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98 V70 MAF sensor cleaning?

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
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98v70dad
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98 V70 MAF sensor cleaning?

Post by 98v70dad »

Yesterday when I was buying some PB Blaster I noticed a can of MAF cleaner on the shelf. I didn't know such a thing existed.

Is cleaning the MAF a good idea and if you've done that did it make a difference? My car runs a little rough but it runs well enough. I'm a little hesitant to mess with it and would just be inclined to proactively replace the MAF (the original) considering its age, but if cleaning it won't kill it I might give it a try.

xHeart
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Post by xHeart »

MAF would be best served if the air box is clean and air filter is replaced timely with the recommended make.
There is a DIY for cleaning MAF, be careful handling hoses, vac lines, and MAF itself. Old things break easily.

Work in room temperature.
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erikv11
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Post by erikv11 »

MAF cleaning rarely does any good, except when the MAF is visibly dirty or oily. The cleaner is usually a last gasp effort on a dead or dying MAF that is throwing codes. The product is likely the same thing that is packaged up as "electronic parts cleaner" but given the sensitivity and expense of the MAF it is a good marketing ploy, I wouldn't use anything but the "MAF cleaner" product.

The MAF also rarely shows intermediate signs of wear, it either works fine or not at all. If the idle is just rough around the edges, I would look elsewhere first (ignition, vacuum lines, etc).

That is to say, a bad MAF will usually give a full stumble, constant or intermittent yes, but we are not talking about constant, minor effects on ignition.
'95 854 T-5R, Motronic 4.4, 185k
'98 V70, T5 tune-injectors-turbo, LPT engine, 304k, daily driver
'06 S60 R, 197k
'07 XC70, black, 205k
'07 XC70, willow green, 212k
'99 Camry V6 :shock: 153k
gone: '96 NA 850 210k, '98 NA V70 182k, '98 S70 NA 225k, '96 855 NA 169k

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Post by abscate »

Proactively cleaning, no. No codes, good running, leave it alone.
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