I started dismantling my sad 305 last night and noticed the rubber ring between the MAF and snorkel was missing, and that unclean air had been entering though a very small gap. The front surface of the screen was all discolored and dirty. I was wondering if there's a safe way to clean this guy without damaging it. SD may be in the future anyway, but I just wanted to know

 

Brake cleaner worked for me and others with no bad results.

 

Heard of folks using brake cleaner, its not my forst choice some of them can and will melt plastic so tread lightly...

If your going to use anything i siggest using electronics parts cleaner,,,, should be able to get it at larger auto stores and radio shack etc.... made for this kind of stuff

later
Jeremy

 

At the shop I work in, we clean a lot of MAF sensors and we just use carb cleaner, in moderation of course. Havent had any problems with the carb cleaner destroying any electrical parts, or plastic.

 

Personally wouldn't use Break Clean or Carb cleaner myself. AutoZone or any other parts store has electrical clean in a can like brake clean for a few bucks.

 

I personally think that brake cleaner and carb cleaner are too aggressive for a MAF. I used electronic parts cleaner. I got it at Auto Zone.

 

Why not just remove the screens? There's probably a thin film of dirt or oil on the center element, too. So then you'll be able to use a small, dry artist's paint brush to dust that off. That's what I did, and it worked very well. Just be gentle.

 

Isn't that what the MAF burn off relay is for? To heat it up enough to burn off anything on the element?