MAF revitaliser!

[S4TAN]

This is the stuff!

Spray liberally onto the MAF sensor (the metal parts and in the crevices) and leave to dry in air (or dry with a hairdryer set on cool if you're in a hurry)

No need to take the sensor out of the MAF housing - just use the straw provided with the spray can - the pressure from the spray will blow off any detritus (pollen/dust particles) and the IPA removes the oil and grease that can collect on the sensor (even if you don't have an oiled filter. Ever looked in the entrance to your Y-pipe? Then you may have seen a small pool of oil there - I believe this can coat your MAF sensor in mist form over a period of time)

Just cleaned my MAF with it and the car runs super smooth now (was getting a little jerky/hesitant at certain revs) - it's like having a brand new MAF.

DO NOT do this while the MAF sensor is hot/warm - only do it when the MAF is cold or at ambient temp. (you'll knacker the hot-film sensor) and DO NOT let the straw touch the sensor (I killed one by wiping it with a cotton-bud once!) - position straw a couple of cm's or so away and spray for a good few seconds. This is much better than an IPA bath - really cleans the sensor and revitalises the MAF.

Cost me £7.99 for the can (from Maplins)

[Siena]

Nice one, thanks for that tip.

[mikeyquattro]

Tried that with my old S4.....
Didn't work

[S4TAN]

Never mind - worked like a charm on mine!

[mikeyquattro]

Fair enuffski.
Tried my best to clean it (even washed it about in a bag of the stuff!)

[S4TAN]

Tried my best to clean it (even wooshed it about in a bag of the stuff!)

If it's already fooked then no amount of cleaning will revive it. This works on functioning MAFs that have lost their "edge" ...

This is how a hot-film MAF sensor works:
"A Bosch hot film MAF is comprised of a diaphragm with a heating zone and two symmetrically arranged temperature sensors on either side of the heating zone. A control circuit maintains the heating zone at a constant temperature above ambient such that the downstream sensor reads a lower (but constant) temperature, regardless of ambient air temperature. The more air that blows past the upstream sensor, the cooler it is when compared to the downstream sensor. Thus, the change in temperature (ΔT) between the upstream and downstream temperature sensor is proportional to the amount (and direction) of air mass flowing over the membrane. A thin film MAF can also detect a reverse flow of air."

My take is that if there is any crap on the sensors then they will not read as well as they do when not covered in crap - therefore the ecu won't be as accurate at calculating the air-flow, and thus fuelling etc.

After I cleaned mine it felt much smoother through the revs, and faster. That's all the evidence I need!

P.S. I'd better add that I am not in any way affiliated with Maplins, do not work for Maplins and am not a Maplins store. Neither am I affiliated with Servisol, work for Servisol and I am not a can of Servisol IPA spray.

[mikeyquattro]

IIRC peak reading was about 170 (standard car)

[S4TAN]

IIRC peak reading was about 170 (standard car)

Should've been around 210-215 for a standard car.

[mikeyquattro]

Thats why I got a new one

[S4TAN]

Must've been fooked then

[DavidT]

Shall I move this one to the ownership section, so we can share it with friends ?

[S4TAN]

NO! .... errr .... I mean YES!

[jb7_uk]

nice find S4TAN! i just happen to have a can of this stuff collecting dust on a shelf at work!... looks like i just found a use for it

[derdle]

P.S. I'd better add that I am not in any way affiliated with Maplins, do not work for Maplins and am not a Maplins store. Neither am I affiliated with Servisol, work for Servisol and I am not a can of Servisol IPA spray

But your company does make the plastic straw!

Good tip and like jb7uk, I have a can at work which now has a use!

[CliveH]

Nice one Jules

That's on my shopping list for next weekend.