My 04 runs sweet as can be,but I know that this sensor has never been cleaned.The car has 74k.
How often should it be done,if ever?(I do know that it requires a product designed for the purpose)Any other sensors that need tlc? Thanks.

 

Depends... If you're running stock airbox & paper filter then it really doesn't require it very often, or at least not until you have an issue such as lean dtc or misfire that might be attributed to it being dirty. If you prefer the proactive approach then feel free to clean it whenever you replace the filter.

On my vehicles that use an oiled K&N style cotton gauze filter, I include cleaning the MAF as part of filter cleaning and maintenance, about every 10K. Probably unnecessary and I've yet to spray out a MAF and then be amazed at how much better or different the car runs following cleaning, but considering that a can of spray costs $7 or whatever and the whole process takes less than 5 minutes out of your day it's just sort of a "wtf, why not?" thing for me. So far as I'm aware, there's no actual "per shop manual" sort of interval on it like there are for other maintenance items like fluids, belts, hoses etc.

 

Thanks for the response.The car is totally stock.I recently did the air filter for the second time,so,as you say,I guess it couldn't hurt.Also reminding myself that none of our Taurus wagons ever had a MAF problem,and all had more mileage than this 'stang,some with more than double my 74k.

 

If you don't clean that MAF every so often you will look into having to buy a new one down the road, The MAF can and will make your car run like total *** if never cleaned or goes bad. As long as you keep up on your filters you shouldn't have a problem with your MAF until the you get into the higher mileage, so cleaning it every 10k miles is not needed but wouldnt hurt as long as you are careful and don't damage it while removing, cleaning, or installing it.

This is not included in Fords maintenance on the car, they want you to buy a new one.

 

With the mass air sensors we sell, we usually recommend cleaning with mass air cleaner. It's available at Pepboys, Autozone, Kragen / O'Reilly, etc. OR you can get an electronics cleaner from an electronics store. They are the same thing. You want a cleaner which isn't as abrasive as a normal cleaner (some people use carb cleaner which is NOT recommended). Electronics cleaner and Mass Air Cleaner are safer for electronic parts.

It's especially helpful if you end up getting something like a K&N filter which is an oil element filter, as the oil will sometimes run down the inside and get on the sensor part of the MAF, potentially giving you a CEL.

 

When cleaning and oiling a K&N filter do not soak the filter with the oil. Simply give it a nice even light coat and it should not cause a problem. I have many years experience with K&N filters on motorcycles, there is no HP or performance gain over the stock filter. It just makes it your last air filter purchase, but you still have to purchase the cleaning solution and oil so no financial gain either. In the motorcycle world there have been many flow bench comparisons done and usually the stock filter flows more. K&N are good on dirt bikes that may see some water as they will not disintegrate when wet. Just my 2 cents.
Mike

 

Technically its self cleaning. When you turn the key on it should self clean the sensing element, However they do make MAF cleaner. its by CRC