Please note: this is a write up by Dan the Oil Man, and not myself.

This article was prepared & is re-posted with permission of Dan Norte from DanTheOilMan.com.


The Mass Air Flow sensor is a very delicate sensor. It uses two wires to measure the amount of air flowing into the engine. The two wires are heated (by electricity) and the more electricity used to heat them tells the ECU how much air is flowing past them.
Between very fine dirt and the trend towards oiled filters it's very important to clean the MAF. Cleaning the MAF has so many benefits it's unreal. Between reducing pinging, increasing mileage, and preventing it from burning out (saving yourself $$$) there's no reason to not clean the MAF sensor once every 6 months. Also clean it shortly after installing or reinstalling an oil filed air filter.
You don't need many tools. As a matter of fact, a screwdriver and the pictured stuff is all you'll need:
You'll need a flat head screwdriver. Those are Safety Torx or Tamper Proof Torx bits. You can buy a whole set like I did or just get size T-20.
Now, it's time for an important note. You see that big red aerosol can? It's ELECTRICAL CONTACT CLEANER. This is the only thing you should use to clean your MAF. Only ELECTRICAL CONTACT CLEANER. No windex, no carb cleaner, no brake cleaner, no rubbing alcohol, and no Q-Tips.
Step 1: Open the hood and locate your air box. If you can't find it...please stop right now and have a friend clean your MAF for you.
Step 2: Open the airbox and move the assembly up to give you room to work.
Step 3: Locate the plug on the bottom and move the grommet down to give you room. See picture.
Step 4: Take the flathead screwdriver and pop the four tabs holding the assembly in.
Step 5: Reach in and disconnect the wiring harness from the MAF. Don't rip the wires or anything!
Step 6: Remove the assembly. Locate the MAF and remove the two screws holding it in.
Step 7: Spray the living daylights out of the wires. Do NOT touch them. ABOSOLUTELY DO NOT TOUCH THEM. Those wires are very small and delicate. If you break one of them....it's a $150 mistake.
Step 8: The installation is the reversal.
Do this once every 6 months and your MAF will continue to be clean and your performance won't suffer.

 

Stupid question time.... I apologize in advance.
Been using CRC Mass Airflow Sensor cleaner on my Tahoe... but its a few years older.

Any reason I cant use this on the 2010 F150?

I know so very little about electronics and such...

 

you'll be perfectly fine

 

Plan on doing this today.

Also i would like to note. Those of you that have aftermarket filters, especially oiled air filters like K&N should clean there MAF sensor more often. Thin mists of the oil from the filter will stick on your sensor allowing dirt and dust to build up and stick on the sensor.

 

note: my sensor looked slightly different. it had a plastic pice roughly 2 inches tall where the wires are shown in the pic here. no way to remove it? so i simply sprayed the crap out of the wires with the plastic piece on...

 

Question. I have a k&n system, and I pulled out what I believe to be the maf sensor. almost looks like a computer card with a small hole in the side. Is this where i stpay the cleaner??

 

will any electrical contact cleaner work, or does it have to be specific, i just went out and bought some gunk electrical contact cleaner?

 

will any electrical contact cleaner work, or does it have to be specific, i just went out and bought some gunk electrical contact cleaner?

 

Just an fyi you do not need to remove the sensor to clean it. It is probably better to not remove it. Just open up the air cleaner and spray the sensor with MAF cleaner. Be sure to let it dry before starting your vehicle.