Cleaning a MAF with Carb Cleaner

JohnFol · 28th September 2007, 11:13

It sounds like there are great benefits to giving the MAF a clean, and there are some really usefull guides on this site. Not having anything called "reside free cleaner" or my own air line I need to improvise.

I aim to use an inflated bike tyre as my makeshift air line. Should be ok, and low enough pressure not to damage things, however I don't want to buy a whole can of cleaner for just 1 squit. A friend has lent me a spray can of carb cleaner. So I guess the question is, would this be suitable?

WeeMan · 28th September 2007, 11:23

Wouldn't think so!, is that not just like WD40?. Go to any computer shops and buy an air duster, compressed air in a can, roughly a couple of quid and you'll be safe. Just remember not to tilt the can or it'll spit!.

Jamie · 28th September 2007, 15:17

carb cleaner might be ok..I would like confirmation on this.

Carb cleaner is a solvent that leaves no residue...much like electrical spray.

Simon · 28th September 2007, 17:39

Want a reusable and dust-free solution to providing a squirt of air? Get one of these.... http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...er-Review.aspx

Used by photographers to clean digital SLR lenses and sensors it ought to do the trick for your MAF sensor too

pondweed · 28th September 2007, 17:48

maplins sell the alcohol spray and probably do mail order

Jules · 28th September 2007, 19:41

You have to be very carefull with carb cleaner! It is more powerful than petrol as a solvent and the can in front of me now contains:

Xylene and a mixture of Isomers. I tried it once on a failed MAF but it made no difference. I wouldn't like to risk it on a servicable MAF as they contain a very delicate substrate. It's not just a heated wire like on old fords.

Anyone cleaned a Bosch sensor sucessfully?

Simon · 28th September 2007, 19:45

Out of interest and the need for info, what is the MAF sensor made from, exactly? If we knew what it was made of then we could determine what can and can't be used to clean all the crud off it.

Jules · 28th September 2007, 20:03

I saw a whole article on the Bosch Maff Simon a few months ago, can I find it again.................

WeeMan · 28th September 2007, 20:07

A strand of fairys hair (rare of course) lol

Jules · 28th September 2007, 20:13

Found an article from here
http://www.europeancarweb.com/tech/0...ent/index.html

Excerpt from the article:

The MAF (mass air flow) sensor measures the mass of air entering the engine to control the air/fuel ratio. The sensor is incorporated into the intake system after the air filter. Bosch uses a hot-wire MAF sensor, which is a platinum wire heated to 212*F (some say 180*F) above ambient temperature. As air is sucked into the engine past the wire, it has a cooling effect that's offset by an increase in voltage to the sensor to maintain the 212*F. The engine management system then determines how long to keep the fuel injectors open. Upon shutdown, Bosch MAF sensors briefly heat the wire to 1,000*C to burn off any contaminants.

Not sure if this applies to our M47R MAF. Maybe Ron knows

28th September 2007, 11:13	#1
JohnFol Gets stuck in 75 Conn SE - XVWY* Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Reading Posts: 564 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Cleaning a MAF with Carb Cleaner It sounds like there are great benefits to giving the MAF a clean, and there are some really usefull guides on this site. Not having anything called "reside free cleaner" or my own air line I need to improvise. I aim to use an inflated bike tyre as my makeshift air line. Should be ok, and low enough pressure not to damage things, however I don't want to buy a whole can of cleaner for just 1 squit. A friend has lent me a spray can of carb cleaner. So I guess the question is, would this be suitable?

28th September 2007, 15:17	#3
Jamie Posted a thing or two In Limbo Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,685 Thanks: 4 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	carb cleaner might be ok..I would like confirmation on this. Carb cleaner is a solvent that leaves no residue...much like electrical spray. __________________ Finally given up trying to buy the last new rover V8 from Bristol, 2 years of haggling got me nowhere!

28th September 2007, 19:41	#6
Jules This is my second home ZT 260 SE Twilight and 10 other 75 ZT's :O Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Conwy NORTH WALES Posts: 11,094 Thanks: 512 Thanked 1,116 Times in 763 Posts	You have to be very carefull with carb cleaner! It is more powerful than petrol as a solvent and the can in front of me now contains: Xylene and a mixture of Isomers. I tried it once on a failed MAF but it made no difference. I wouldn't like to risk it on a servicable MAF as they contain a very delicate substrate. It's not just a heated wire like on old fords. Anyone cleaned a Bosch sensor sucessfully? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Newbies do now!! 1. Plenum drains..all 3 or 4 year dependent 2. Cooling fan..All speeds functioning 3. Bonnet cable divider block

28th September 2007, 20:03	#8
Jules This is my second home ZT 260 SE Twilight and 10 other 75 ZT's :O Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Conwy NORTH WALES Posts: 11,094 Thanks: 512 Thanked 1,116 Times in 763 Posts	I saw a whole article on the Bosch Maff Simon a few months ago, can I find it again................. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Newbies do now!! 1. Plenum drains..all 3 or 4 year dependent 2. Cooling fan..All speeds functioning 3. Bonnet cable divider block

28th September 2007, 20:13	#10
Jules This is my second home ZT 260 SE Twilight and 10 other 75 ZT's :O Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Conwy NORTH WALES Posts: 11,094 Thanks: 512 Thanked 1,116 Times in 763 Posts	Found an article from here http://www.europeancarweb.com/tech/0...ent/index.html Excerpt from the article: The MAF (mass air flow) sensor measures the mass of air entering the engine to control the air/fuel ratio. The sensor is incorporated into the intake system after the air filter. Bosch uses a hot-wire MAF sensor, which is a platinum wire heated to 212F (some say 180F) above ambient temperature. As air is sucked into the engine past the wire, it has a cooling effect that's offset by an increase in voltage to the sensor to maintain the 212F. The engine management system then determines how long to keep the fuel injectors open. Upon shutdown, Bosch MAF sensors briefly heat the wire to 1,000C to burn off any contaminants. Not sure if this applies to our M47R MAF. Maybe Ron knows __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Newbies do now!! 1. Plenum drains..all 3 or 4 year dependent 2. Cooling fan..All speeds functioning 3. Bonnet cable divider block

28th September 2007, 11:23	#2
WeeMan Posted a thing or two Mazda MX5, BMW 520i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sunny Ayrshire Posts: 1,498 Thanks: 2 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Wouldn't think so!, is that not just like WD40?. Go to any computer shops and buy an air duster, compressed air in a can, roughly a couple of quid and you'll be safe. Just remember not to tilt the can or it'll spit!.

28th September 2007, 17:39	#4
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Want a reusable and dust-free solution to providing a squirt of air? Get one of these.... http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...er-Review.aspx Used by photographers to clean digital SLR lenses and sensors it ought to do the trick for your MAF sensor too

28th September 2007, 17:48	#5
pondweed This is my second home Waiter, Waiter! I seem to have a Roomster in my drive... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sussex Posts: 3,268 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	maplins sell the alcohol spray and probably do mail order

28th September 2007, 19:45	#7
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Out of interest and the need for info, what is the MAF sensor made from, exactly? If we knew what it was made of then we could determine what can and can't be used to clean all the crud off it.

28th September 2007, 20:07	#9
WeeMan Posted a thing or two Mazda MX5, BMW 520i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sunny Ayrshire Posts: 1,498 Thanks: 2 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	A strand of fairys hair (rare of course) lol