Cleaning your MAF and LTFT

[Fobio]

At the tuning day, I was told my air filter was dirty. I always have a cleaned backup ready so I popped that one on and away i went. Since then, my idle LTFT's have wandered from 0 to +16...unacceptable! I thought I'd give it some time to learn, but it didn't.

So today, I decided to clean the MAF sensor with electronic cleaner. You should use MAF cleaner for peace of mind, but to me, it the same thing, just rebranded. Anyway, I cleaned it, and can see the black film on it cleaned off and showing metal again.

I reflashed my map and now my idle LTFT's are zero'd for a good 5 min. So I decide to take it out for a run...and then I see there's snow on the ground...ugh. Maybe I'l try again tonight to see if I can get some logs.

[CelestSpeed3]

I usually clean my sensor with every tire change (spring and fall). I use electrical contact cleaner too and no issues since 2004.

[Sean80]

Do you just dip it in the cleaner?

[Fobio]

Do you just dip it in the cleaner?

it's in a aerosol can, with a red tube tip. you just spray it. the stuff is like $5/can @ Princess Auto.

I'd recommend removing the rubber o-ring on the MAF housing before spraying/cleaning.

[Sean80]

Thanks, I'll be doing that soon!

[Fobio]

ok...cleaning MAF sensor is good...but I may have other issues, as my idle LTFT's have reverted back to before the cleaning and got worst (since it's now sensing more air).

I'm either going to tune my MAF table or troubleshoot a leak around and past the MAF. At this point, I'm also suspecting the MAF sensor's o-ring may need replacing. So I might do both.

[Fobio]

so I recalibrated my MAF...according to the ATR helpfile and some know-how from MSF. Anyway, here's my thread on it. After some testing and logging, my LTFT's are now between -2 to +1%. Idles @ 0%..sometimes -1%...

Here's my thread on MSF:

High idle LTFT and how to tune it (http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/forum/f418/high-idle-ltft-how-tune-73102/)

[cwp_sedan]

Would using typical electronic cleaner be the best thing for cleaning the MAF? I've also hear of people soaking it in isopropyl alcohol for a couple of minutes.

[Fobio]

Would using typical electronic cleaner be the best thing for cleaning the MAF? I've also hear of people soaking it in isopropyl alcohol for a couple of minutes.

I can't say it's the best since it's not the typical "MAF Cleaner" but from what I have read, they're the same thing with different labels and price tags. I have never tried dipping the assembly in rubbing alcohol, but I'd think it'd more effective with methanol, but even less safe. At the end of the day, it's to clean it, so whatever works best is fine by me...just don't damage the sensor, senselessly...HA HA....

[starscream]

I have a can of MAF cleaner that I am pretty sure I wont go through the full thing. If you want we can meet up and I can let you use some of it.

I been having whacked LTFT and I KNOW that I need to do a few things on the car (spark plugs, MAF clean, Carbon/Seafoam Clean, TB clean). So I didnt chance it and ended up getting the proper MAF stuff. I dunno if they sell it here in Canada (never checked) but I go to the US regularly and picked it up for 6 bucks at a auto store there.