Maf sensor diesel
 

Whilst waiting for my oil cooler to arrive from Rimmers, thought I'd clean a few sensors in my diesel doer upper.
The EGR was a mess as predicted and most of the crud out of that, thought I'd have a look at the MAF sensor.
Surprised to find it was pretty clean so left it but I noticed all I could see was a small slide which appears to clip into the board.
As I do electronics, that diode looks to be some sort of 5 watt Zener diode.
Surely that's not all the MAF.?
If it is in theory you could buy a bunch of Zener diodes (no two will have the exact same value) and experiment ?
Also,not having owned a diesel before, the air filter in the car has some sort of cloth filter cover over it.Do you get a new one of these when replacing you air filter or do you wash it and use it again.

Imbedded under the sealed cover on the other side of the maf from the diode is a circuit board and in the slot at the bottom is a platinum coated wire.

Its the cooling effect on the wire caused by the air flowing over it that determines the readings from the maf which are used by the ECU to determine the correct fuelling.

It's the effect of pollutants and oxidization that burn onto the wire that causes it to go out spec. ;)

Russ

Good explanation there by BigRuss.
The MAF looks like a fairly simple device on the outside but it's what goes on behind the scenes that makes the difference.

On a far less technical note, the air filter comes complete.

Great explanation.
Being as the exterior of the sensor looks reasonable is it worth trying to clean the inside or leave it as is ?
Normally on the kv6,any sensors I clean I use a small art brush and metho spirits as when it evaporates it leave no traces.