Can the stock 2G MAS get dirty, resulting in leaner a/f mixture? How do I clean it?

[MarkAngelo05]

Hi!
IDLE AIRFLOW LBS/min is .45 @ 850rpms

Is there a way the MAS sensor can lose it's airflow reading performance because the actual sensor gets oil/dirt on it over time? I have a stock 2G MAS, unhacked, etc, but with all the changes we've done to fuel/timing maps, the A/F ratio stays leaner than the target A/F ratio which is supposed to be 10:1, and we're at 11:1 with 14% AFC positive corrections, and without the corrections, it brings us to a little over 12:1 A/F ratio. It seems to not even change between boost levels 17 through 20psi. I changed out the stock FPR, checked for boost leaks, etc etc.

My final theory is that the MAS airflow sensor itself can possibly be dirty/oily from being on the car for over 100k miles. The honey combs are completely unclogged, the stock intake is on there nice and air tight, I'm using the K&N filter/adapter combo, which is the huge oval intake filter. Last time I had the whole intake assembly off the car, I cleaned everything but the MAS because I was afraid to touch the actual sensor.

Has anybody taken a MAS apart to clean it? If so, please help me.

Is the Airflow sensor part of the MAS that little electronic piece that is in the middle of the MAS FLOW area, or is that a temp meter?

Thank you!

Mark

 

[MarkAngelo05]

MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR;

"But how can it get dirty? Surely there is an air filter to keep it clean?

Well, yes there is, but air has to be allowed through, and with it microscopic pollen and other organic material which burns when it comes into contact with the sensor wire, which is maintained at 200 degrees C. The MAF electronics measures the amount of current required to keep the wire at this temperature, against the cooling effect of the inlet air flowing past it. Hence the current required is a measure of the actual airflow."

I just found this writeup on a FORD forum by searching on google.. so obviously they do get dirty... now.. can we clean ours?

Mark

 

[dave99gst]

ya could use somthing like..

 

[MILITISINVICTUS]

So that's the can he's looking for, but:

"Has anybody taken a MAS apart to clean it? If so, please help me.

Is the Airflow sensor part of the MAS that little electronic piece that is in the middle of the MAS FLOW area, or is that a temp meter?"

ya could use somthing like..

 

[Defiant]

Dirty MAS bits are an issue on some cars. It's not one of any significance on DSMs. Ours works by Karman vortex, not hotwire. Which is why the upper honeycombs are not to be molested.

 

[MarkAngelo05]

Dirty MAS bits are an issue on some cars. It's not one of any significance on DSMs. Ours works by Karman vortex, not hotwire. Which is why the upper honeycombs are not to be molested.

Hey Defiant...thanks.

.. there's my answer right there... I did take the MAS off my car last night to check it out, and I didn't see anything that looked like a "hotwire". I just saw something that may have been for the temperature sensor hanging down. And a Triangle looking sensor, which is the "karman vortex" sensor... Which I didn't see anyway to clean it.

I guess the MAS is not my problem.

Thank you,

Mark