How to Clean Your MAF Sensor

[Steve @ VersaTune]

Since MAF calibration is so critical to tuning, I thought I would do a walk through on how to clean your MAF sensor prior to performing a calibration.

Safety Note: These chemicals are EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. Do not smoke when using them, etc. Also, they burn like a #$%^#%^ and can cause real harm if they get in your eyes. Wear appropriate safety gear.

Step One - Obtain the Supplies

MAF Cleaning Supplies

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Step Two - Locate the MAF Sensor

MAF Sensor on CAI

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Step Three - Remove the connector and inspect the contacts

Inspect the contacts

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Step Four - Clean the contacts in both connectors with electronics cleaner

Clean the contacts with electronics cleaner

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Step Five - Optional - Apply a small amount of di-electric grease to the connector seal.

Step Six - Reconnect the sensor and remove the two phillips head screws that hold it in the intake pipe. Be sure you don't drop the screws

Step Seven - Spray MAF cleaner on the MAF and IAT sensors. Up inside the black plastic housing, you will see two wires. Those are the MAF sensor. The red-orange plastic sensor on the side is the Inlet Air Temperature sensor.

Clean the MAF and IAT

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Step Eight - Apply a small amount of Di-Electric grease to the mounting surface and inside diameter of the CAI where the MAF mounts and where the MAF sealing o-ring sits. This will prevent corrosion of the bare aluminum on the CAI and help the o-ring seal.

Apply Di-Electric Grease Sparingly

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Step Ten - Press MAF sensor back into the intake pipe and screw the mounting screws in. Be sure you don't over-tighten the screws and strip the theads.

That's it! Total time, about ten minutes.

[Ugnius @ VersaTune]

Nice how-to Steve!
Too bad they don't sell a MAF cleaner here that adds 10 horsepower to the wheels..

[06Speed6]

I have to disagree with the dielectric grease part, that is a water proof connector and it is not made for grease. Regardless of that, grease should not touch the contacts of any connector, just the inner base of a non water proof male connector, and the outside of the female connector where the crimps go into the plastic housing.

Honestly the best way to seal a non water proof connector is with RTV silicone, you seal all the wires going into the connectors. It will keep out about 90% of the dirt and water.

Dielectric grease is non conductive and shouldnt be used to coat contacts that are supposed to be conductive. On modern cars, nearly every underhood connector is water proof.

[Steve @ VersaTune]

You're right. It is a weather proof connector. If the conductors do not fit tightly inside each other, they will not displace the grease and thus not conduct the signal.

Mineral spirits will disolve the grease if it gets anywhere you don't want it.

[Ugnius @ VersaTune]

What's the intended use for that dielectric grease?

[Rich990]

I did this on the weekend - the IAT sensor was pretty dirty but the MAF wires looked clean, sprayed both with two or three blasts of electronics cleaner, letting it dry between sprays, and also inti the terminals of the sensor.

Also reset the ecu at the same time and the difference is night and day.
Also seem to be flowing about 10 more maf g/s than before

[richy-m-g]

I used a MAF cleaner made by the German company Liqui Moly. When I removed the MAF sensor I found the two wires of the sensor element were caked in black deposits. A few squirts of the Liqui Moly and it was gone. Noticed an immediate improvement in acceleration response; it was crisp and smooth instead of woolly.