Today’s post focuses on the importance of protecting your mass air flow sensor or MAF.
Air and fuel
are mixed together to be burned in your engine. The amount is controlled
by how hard you press on the accelerator or by external factors like
climbing hills or hauling loads. Based on how much air you need – and
how much is available – your engine management computer tells your fuel
injection system how much fuel to send to your engine. But what if the
computer is getting the wrong information about how much air is coming
into your engine? Well, it would send the wrong amount of fuel and your
engine performance would suffer.
The Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor measures the volume, temperature, and
density of the air flowing into your engine. With that essential
information, the computer calculates how much oxygen is available to
burn and adjusts the amount of fuel it sends. A dirty or damaged MAF
sensor can give the wrong readings, hurt your fuel economy, damage the
catalytic converter, reduce engine performance, trigger the Check Engine
Light, and, worst case, stop your engine.
Remember that you can drive your car if the Check Engine Light is on
– unless it’s flashing. If your CEL indicates a MAF problem, Spaanstra
Bros. Automotive Service recommends that you take action before you
damage your catalytic converter.
How does an MAF sensor get damaged? Well, let’s look at this process
again. As air comes into your engine, it first passes through the
engine air filter. Dust, road grime, pollen, and other harmful
contaminants are, hopefully, trapped in the filter. If the engine air
filter becomes clogged, some of the pollutants can pass through and hit
the MAF sensor. Thus, a clean engine air filter protects your MAF
sensor. Reason number 47 to replace your engine air filter as
recommended.
If your MAF sensor is contaminated, you may be able to clean it
with an air induction cleaning service at Spaanstra Bros. Automotive
Service in Grand Rapids. This service also cleans your throttle body and
other fuel system components. In those circumstances where the MAF
sensor is not only contaminated but actually damaged, it will need to be
replaced. (And it costs a whole lot more than an engine air filter.)
We can
quickly inspect your engine air filter to see if you need a new one. A
caution: low-line air filters may actually contribute to MAF sensor
failure as filter material can come loose and contaminate the sensitive
sensor elements – filter material is just as harmful as outside gunk.
When your considerate Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service service
professional recommends you replace your engine air filter, look at how
much is riding on that inexpensive but important part.
Give us a call
Spaanstra Bros. Automotive Service
939 Fulton Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616.459.8941
939 Fulton Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
616.459.8941
