Which cleaner for MAF?

[baehan]

which cleaner do i need to clean the MAF? i went to Checker's Autoparts and picked up a can of CRC Cir-Intake Cleaner.
http://www.partsamerica.com/product_images/img/CRC/05078.jpg
i can use this one, right? is there something else that you would recommend that i use? it's the only one that they had. although, they did have a bunch of other carb cleaners. this CRC was the only one that they had for FI motors.

after i clean the MAF, is there anything else that you would recommend cleaning with this cleaner stuff?

 

[88vert]

That will work

Thats the same stuff I use on mine

 

[LStoudenmire]

I used Electric Contact Cleaner. It's been about 4 months with no known problems yet.

 

[RTStork]

You can also use throttle body cleaner.

 

[mosinman]

You should use electrical parts cleaner or contact cleaner like LStoudenmire does. Available at most autopart stores or any Radioshack. Most intake and throttle body cleaners will leave an anticorrosion coating on the surface cleaned. You don't want this on your MAF element, only bare metal. Some intake cleaners will say safe for MAFs on the label.

 

[baehan]

another thread recommends using a swab and denatured alcohol. do the Electrical Contact Cleaner and Denatured Alcohol do the same thing?

 

[mosinman]

I would use a spray, less chance of damaging something. Electrical parts cleaner is only about $4 a can

 

[baehan]

Originally posted by LStoudenmire
I used Electric Contact Cleaner. It's been about 4 months with no known problems yet.

i picked up a bottle of Electricronics Cleaner from radioshack.
Dead Link Removed
is this the right one? LStoudenmire, did your's come with a brush also? on the bottle, it says to spray with brush attached. what's up with that? should i use the brush to clean the MAF? any suggestions? thanks guys.

btw...this little bottle cost me $12

 

[oceanworker]

I use either an electronics contact cleaner (radioshack) or a throttle body cleaner. Read the lable. My throttle body cleaner said "safe for MAF" etc. Don't just use any carb cleaner.

 

[LStoudenmire]

I actually used a Q-Tip soaked with the contact cleaner. Then "rested" the Q-Tip on the MAS filament with no pressure applied. The contact cleaner is supposedly not to be sprayed on rubber or plastic, and it was rather hard to spray it without getting it on the plastic parts.

Just hold the Q-Tip for a minute or so on the MAS filament and you will start to notice the buildup coming off onto the Q-Tip.

 

[baehan]

hopefully i didn't cause any damage to the MAS. how would i know if i damaged the MAS?

when i was cleaning it, i just sprayed the electrical cleaner all over the filament and yes, it did get on the plastic. i even used the brush to rub up against the filament. oh boy, i hope i didn't cause too much damage.

 

[oceanworker]

"DOH!"....Homer Simpson circa 1988

 

[RTStork]

Originally posted by baehan
hopefully i didn't cause any damage to the MAS. how would i know if i damaged the MAS?

If the MAF is damaged, then the check engine light will come on and the engine will run extremely rough, if at all. You will know if its damaged as soon as you crank the engine.

 

[baehan]

phew~...i guess everything's fine. no check engine light. i don't know if it's directly related to cleaning the MAS, or reseting the ecu (i also changed my fuel filter), but it seems like i'm getting better gas milage. during the winter, i was getting about 18mpg. once summer hit, i was getting about 16 mpg (i live in AZ, it's HOT over here, AC is running full blast all the time, EVEN AT NIGHT!!! ) after my first full tank (after cleaning and replacing), i'm back up to about 18 mpg. this is great news for me because i drive about 150 miles/day.

THANKS GUYS FOR ALL YOUR HELP