How to clean your MAF

[cobalt]

just a quick question

Hi folks.
After reading the excelent HOW TO CLEAN MAF my car a S280 is running fine is it worth doimg my MAF or does the old adage "if its not broken........ apply
Thanks Cobalt

 

[television]

Hi folks.
After reading the excelent HOW TO CLEAN MAF my car a S280 is running fine is it worth doimg my MAF or does the old adage "if its not broken........ apply
Thanks Cobalt

From what I have read in the trade press, they do talk about cleaning this device, as I have said ealier deisels do get dirtier than petrol. From the mid1995 we went over to thin film sensors that have a much faster reaction time.
I would have thought that 60-75 k could be a good milage point for this on a petrol engine. My car is now coming up to 40k and in the morning I shall take a look at mine, It will depend on how clean the whole thing is.

Malcolm

 

[psmart]

A 60000 mile, 5.5 year old 2.7cdi MAF......

Clean as a new born baby

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

Clean as a new born baby

Is that before or after cleaning?

If that is before it's very reassuring as I was wondering how my 3yr old 105k van would be getting on.

 

[psmart]

Is that before or after cleaning?

If that is before it's very reassuring as I was wondering how my 3yr old 105k van would be getting on.

Before... I havent cleaned it. The car went in for a Gasket replacing, which would have entailed disconnecting the combined MAF/Airfilter cover, but I could see no signs of cleaning. Still looks as new, the photos dont do it justice.

As Ive mentioned in previous posts, all troubles Ive had with this car have been down to failed glow plugs, -30'c and how I manhandled it

 

[veedweeb]

I just wanted to add something to this very useful thread...

Cleaning the MAF is such an easy job, and it makes such a difference that it's something you should do every few thousand miles.

I'm not too familiar with diesel Mercedes, but the VW TDis are intercooled. I removed and cleaned the intercooler from my Sharan. It was an absolute pig of a job to get the intercooler out and back in again, but once out I cleaned it out with boiling hot water and gunk, then emptied an aerosol of carb cleaner into it, and then THOROUGHLY flushed it with clean water in my pressure washer.

When it was dry, I put it all back together and that made a noticeable difference to performance too.

They get clogged up with oily deposits and that reduces their ability to cool the intake air.

It might be worth having a go at that on your Merc too.

 

[Pep]

My MAF is causing problems again!! (new one was fitted by garage 2 years ago) I tried to have a go my self last night but couldn't get it off?
I removed the hose from above (oily muck running out) released the 2 clips from the bottom, but still stuck fast?
Have I missed some hidden fixings?
97 SLK 230
Also does anyone know of a good indepenent near Warrington, Cheshire?

Thanks,

 

[02 A160 AG]

Not sure about specialists in Warrington but you could try Mercedes Frenz in Liverpool. I've not used them myself as I'm down 'Sarf' my my Dad is in Liverpool and has used them for Diagnostic work before.

Mercedes Frenz
Love Lane
Liverpool
L3 7DD

Telephone: 0151-236 9167

Not far from Mercedes Liverpool apparently.

 

[Pep]

Thanks 02 A160 AG,
I'll give them a try

 

[Glenn Smith]

How did the flies get in there? is your air cleaner fitted correctly?

 

[Glenn Smith]

how did flies get in there? is your air filter fitted correctly?

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Must have been at some point. Not by me though.

 

[anyweb]

Hi there,
Where can I find my MAF? I have looked every where on my c180 elegance and I don't seem to have one fitted. Is this correct for my car (1996)
Regards Roy.

take a look at the photo linked below:-


http://anyweb.homedns.org/car/car_interior/july_2006 097.html

i presume the MAF is the device thats directly to the left of the engine (look left of where you put the OIL in), you can see an electrical cable coming out of the tubing that leads out of the AIR filter,

this is a photo of the engine on my C220 (1995 model) so I assume that that component is the MAF, and that your's is located in the same area

if i'm wrong then someone will chip in and point it out


cheers
anyweb

 

[Blobcat]

take a look at the photo linked below:-


http://anyweb.homedns.org/car/car_interior/july_2006%20097.html

i presume the MAF is the device thats directly to the left of the engine (look left of where you put the OIL in), you can see an electrical cable coming out of the tubing that leads out of the AIR filter,

this is a photo of the engine on my C220 (1995 model) so I assume that that component is the MAF, and that your's is located in the same area

if i'm wrong then someone will chip in and point it out


cheers
anyweb

Yes that is the MAF

 

[Coulsdon Eagle]

i've never touched my MAF, so far it's done 193K, and i've not had any reason to touch it, not that i've noticed anyway, although, i guess if i were to clean it out, i'd notice a difference, but as they say, if it aint broken.........

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

As I have been having an ongoing problem with poor clutch action and snatchy take offs for a while, I have been trying to think what else could be causing the problem other than the clutch components that have all been replaced. I have changed the engine mounts but this made little if any differance. I then remembered reading somewhere on this forum that the MAF sensor can cause poor gearchanges although this was probably with proper autos and not semi autos like mine. Anyway, today I popped down to Maplins to buy a tin of Servisol IPA 170 and upon opening the air intake piping was suprised by the amount of oil that dribbled out from within the pipes. The MAF sensor was coated liberally with oil so I removed it from the trunking (push/clip fit) and gave everything a good clean-up taking care not to physically touch the element.

The end result is absolutley no change.:x So as Coulsdon eagle says, "If it ain't broke don't fix it" even after 112k.

As it happened the merc dealers mobile mechanic called at my house this afternoon so I asked him about the amount of oil and he said................they all do that!

He then opened up the pipework on his late-reg works van to show me and indeed a similar amount of oil ran out.

It would appear that the Maf is happy to be oily as long as it is clean. Any fluff, dust or flies will affect its performance.

any thoughts anyone?

 

[anyweb]

well i cleaned mine (merc c220 - 1995) and there was no oil pouring out by any means,

it didnt make any noticeable difference to my engine running either sadly

cheers
anyweb

 

[psmart]

upon opening the air intake piping was suprised by the amount of oil that dribbled out from within the pipes.

SnG, Id be a bit concerned on the oil, even though quite a few people seem to mention this. I had this argument out with good 'ol Malcom, and if you look at your air intake system, then theoretically, no oil can get from the breather onto the MAF because of that damn great vacuum cleaner called the Turbo turbine. Either your turbo is wearing fast and some unnatural eddies are setting up, allowing pressure from the turbine to go in the wrong direction, or the other possibility is that your shutting down your engine without spindown time for the turbo, which could theoretically allow the turbine to pressurise the inlet manifold (if the valves were in such a position that no overlap occurred) and when the turbine stops, the higher pressure in the inlet manifold pushes airflow and thus breather oil flow up towards the air filter.

I would say oil on the MAF thermistor or platinum wire wouldnt be good, as it would insulate them from the true air cooling heat conduction properties, thus your ECU seeing incorrect values.

 

[psmart]

well i cleaned mine (merc c220 - 1995) and there was no oil pouring out by any means,

it didnt make any noticeable difference to my engine running either sadly

cheers
anyweb

If youve got the time and patience, thoroughly cleaning your intercooler and all pipework from the turbo to the inlet manifold will help tremendously. Ok, I also replaced the turbo on mine at the same time, but the performance pre and post was very noticeable. Loads of oil comes from the breather through the turbo and some cakes and settles in the pipework and the intercooler, reducing its effective cooling properties, thus reducing charge efficiency.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

SnG, Id be a bit concerned on the oil, even though quite a few people seem to mention this. I had this argument out with good 'ol Malcom, and if you look at your air intake system, then theoretically, no oil can get from the breather onto the MAF because of that damn great vacuum cleaner called the Turbo turbine. Either your turbo is wearing fast and some unnatural eddies are setting up, allowing pressure from the turbine to go in the wrong direction, or the other possibility is that your shutting down your engine without spindown time for the turbo, which could theoretically allow the turbine to pressurise the inlet manifold (if the valves were in such a position that no overlap occurred) and when the turbine stops, the higher pressure in the inlet manifold pushes airflow and thus breather oil flow up towards the air filter.

I would say oil on the MAF thermistor or platinum wire wouldnt be good, as it would insulate them from the true air cooling heat conduction properties, thus your ECU seeing incorrect values.

Hi Smart

I think the plumbing on the vans must be different to the passenger cars as the components fit in the following order -

1st, Air filter
2nd, Turbo
3rd, Oil breather joins main piping just inches after turbo
4th, Intercooler
5th, Maf/Mas housing
6th, Inlet Manifold

This appears to differ, as in Parrots 'How To' he clearly shows his maf straight after the air filter.

I always idle the engine before shutting down and also don't rev it upon starting and I also sometimes put the blowers on full heat a few blocks from home if I think the engine may be a bit too warm. This engine has only done 12k so with this treatment the turbo should be tiptop but I never had to disturb the pipework on the previous engine so I have nothing to compare to other than the mechanics van, and also my Landrover TDi which also passes some oil from the turbo/breather system which does get into the air filter (and they really do 'all do that').

I am fairly sure cleaning the Maf has made no quantifiable difference except maybe psychologically?