MAF Sensor and Engine Air Filter

Today's Daddio's OnPoint Auto Repair, LLC 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 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 wrong readings, hurt your fuel economy, damage the catalytic converter, reduce engine performance, trigger the Check Engine light and, worst case scenario - stop your engine.

Remember that you can drive your car if the Check Engine light is on - unless it's flashing or red. (A quick tip - think of the traffic lights when considering your dashboard warning lights. Green = Go; Yellow = Caution; Red = STOP!!! If your Check Engine light is on Daddio's OnPoint Auto Repair can determine if it's an indication of an MAF problem, and if it is, we strongly urge you to 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 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.

Now if your MAF sensor is contaminated, we may be able to clean it with an air induction cleaning service. This service will also clean 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 so stop in or call us to schedule an appointment. We can even add this to your next oil change service. 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 friendly and knowledgeable Daddio's OnPoint mechanic recommends you replace your engine air filter, now you know how much is riding on that inexpensive but truly important part.

Just give us a call when you're ready!

Tony Moretto & John Ross, Owners

Daddio's OnPoint Auto Repair, LLC
3446 Church Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Shop | 715.575.2055

We're fixing cars weekdays from 7:00 - 5:00.

Click here to visit our website!

At Daddio's OnPoint Auto Repair, LLC we install quality NAPA replacement parts and offer a 24,000 mile/24 month nation-wide labor and parts warranty on most repairs.