GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Has anyone had any issues with the K&N Filter supposedly affecting the MAF sensor on the vibe or matrix? I was told apparently that the oil they use on the filters builds up on the MAF and can cause problems with it in the future. However there are probably millions of people using these filters on a lot of cars and trucks and not having problems with them.. If the MAF issue is apparently true, what would i use to clean it??One thing i did notice is the car does Kinda jackrabbit off of the line occasionaly, but i dont think i could blame the filter for that, just doesnt sound logical, however i could be wrong...Any advice on this???

hi silvr,THere are quite a few threads on MAF sensor cleaning. I usually clean mine a few weeks after I clean and re-oil my filter. There is specific MAF sensor cleaners that can be purchased at most auto place. I think some people use throttle body cleaners. I used a brake cleaner once. No problems with it but you're better off just looking for the MAF cleaner. it comes in a spray can like any throttle or carburator or brake cleaner does. Read the instructions and you should be fine.DaveP.S. my MAF sensor has never really been noticably dirty though others have reported otherwise.

No problems so far, for the last 10 years have been using them in all my vehicles. I am carefull not to over oil them.

Quote, originally posted by DavidPIL »P.S. my MAF sensor has never really been noticably dirty though others have reported otherwise.Actually, I think It was an assumption that was made when they saw the K&N Sticker, and I had said something about the Take-off my car would do sometimes.

ONLY if you over oil the filter it will mess with your maf sensor.A light coat of oil it all that is needed.If left to dry in the sun after oiling like the manufacture suggests. You will never have a problem with the filter.

Don't think it has anything to do with K & N specifically but rather any brand of filter that uses oil. The oil can migrate thru the air and collect on the MAF sensor over time.

Quote, originally posted by keithvibe »ONLY if you over oil the filter it will mess with your maf sensor.A light coat of oil it all that is needed.If left to dry in the sun after oiling like the manufacture suggests. You will never have a problem with the filter.Thats what i figured, I should have left it in the sun when i bought it, they drown it in oil when you first buy them for shipping reasons....When i oil it i will be conservative with it, and i will be cleaning the MAF this weekend...Thanks everyone..

Total myth, according to K&N. They submerged an MAF in their filter oil, re-installed it, virtually no affect to the MAF. http://www.knfilters.com/MAF/2MAFSensorVideo.htm

It shouldn't hurt the MAF but you do need to clean it now and then to keep it accurate. The HP gains on a drop in are neglegable and they often let more dirt in however. Probably not enough to cause a problem in non dusty conditions for as long as most people keep a car.

Aren't most MAF sensors self cleaning? When the motor is turned off, the wire element glows red hot for a few seconds to burn off any contamination.

I always let K&N's sun dry for at LEAST an hour, then after I reinstall them, I let the car sit at idle for 5~10 before I actually 'take off'. This is the 6th or 7th one I've used, and the 2nd Vibe I've equipped with one with ZERO problems.

Quote, originally posted by djb383 »Aren't most MAF sensors self cleaning? When the motor is turned off, the wire element glows red hot for a few seconds to burn off any contamination. I doubt it. They're housed in plastic and it could gum or coke the oil, making it more difficult to remove. I've never heard of that and have pulled them after a run. Never warm. I think that also may be dangerous with combustables around. It's not far from the air filter and can you imagine a fuel rail problem or an old motor with blowby and/or a bad PCV valve. Maybe in some diesel but I don't think so. I get this picture of a self cleaning oven. LOL.

Quote, originally posted by goodvibe » I doubt it. They're housed in plastic and it could gum or coke the oil, making it more difficult to remove. I've never heard of that and have pulled them after a run. Never warm. I think that also may be dangerous with combustables around. It's not far from the air filter and can you imagine a fuel rail problem or an old motor with blowby and/or a bad PCV valve. Maybe in some diesel but I don't think so. I get this picture of a self cleaning oven. LOL. Maybe I should have said "some" not "most" MAFs are self cleaning but how do you know which type you have? There are numerous articles that discuss self-cleaning MAFs. The article below states that when the engine shuts off, the computer applies enough current to heat the wire to 1800F for a second, thus burning off any contaminates. http://www.wellsmfgcorp.com/pd...2.pdfh ... s.htmLooks like you hit the nail on the head with the comment about the self cleaning oven.

Looks like it's just the a bossh with the heat cycle. First that I've heard of it. They're complete in-line cylinders and may also be screened so I suspect that they can cotroll the parameters and don't have a heat problem. They may also spec it to be further downstream from a filter. I still don't like the idea but I sure don't know as much as the guy that designed it. I still question how effective it would be on a large quantity of oil. Generally oil flashes at above 400* and the article I read said 1000* for a second. Seems to me there would be hard or gummy residue with oil.http://images.europeancarweb.c...m.jpg

Whether we like the idea or not, the bottom line is.......heated wire MAFs do exist.

No doubt but not in Vibes and probably weren't designed with oiled gauze filters in mind. I went to the VW vortec boards and they seem to go through their MAFs pretty fast. "the guys at BOSCH made several tests to prove that a cleaned MAF does not read any better than a dirty one before cleaning. the reason for this is that the dirt particles on the MAF screen are burned into the surface and destroy it. cleaning won´t bring the destroyed surface back to life.. This is what i got as an answer from the Bosch technical customers service over here in good ol´Germany.." They do exist but I don't have to like it.