the air rushing through the sensor housing is like a little sandblasting cabinet. Good video!

[@stuzman52]

Hey Mike and great follow-up video on how effective is cleaning MAF sensors. I've always wondered this myself and sure, we've all cleaned them and we feel the difference in our seat on acceleration, but did we really bring it back to OEM specs. And you've answered that very well. As for the comparison between the rebuilt and new unit, there was a big difference in the appearnce of the thermistors and they looked like typical wire-wound resistors. Being how that one of the thermistors is in a wheatstone bridge, these thermistors must have a very close tolerance resistance to be accurate in determining air flow. As seen from the photograph, where one thermistor is shorter than the other, the resistance has to off although by a small amount. It's good that you tested a brand new aftermarket and a new one. And although there was a small difference, you proved that there was a difference. Great work Mike and looking forward to your evap training. Have a great weekend!

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks for watching Stuzman! I agree, cleaning always seemed to make it feel better, different, more powerful. But, after taking these photos on the microscope, I know exactly what i'm going to be recommending to my customers in the future. I think we, as techs, should maybe approach it in 2 different ways. A low cost, temporary fix(cleaning) or a long term, higher cost, solution(replacement). Thanks for watching! You have a great weekend as well! Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@Tadders]

@@GoTechTraining I mean, I'm betting some of the newer MAF sensors are very expensive. I'll take an $8 can of MAF sensor cleaner if it makes the car run better (not perfect, but better than a dirty MAF) over paying hundreds for a new sensor. What do you think? Surely they are not cheap...

[@danieltaylor9761]

Wow! Thank you for classes. As a former Navistar Tech, vehicle reliability was paramount IMO. Marine Corp teaches "the easy path is where enemy bombs & snipers are every time." Commercial vehicles make money, but lose money in down time, continued maintenance, & towing. I sometimes got in trouble for replacing parts

[@ibitomitosin1494]

Thanks for the information, pls am working on 2010 Corolla I cleaned the airflow with cab cleaner now their is black smoke coming out of the tail pipe. The only register code catalyst system efficiency below threshold bank 1, will changing the sensor fix the problem or what did you advise,thanks.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hello, Carb cleaner may have been to harsh to clean a MAF sensor. If you have black smoke, your engine is probably running too rich. I would see how how the engine runs with the MAF sensor disconnected. If it runs better, you most likely have a faulty MAF sensor. If you get it running correctly, I would then clear the DTC's and see if your catalytic converter DTC returns. I hope this helps, thanks for reaching out! ~Ryan Wilsing

[@nathanrice1796]

Nice magnified pictures of the MAFS elements.

[@stinkycheese804]

This video is potentially misleading. A sensor can accumulate building before it has aged so much to get into that state, and it is not just the abrasion from the gunk on it. Plus, those are pretty weird and unusual MAF sensors compared to what you'd find on most vehicles in the last couple decades or more. It is ridiculous to state it as though "I don't know if it's going to fail tomorrow or a week down the road" when in fact it is more a situation of "I don't know if the whole engine will fail soon", if the gunk is getting past the air filter at an extreme enough rate to cause that short additional life, or else "I don't know if it will last several months or years", or even "this could still last longer than an aftermarket new replacement would". You have not done relevant testing to reach your conclusion. The cleaning, the looking, even with a microscope is not as relevant as the measurement of next tour of duty in use, OR to hook up a scan tool capable of live data, and with same environment (intake air temp) and same engine temp/idle, see what differences the cleaned sensor measures versus a new one swapped in. Another way of looking at it is whether someone is paying a technician and then there's already and potentially a repeat labor charge to clean it more than once, later, to extend life, or if it is DIY and the owner already has a can of cleaner and can literally clean it in under 5 minutes once every few years. Many of us do this and have proven it to be effective by resolving our MAF issue, and achieving the fuel economy we should have. Obviously if the fuel economy, trims, or O2 readings stay out of bounds, the cleaning didn't work but if it was DIY it was as already stated, only 5 minutes and well worth trying.

[@TheOnlyRoute]

This was a very detailed and thorough video. I was debating cleaning vs buying a new one,Thanks to you , I am buying a new maf. Thank you so much for sharing your gift.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hi Diana, thank you very much for watching and commenting! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@hovingtonkirst672]

OK, i have a question for the group. 2007 Silverado 2500HD, 6.0 vortec, 179k miles, clean vehicle. recently purchased (should have never bought it, but since I did).... a little hard to start, just an extra second on the crank (as compared to my 2002 silverado 5.3) (either way it seems like it takes longer to start). Starts up high idle as usual when cold, seems to take a little time to throttle down (again comparing to my 2002- 5.3 Silverado). you can immediately hear the engine isn't right as the throttle comes down you can feel the rumble (rough engine) as it gets closer to normal idle it starts to misfire HARD, just random here and there. idles bad in gear, acts like it's going to cut out and stall the longer it sits in gear at a stop. you can see the tach needle drop then resume it's erratic and rough idle. There are no codes at all, everything is normal, passes emissions no problem. When you ht the throttle in neutral/park it seems to take a bit to throttle down to 600/idle. then resumes it's bucking and rough idle. has a hesitation on accel. the longer it sits in gear the more time it takes to throttle up, but once she gets going she is a screamer, all kinds of power. nothing wrong. There is low compression on cyl 3 (about 12 lbs difference from the other cylinders. Kingbolen K7 scanner, used for hours on this thing running every test possible. replaced coils, injectors, spark plugs, wires. absolutely no change in symptoms. fuel pressure is 58psi no matter what throttle or load. tested purge valve next to the fuel rail (it's good) old plugs looked normal. all the parts i replaced were and are still good. all parts installed pass muster no problem. when testing for misfires they are random (all over the place) sometimes 4 will count into the hundreds sometimes its normal and 3 goes wild, then 6 and 2 get a few, the 1 and 5, back and forth. leak downs on old and new injectors all tested good. Fuel trims withing 6% plus or minus. shut off injectors and they all drop the rpm evenly. same with coils. hesitates on accel no matter what the gear park/drive/reverse. under one of the tests the egr sytems were reporting high (numbers were in red and not blue) same with the MAF. Throttle body and MAF were cleaned with maf and throttle body cleaner, replaced MAP as well. wiggled wires during idle (no change) and still NO CODES, all systems normal (except for) the high out of spec readings for the EGR and MAF. I AM STUMPED. so hard misfire at idle (worse in gear) hesitates on acceleration but runs normally at speed. rebuilt delphi Injectors from precision injector in Florida. JDM Speed Coils from amazon, wires from Oreilly and NGK plugs, no difference at all. I have pinned the throttle to the floor 4k rpm plus in the driveway and on the road and no power loss even with the AC running. ANYONE? Feel free to chime in PLEASE. I live in northern utah and i heave no idea who i can trust to scan this thing properly without tossing parts at it like I already have. The fly by night used dealership i bought it from started tossing parts at it immediately so i left and didn't go back. Thanks for at least reading this.

[@lisab3396]

Luv the video and talk. As a note: Recently I did something just a bit different. MAF Sensor dirty and acting up! Removed and cleaned with MAF Cleaner and just like your pictures was much cleaner but still evidence of dirt coating speckles. Soo, I again gave a light spray and used a small natural fiber artist brush to gently wipe/scrub the resisters down, respray and re-wipe and then a final spray and let dry. Absolute much better/cleaner job! Is it 100% as new? I doubt it, but it is much cleaner than your pictures and working just fine it would appear.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Lisa, thanks for watching! Great tip on the brush. Hope it stays working long term for you! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@lisab3396]

@@GoTechTraining Well I am a bit more curious now and so I will keep a close monitor on it and may even do a follow up later. The other thing I may do is take it into a shop and have them scope everything and tell me the results.

[@blainemcdonald6972]

How would a person really know it was working properly unless you scanned it ?

[@aaronwarman71]

Great video, with the MAF sensor it does depend on how dirty, corroded or pitted the sensor wires are, if it's just a bit of crud then cleaning should improve it but if debris has passed the air filter then the sensor wires may well pitted beyond true redemption.

[@MrOlderandwiser]

I have cleaned a lot of MAF sensors, over the years. I use MAF cleaner only. I had a Ford pick up that had a hard shifting issue. After many grueling hours, I cleaned the MAF and it fixed the problem. I have seen fuel trims "cleaned up" on some vehicles after cleaning.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey MrOlderandwiser, that's great to know! I have cleaned some sensors in the past and had luck, but they always seemed to come back. I think the microscope really does a great job of showing us why cleaning isn't really the proper fix. Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@JOHNPHUFNAGEL]

I tell my customers that cleaning may or may not work, and I live in a town where money is tight and if someone can possibly save 2 to 300 dollars til they can budget or plan on spending that money its pretty obvious what they do. Do you think the damage to the sensor is from the "cleaning" or is it there and just covered up with crap? Thats pretty cool seeing that under a microscope.

[@GoTechTraining]

John, that is a great point! Our job is all about making the customer happy, right? As long as you are upfront about everything, you present the facts of cleaning vs replacement, then it's the customer's choice. There can be no hurt feelings if the sensor fails again shortly after cleaning that way. As for the damage...I think it's essentially a sandblasting effect. The cleaner cleans any stuck dirt/sand away to reveal what that dirt and sand has done. The cleaner does not eat away at the coating, unless you use carb cleaner! Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@stinkycheese804]

@@GoTechTraining If you have sand flowing past the MAF enough to accumulate on it, the engine is trashed too.

[@brendacalderon9445]

I need my radiator fan replaced. So will this cause a p0101 sensor code?

[@teravolt6113]

Bought a second hand matching hot film MAF assembly, removed the probe with a pentalobe key, sprayed both contact cleaner & isopropyl alcohol on both the IAT thermistor and the sensing element and rubbed a piece of paper tissue on them many times, then i fitted that probe to my car and now there's much more torque at low rpms even with the AC on... 1.2 petrol naturally aspirated engine...

[@smiles7631]

Thank you for the great video! I am always nervous spraying electronics and plastic with chemicals. Had a plastic steering wheel on my go kart years ago shatter when I tried to clean it off with brakeclean. It gave me a quick lesson on chemical reactions, could of been the sharp change in temp. Anyways, it taught me a lesson to pay attention with the chemicals and wear safety glasses, unless you like to have the feeling of fire in your eyeballs lol. Unfortunatly some of us have to learn the hard way. You guys do a great job with your videos, thank you so much.

[@GoTechTraining]

Always better to be safe than sorry! Thanks for checking out the video! ~Ryan

[@tylerj2655]

I'm having trouble with 05 1.8l it runs good in idle but put it in gear and it sputters codes p0101 and p0171 put new OEM maf sensor up stream and down but no change

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Tyler, have you taken a look for vacuum leaks or anything like that? Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@johnsteed265]

You can always change your MAF sensor, if it is grungy like yours was. If you clean it regularly and maintain your car properly, you can get by cleaning your MAF for MANY thousands of miles and get great power and gas mileage. It takes only a few minutes to do and for only a few pennies of cleaner. A new MAF sensor will cost you upwards of $20 when you don't need to spend that.

[@zeroceiling]

You mean $200….at least in my case.

[@hangfire5005]

It could be that the stuff hitting the sensor damaged it before you cleaned it off, and could be why it was collecting trash in the first place

[@elijahthomas4597]

Thanks, Paul, very positive info, in addition, I like the direct approach, unlike many take you on a around the world tour of their war stories​

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks for watching! Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@junaidfaiz]

Can we use Electric contact cleaner spray on maf sensor?!

[@bassamal-youssef267]

I have a question, please. I got a lovely Alfa Romeo156 1999 selespeed 2.0 lit, 16V T.Spark The problem I'm facing is: The engine starts immediately once it is cold or hot, While it is running, The RPM drops to 500 and the sprayer icon "lights on" in the dashboard, then the accelerator and gear do not activate. To overcome that stage; I should switch the "engine OFF" and start it again, then The accelerator and gear work perfectly, It happens also when I reduce the speed when there is humps or bad traffic. I changed the ECU, but it remains the same problem. Thank you for your help. Bassam

[@GoTechTraining]

Bassam, do you have any trouble codes? That would be the first thing to check out. Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@bassamal-youssef267]

Thanks for your cooperation. I ordered some suspected parts from Europe related to the concerned diagnosis, then I shall be able to hand over my car to workshop since they changed The ECU but it was not the reason for the problem I’m facing, then will ask the Technician about the codes if he has a reliable computer that shows the codes. I’ll update you Sir about the upcoming results. Once again thank you for your valuable time. Regards Bassam -UAE

[@blainemcdonald6972]

Discuss the main causes of MAF sensor damage and perhaps a way to mitigate the damage. These are expensive sensors for example newer model Nissan is $585

[@GoTechTraining]

Hi Blaine, I will make sure that gets addressed next MAF video we create. Thanks for reaching out! Beside normal wear and tear, the main cause for sensor damage is contamination, keeping a clean air filter and and all of the intake tubing intact and installed correctly is (in my opinion) the best way to keep your MAF in working condition.

[@lung0fish1]

So here you used a break cleaner... but a dedicated MAF cleaner is recommended. They do seem to have different compositions. Perhaps the dedicated MAF cleaner is gentler on the coating?

[@Autofixpals]

I'm not so sure it's the brake cleaner or the maf cleaner that's causing the deteriorated coating on the heated element. based on what I see it looks like the coating is simply worn away from use. cheap air filters and poorly installed air filters letting dirt past and it's just getting baked onto the heated element and giving the sandblasted look because, well it's essentially being sandblasted when the engine is running. so when you clean the sensor you are just exposing the damage that's already been done.. now that's not to say that the harsh cleaner doesn't eat at that coating as I'm sure it does. but the root of the problem appears to be poor filtration IMO. did you do the same cleaning with a new MAF sensor and see what happens? didn't you do this test on the MAF episode you did previously? I noticed on that reman sensor that the wire that wraps around the sensor is not coiled as tightly as the OEM. as far as my luck with cleaning MAF sensors. if it's dirty because the air filter was installed poorly or not at all(it happens often) for a short period of time then cleaning is usually the way to go as it's usually loose debris and i never had any long term issues.. but if it's caked up and burnt on like the pictures you show. it's best to replace it.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey AutoFixPal! I did clean a brand new sensor in the live training we did at the begining of May. You are right, the MAF and brake cleaners do not eat away the coating. Carb cleaner will. As for the sandblasting, I totally agree. The sensor has been sandblasted for 100k miles. Cleaning it removes the dirt and debris, but the nonstick coating is no longer as effective as it once was...leading to faster failure. I think MAF cleaning vs replacement is a case by case, customer by customer, judgement call. At the end of the day, it's the customers money. The best we can do, is offer our advice and reasoning as to which direction they chose to repair. Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@mikeoneill7360]

The magnification that you have shown is fantastic, nice job!!1

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks Mike! I think it really helps to understand the inside of these things! Thanks for watching! Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@neoladams8519]

I've been screwed 80% of the time with any reman part, but that's just been my experience.

[@jeromeduffy9270]

At the price. They got you

[@neoladams8519]

@@jeromeduffy9270 Right sir...no more reman parts for me

[@nathanrice1796]

Seems to me like using brake cleaner is taking a chance. I would think the best thing to do is use specifically MAFS cleaner only.

[@NewLevelAuto]

I am more than happy to contribute what I can to the conversation. As always you are doing an absolutely terrific job . Even without yoga pants . You really do read each and every comment which impresses me more than you could know. It just shows your dedication to making these live seminars even better each time . If you could see us all it was a standing ovation . Tire material , very attentive sir

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks Keith! I love having you contribute, you are always asking good questions and "stirring the pot." Sometimes people just need to see other people talking to join in. Thanks for doing what you do! How do you know i'm not wearing yoga pants in this video? I totally could be! I read every comment, every email, everything that is sent from you guys. Listening is key to growing the training. I am always listening, it's great to have people talking now. It wasn't always this way. Thanks again Keith! Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@ozzstars_cars]

@New Level. Face it Keith, you're just as disappointed about not having a pair of Wells yoga pants as I am. We all are. The awesome content Mike discusses on this channel will get us through this difficult time. Hang in there buddy. haha

[@GoTechTraining]

How about a pair of "Ozzstar" yoga pants? Big bright letters right across the rear. "Ozz Star" Or some "New Level" yoga pants. I think you guys should start the trend! Maybe one of you could do the yoga pants, and the other the male romper? haha! :) Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@NewLevelAuto]

Ozzstar too funny you would mention that

[@paulfoo7397]

So, my car had been giving me some problems. Which one of it was one day it runs kinda okay and another or within the same day, it bogs very badly at low RPMs (

[@GoTechTraining]

Hi Tek Teng Foo, maybe your problem isn't mass air flow sensor related? You might have something else going on. How are the fuel trims? Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@paulfoo7397]

@@GoTechTraining I dont have a scan tool with me now but the car has been running great ever since I cleaned the MAF sensor. Will try to get a scan tool to check the fuel trims when I have the chance to Thanks for the suggestion!

[@Bowtie41]

Mike,Very informative,as always!If you are changing the MAF due to the crud,it is obviously from crud getting past the filter.......Since you use new parts for quality reasons,I would also automatically change the filter(To the best available at the time),to keep the same thing from happening to the new part.Do you?By the same token,if a cleaned part is showing at least the same results as a Reman,even if the customer wants it just cleaned,I would try to get them to at least change the filter to keep new gunk from contaminating again....Ideas?

[@GoTechTraining]

Sure, cause and effect, right? An old air filter can't stop the crud so it ruins the MAF. Also, cheaper air filters don't filter down to the micron levels that more expensive ones do...so you could have issues with that as well. Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@motorcyclesandridingfree2899]

I find if you use a reman Maf you will have a comeback but if you use new and usually oem you won't have an issue. Honestly have not used a wells Maf as they don't order them or the parts stores we use don't carry them but I know if you go cheap you will have trouble.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Techman 48917, the old saying holds true, "you get what you pay for." I think this reman sensor would have worked for a while. But, it just bugs me that it's already underperforming right out of the box! Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@renerivas3052]

I have a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander sport se 2.0 L Why Can i NOT use mas air flow sensor cleaner to clean M.A.F.S On the can it read DO NOT use on Mitsubishi karman- Vortex air flow sensor. why?

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Rene, sorry I'm not familiar with that one. May need to talk to a Mitsu dealer for that answer. Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@washingtonpesantez6311]

What you will recommend a 80 dollars sensor or a 300 dollars one you think the expensive one will solve my problem?? Is in a Nissan Versa 2013

[@studioxps72]

How long can run your vehicle without maf sensor what are the damages thanks

[@GoTechTraining]

Dean, depends on the car. Some won't run without it. Others will run in a default strategy. You may not get as much power, fuel eco, and you'll create more emissions...but I don't really see any long term damage coming from it...if the car has built in strategy to deal with it not working. Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@cliffmeadows6721]

I bought a 2007 Lexus RX 400h that had a dealer replaced MAFS 400 miles before I bought it. Four days after I bought it I got the check engine light with a PO101 code. I took the sensor out and cleaned it. Put it back in and reset the code. The car was running fine before the code came up and its running fine now but the next day the code showed up again. This time I replaced the MAFS with a new one and reset the code. The code came up again the next day. The car is still running well but do you have any idea why the code keeps coming back? I am stumped.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Cliff, Id start by graphing the signal voltage of the MAF sensor. Look at the code set criteria and see what the exact values are...but that should be a good start. Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@cliffmeadows6721]

Thanks, I'll try that as soon as I figure out what it means! :>)

[@cliffmeadows6721]

@@GoTechTraining, Update on the MAFS problem. It was a cracked hose/boot on the intake side, before the sensor. Eventually, it got bad enough to keep the car from running. Unfortunately, when it wouldn't start I was ninety miles from home!.......$200.00 fix, including the diagnosis fee.

[@salmansaeed5284]

purge canister valve stuck open can creat vacuum in gas tank?

[@GoTechTraining]

Salman, sure, a very slight amount. Depends on how far it's stuck open. If the vent were stuck closed and the purge open you would have a lot of vacuum in the tank. Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@juanperdomo8219]

Thanks , so an open vent on purge or vent would create an Lean condition on both banks ?

[@GoTechTraining]

Juan, a stuck open purge could cause a rich or lean condition. It really depends on what is happening inside of the fuel tank and the charcoal canister. We will be discussing this more in depth during our next class. Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@KunjanChauhan]

why would there be any kind of coating given that the sensor wires need to be exposed to the air in order to work?

[@stinkycheese804]

They don't need to be exposed to air, only to be calibrated to provide the correct signal for the correct temperature resulting from X amount of airflow. If it is calibrated for having a coating then you remove it, "usually" it should read higher than actual airflow, but also significant is that the coating was not likely to be put on for no reason, rather it was protective to prevent oxidation which if it changes the element resistance, or causes it to rust through, will result in an effective sensor. Essentially, you shouldn't use a type of cleaner that strips any (potentially existing) coating off. Less is more, you only need it to work acceptable, not look like new or be clean enough to eat off of (hypothetically, in reality it probably will be clean enough to eat off of if it gets clean enough to work).

[@sumeetkakroo]

dont you think prevention is better than cure and cleaning on regular occasions would increase the efficiency and longevity of MAF?

[@GoTechTraining]

Sure, as long as you are using MAF cleaner and not carb cleaner. Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@burr-leeTV]

Great info on cleaning the MAF , or not .

[@GoTechTraining]

Hahah thanks Burr-Lee. Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@johnodonnell1096]

Estimated realistic expected cost for this repair?

[@GoTechTraining]

John, hard to say. Depends if the sensor is getting replaced or cleaned. I would figure 1 hour labor for diag, plus at least 0.5 hours for cleaning/replacement. Then you add in the cost of the part, which varies....I'd estimate at least a few hundred$$ Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@johnodonnell1096]

Wells Vehicle Electronics thank you for the video, and your response. Keep up the good work.

[@joestubbs3138]

I've just replaced my MAF on a Citroen 2007 C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi DVM Test results Old... sensor no resistance reading and no Capacitance reading New...sensor no resistance reading but did get a Very low capacitance 5nF !? So can I take it it is not a Hot Wire sensor - SO what type of sensor are they...joe

[@GoTechTraining]

I wish I had information on this thing Joe...but I don't have any service info for a Citroen. Sorry :( Mike Becker, Senior Technical Services Instructor

[@agapeo4137]

Does spraying cause pressure and abrasion blasting why not try to soak it in cleaner?!

[@jb6574]

I think it depends on how bad the wires are contaminated..I cleaned two maf sensors on two different cars and it helped a little bit but ended up having to replace them in the end

[@GoTechTraining]

I think cleaning is nothing more than a temporary fix. But that is assuming the only problem is contamination and not damage. Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@juanperdomo8219]

Does this apply to European autos too ( maf)

[@GoTechTraining]

Juan, I would think this would apply to any type of hot wire MAF sensor. Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@duce50thy58]

See you can keep cleaning it and save money each time. So cleaning is worth it. The labor and part and other cost are just too high for a Mass Air Flow Sensor Replacement.. Rich people can replace all the time.

[@JM-nh8yp]

Cleaning has always worked for me. It runs great again after cleaning.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Adam, that's great...but for how long? Have you found it to be a permanent fix? Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@johnnyloveee]

@@GoTechTraining no, it's never permanent but that's fine. There's some people out there who can't buy new sensors as much as they can buy a 7$ of cleaner that keeps the MAF going. Plus a new MAF isn't a permanent fix either. Because they'll eventually go bad. Haha. Not trying to be a smart Alec but yeah.

[@janjohnny4945]

@@GoTechTraining a permanent fix is to buy a new car 😉.

[@stinkycheese804]

@@GoTechTraining There is no such thing as a permanent fix, if the original goes bad, so can a new replacement, particularly if not built to same quality as the original, particularly if whatever problem was present is not resolved because there should not be that much gunk building rate from the intake, nor that much blowback from the engine. If the idea is that the old engine is contaminating everything, then maybe it makes even more sense not to spend any more money than necessary to keep it running. The real question is, how much damage is there under the gunk. Most sensors are not designed like the one you show.

[@zulu912]

Mad props. No proof like what you can see! Saving my $10 for a new sensor!

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Zach, thanks man! Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@rebeccascott4744]

Wi

[@whlawson5812]

1.8litre engine x 750rpm/2/60 x corrected density of 0.5g per litre for 0.5bar at 115F = 5.6g/second solely by maths. Not considering or corrected for intake valves which closes after 50 to 60 degree after DBC during suction stroke. The dash mounted OBD2 show value of 4.7g/second. This would be as good as it can get by the MAF. This is 83% of 5.6g/second. Driving on reasonable flat road using auto cruise setting and set for 2000rpm noted that intake air pressure at 0.8 to 0.9barg. MAF at 18g to 20g/second vs 26g/second by mathematical calculation for piston displacement and not knowing the volume contribution from egr. Fuel sprayed at port injectors would 5 to 6% by volume. Short fuel trim & long fuel trim reading stays within a tight band +/-2% on a flat road. The O2 sensor I have looks like a narrow band O2 sensor which fluctuate at 0.65 to 0.75v on a flat road. Throttle body position at 20 to 22% open. I keep the dashboard mounted OBD2 already for 1 year so I had quite a number od baseline data. Drifting of any one parameters would meant something is happening.

[@Hodggoblin]

It would have been helpful if you had tested the cleaned sensors as well.

[@GoTechTraining]

Chances are that the cleaned sensor would have probably worked for a little while...but that non-stick coating is no longer intact, meaning that sensor will fail sooner. Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@Hodggoblin]

I believe it, but it still would have been nice to see how it was working after the cleaning compared to the new sensor.

[@teravolt6113]

Anyway, if you have the correct bit, removing it, cleaning it again and reinstalling it is a matter of minutes.

[@MustangGuru]

Purge valve stuck open can also collapse a gas tank.

[@waltermarpa9008]

hello, can someone help pin point where i can find the (Fuel Pressure Sensor) or the location is on my 2004 Ford F-150 4.6/5.4 L V8 double -cab pickup truck?

[@GoTechTraining]

Hi Walter, I would just like to clarify what we are talking about. Are we talking about the fuel tank pressure sensor or the fuel rail pressure sensor? Judging by your 2nd comment I am assuming fuel tank pressure. Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@waltermarpa9008]

fuel tank pressure sensor. i find a three plug connector but it is mounted on the air lines for the Evap system i think, not on the fuel tank and i already buy a fuel tank pressure sensor that goes on the fuel tank.

[@GoTechTraining]

It is completely possible that the FTP is located in an EVAP line and not directly in the fuel tank. Ford is good for this. I have a feeling what you are looking at is correct, that it is the FTP. Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@waltermarpa9008]

Hi Mike, maybe you can help with an advise on my problem. The truck runs fine in idle. The problem is when i accelerate, the engine stalling and slow to pick up speed. But when i slowly push down on the gas paddle it seems fine.. Do you have any advise for me. Thank you.

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Walter, first step would be check for codes. Is the check engine light on? From there it's really hard to say. It would be little more than a guess. You issue kind of sounds like a plugged up catalytic converter, but like I said, its little more than a guess without codes, or testing data. Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@juanalvarez4801]

I have a I have a I-30 Infiniti before I find out it was a mess flow sensor it will give me a lot of problems with O2 sensors and misfires

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Juan, a faulty MAF sensor could cause 02 codes and misfire problems for sure. Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@mikeburton1733]

Top notch presentation Mike, as usual. You're a good instructor. The pics were the proof. Never knew about tire debris til Keith added that. Great tech he is. You tried cold chemical cleaning but do you think there would be any way of removing the rubber with heat? Would it burn/melt off without damaging the element? How come none of you guys are near me in Ontario? lol I think I may need a new MAF for my camaro as its been cleaned more than once already. Now the search begins because I can only find remanned.

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks Mike! I wonder what temp the coating on the OE MAF melts at? I wouldn't want to overheat it. Also, to get heat inside there would be hard, as the surroundings are all plastic. I think heat would cause more damage than anything. I hope you have success in your search for a new MAF sensor! Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@NewLevelAuto]

Mike Burton I very much appreciate the compliment Mike

[@jimmytate7587]

i'm wondering if liquid soap and water could soften that gunk. It is obviously causing partial shorts on the wire wound resister. I would like to try an overnight soak , rinse, and air dry to see.....

[@andrewk778]

A very informative video. It was interesting to those close-ups of the MAF. Thank you.

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks Andrew! Glad you found them interesting. A pictures worth a thousand words! Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@Me-zo8yc]

Very interesting, and very thorough. Thanks!

[@brendacalderon9445]

Cleaning sensor with what?

[@jonascourtney5999]

Could we just clean it to see if makes a difference ?

[@GoTechTraining]

James, you could always try cleaning it. I tend to leave it up to my customer. Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@edh656]

I love that guy!!! really really really good technician!!!✌

[@haywardsautomotive6156]

New Level Auto stirring the pot...of course he's stirring the pot and then laughing b/c he knows he threw in a variable they didn't think about and then the fun begins. I am in total agreement with Keith on you're doing a great job but when he said even without yoga pants he started worrying me that he was actually thinking about you in yoga pants but then again he's from the Island. Now I've cleaned a ton of MAF sensors and failures are few and far between but I'm not comparing a new sensor against a used one...I'm just seeing if it corrected my MAF readings, fuel trims, etc. & if my G/S VE is good. Hope you're getting sleep and the baby is doing good!

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Bob! Thanks! The yoga pants thing is toooo funny! I wonder who is going to be the first of us to wear them!?!?! A clean sensor is a happy sensor. Have you seen them last as long as a replacement though? Also, the fuel trims may be in spec, but is the VE and g/s as high as it would be with a replacement new sensor? I know fixed is fixed, but...these are the things that keep me up at night. Could/would the customer be better off with a new sensor over cleaning his old one...oh and my son, he keeps me up at night too. Haha. Have a great rest of your weekend Bob! Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@haywardsautomotive6156]

Hey Mike...Never tracked the difference but I know once I clean them they usually last until they come back in for scheduled maintenance. I inspect & clean the MAF sensor every time I check the air filter. Contamination is directly related to a dirty air filter, seal bad, K&N, engine oil contamination (PCV or blowby) ,etc If I have a MAF related performance issue i.e. fuel trims, load %, DTCs, etc I'll inspect the MAF and if it's dirty to the point I know it's affecting the air flow calculation it gets cleaned and then see the affect. If I look at the MAF sensor and it has severely eroded coatings, is clean or not to where I feel the contamination is enough to cause the problem then the MAF sensor will be replaced. I never took a cleaned sensor and a new sensor and compared the VE or g/s but your test results were interesting but then again how does an OEM, AF, & cleaned sensor compare to each other and how does an OEM compare to another OEM? Is there a tolerance between them? Interesting questions? Honestly if I have good fuel trims, VE load calculations VE and g/s for the mileage and wear on the vehicle then it goes out the door. I try and only replace the parts on a customer car that they need b/c usually they have something else that is more important on their car they need to fix. I've never had a car come back for a MAF I've cleaned. If these are the things that keep you up at night plus your son you better get some toothpicks for your eyelids so if you start rambling incoherent thoughts in your videos I'll understand :-) Have a great weekend Mike!

[@ozzstars_cars]

What Mike? No yoga pants giveaways??? Sadness but I'm still staying subscribed! Great job with the videos. Looking forward to the EVAP classes. -Glen

[@GoTechTraining]

Sorry, no yoga pants! If I were to give them away, then I would have to wear them as well right? Can't give away something you're not willing to wear, right? I just can't do it! haha! Glad to hear your still going to stick around :) Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@prmayner]

new WELLS maf sensors from now on. love the vids. trying to get caught up.

[@seshachary5580]

very educative. Thank you regards

[@splash5974]

Great vid Mike! Thanks for the suggestion to watch

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks for watching! Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@charlespearl2793]

Yes, replace the sensor. I have cleaned the MAF sensor (with MAF cleaner) every oil change for 100,000 miles. About 70,000 miles the car idles/runs excellant for about one tank of gas and then okay. When I replaced the MAF sensor I looked at the filaments with a magnify glass. One was okay, but the other had a dull look. So, cleaning only works for so long. Just buy a new one when it is time. Thank you for the video.

[@stinkycheese804]

You must live in a very dirty environment and have horrible air filters to need to clean it that often, at every oil change. I typically clean about once every 50K mi (my spark plug replacement interval after the first replacement set) but they don't usually need the first cleaning till 100K mi. Unless you are just doing it as an obsession rather than need, I would advise looking into more effective air filters than what you are currently using because that much gunk should not be making it into your air intake, or if you have a poor engine condition where there is blowback into the air intake, you may have another fault.

[@shipuniontruck]

I've been searching unsuccessfully for substantial information regarding the cleaning of Karman Vortex sensors. Apparently this type of sensor can be damaged by cleaning, although I've read that many have successfully cleaned theirs. I suspect my 2002 Dodge Stratus R/T (Mitsubishi) has a Karman Vortex sensor, but am unable to determine for sure, and am therefore reluctant to try cleaning it without being certain that it is malfunctioning. The current codes displayed are p0102 and p0421. The prior owner installed a K&N cold air intake system, which I suspect to be contributing to sensor failure. If anyone knowledgeable reads this, I would GREATLY appreciate any helpful feedback!

[@felipeacelass.4346]

excellent! that's tecnical information! sorry for my bad english!

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks Felipe! Thanks for watching! Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@SlackersIndustry]

you do it cause its cheap and easy to do, if it continues to fail then you get a new oneand change it in 2 mins, wheel bearing is too much work so you replace it.

[@johnaclark1]

Another super video! Thanks for this info!

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks Johnaclark1!! Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@fieldsofomagh]

Looking at the figures for the OEM and aftermarket Maf sensors, there doesn't seem to be that much difference especially when dealing with an older vehicle.

[@GoTechTraining]

Yes Tom, you are right. The figures really are not that different. But they ARE different. Considering both parts are fresh out of the box, they really should perform the same. Will the driver notice a difference, will the PCM code? No, but there is a slight difference. Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@06colkurtz]

They are metric. That makes a difference.

[@ddire333]

Best vids I have seen on maf sensors thanks, have had good results cleaning over the years but would like if you could look inside cheap "eBay" one vs oem, I Mostly work on euro and find they don't like aftermarket, guessing they might look like you remanufactured inside.

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks ddire333! When you say the don't like aftermarket...do you run into issues right away, or down the road? Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@ddire333]

Wells Vehicle Electronics right out of the or with in days for many spurious brands😋

[@blainemcdonald6972]

That’s a great question, OEM verses after market for my 17 Nissan Maxima $585 to $175

[@SlackersIndustry]

great video

[@baxrok2.]

Yes, Mike my questions were answered. I've never even seen a MAF that needed to be cleaned nor have I ever replaced one! Lucky I guess. I have studied them on my Mazdas though. Thanks for everything Mike. Great job!

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey Baxrok2, good! I thought I did, I just wanted to address it one more time. Because I think that there were other people out there with a similar idea. If one person is brave enough to ask, at least 10 others are wondering. So, thanks for asking questions and voicing your ideas and opinions, keep it up! Thanks for watching. Hope to see you for Thursday's class! Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@waltermarpa9008]

I have dropped the fuel tank and i can't find it there, I am looking around the fuel canister but seems like it's not there either....

[@GoTechTraining]

The sensor looks to be mounted on top of the tank. As part of the sending unit. You probably should see a few different connectors up on top of the tank. Fuel tank pressure will be a 3 wire sensor. Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@waltermarpa9008]

Yes the engine light stays "ON" and i have checked a shop and for a code and they told me the code is P0510, and its the fuel tank pressure sensor. That is why i have a brand new sensor..

[@GoTechTraining]

You're certain it was a P0510? I highly doubt that the fuel tank pressure sensor is causing a driveablilty issue. Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@Dirtyzone1979]

Great Tech video

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks Dezi! Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@calholli]

That's why I always clean them.. and then paint over them with two layers of clear nail polish.

[@hamadkk5317]

Thank you very much for this information you’re just awesome

[@GoTechTraining]

Thank you so much Hamad! Mike Becker, Senior Instructor

[@calholli]

Seems to me that the real answer is: We need better air filters on our engines.

[@blainemcdonald6972]

New OEM AF is $35 verses new MAF at $ 585, change AF more often

[@calholli]

@@blainemcdonald6972 I'm sure the filter wasn't even dirty.

[@Sleephit211]

Great videos, always. Thanks brother keep it up guys

[@djb6496]

Its not Friday, its Monday!

[@GoTechTraining]

But today is Tuesday! Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@W.Khairi]

Great Video again, Thank u v much

[@GoTechTraining]

Thank you for watching! Mike Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@lukecartwright1803]

great video!!

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks Luke! MIke Becker, Technical Services Instructor

[@vp5058]

You dont clean maf sensor whith brake cleaner , use proper maf sensor cleaner !

[@GoTechTraining]

Hey V Petrovici, sure. That's why I did this video....to show the difference in cleaning the sensor! Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Proof in the pudding! Buy new. Not worth the couple dollar savings.

[@GoTechTraining]

Very true in this case! Thanks for watching. Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@charlespearl2793]

Yes, agree. Cleaning only works for so long. Just replaced mine.

[@gaittr]

I'm sure that you're a very nice guy and a very good technician but you spend an awful lot of time talking about stuff that's not helpful whatsoever. Try to keep your content from being less of an editorial or personal comments and just get to the topic with which we opened your video originally to watch it for.

[@zephyr332]

You're cute.

[@GoTechTraining]

Thanks, I think? :) Mike Becker, Senior Technical Instructor

[@zephyr332]

@@GoTechTraining You are extremely welcome.

[@juanalvarez4801]

Hahaha😒😞

[@zephyr332]

@@juanalvarez4801 I know, I know. It's always the ones you DON'T want that say those things! I get it.

[@markthomasjr4366]

You talk to dam much bra

[@Me-zo8yc]

You have a tarded attention span bra