My 4Runner is a 2000 w/ 50k miles on it, I know the MAF has never been cleaned so I figured I'd check it out. In the first picture one of the wires is hard to see because it is coated in black gunk. The 2nd picture shows them fully cleaned. I'm doing everything in my power to get the most fuel economy out of my 4Runner as I can. Currently I average 15-17MPG, if my fuel economy is going to suck I might as well drive something with a V6-V8 diesel, at least I'd have heaps more power.

BEFORE:



AFTER:

 

I get 17-21 mpg. Seafoam got me 1.5mpg better. I'll have to clean my MAF after seeing yours.

 

I just cleaned my MAF before my trip last week. I got about 20mpg highway and was quite pleased. I think I was getting 15-16 before cleaning.

 

i get 24.9mpg highway with my tacoma

17-18 city

 

when you said you currently average 15-17, is that before or after you cleaned your MAF?

 

Before.. I've not even driven it since I cleaned it.

Here's my fuel economy over the last two years graphed out...

 

I have 130k on my '99 and have never seen under 15mpg (mostly between 16-17) and I have heavier tires and a bit of a leadfoot 80/20 city/hwy. All highway I've gotten about 22mpg.

 

I've been averaging about 17mpg lately.

How exactly did you clean your MAF? I've always been very cautious when it came to cleaning these things. I don't trust spraying them with solvents or physically cleaning them (Qtip) so I'm curious as to what methods you used.

 

There is cleaner made just for cleaning your MAF. I used this a few weeks back and it worked great. Came out nice and purrty.

BTW i also got some Throtel body cleaner but it says to use it while the engine is running. But if you take the intake of it won't run due to the MAF not working. How do you clean the TB? just spray it without it running?

 

What's the name of this cleaner? I've heard horror stories before about some.

TB cleaning should probably not be done with the engine running as it could potentially damage (TPS) other components.

They way I've always done it is take off all the the intake stuff, keep the throttle body open with a soft screwdriver handle or just by holding it back, dampen a lint free cloth (and occasionally a few qtips depending on the car) with TB cleaner and manually wipe away. I never spray down the TB.

 

The MAF cleaner i got was by gumout and called Mass air flow sensor cleaner.

It worked great for me and i have used it many times before. never a problem.

As for the TB cleaning i have done the wipe down and i still do on the out side but the back where you can't get to never gets cleaned. That is why i sprray it in there. And it would hurt anything, not when compared to Seafoam. If that doesn't hurt anything a little TB will not either.And really there is nothing for it to hurt anyways. it will make it idle funny while you spray it but that is it.

 

I just used CRC contact cleaner. It just took a couple of seconds and it was all cleaned up. I then left it in front of a fan for a bit to ensure it was all dry before putting it back in.

 

If you really want to clean it I guess you could get a new gasket and pop off the entire throttle body. But I think the edges of the butterfly valve are the most important parts to clean.

The reason I never spray is because many moons ago I did a quick cleaning of my tundra (also a 3.4) by wiping down and the spraying it in. A few hours later I started it up and the idle was a little funny. The next day it threw a code and it turns out the throttle position sensor went out. maybe unrelated but I don't want to take any chances.

 

Sound like an unrealated thing to me, but you never know.

 

Yep. /Theadjack

 

Any advice on servicing the MAF? An experienced mechanic told me there is a spring inside that can be tightened to readjust the "flap".... I have a dead MAF that I popped the cover off, using it as my test run before I tackled the one on my 95 SR5 4runner...My current MAF had a loud clicking sound and gas mileage is horrible! Hoping to quiet it down a bit and gain a couple MPG's..
any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

if you want to do everything in your power to improve
fuel economy, get a scanguage II and use it's instant data
to adjust your driving habits

I don't drive like a douchebag 'hypermiler' but I am getting 60-80 miles more out of a tank now that I know what streets (a short trip with hills vs a longer trip on flat streets on my commute to work, which is better? ) and what habits suck gas. really the best 160 dollars I spent