Mass Air Flow Sensor bad?
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Mass Air Flow Sensor bad?
Hey guys. I have a 2002 F-150 with a 4.6L and I'm not sure what gearing I have. My problem is that I seem to have lost a lot of bottom end over its stock condition even though I've added some aftermarket products. I have a PowerAid throttle body spacer, K&N filter, one of those tin can Tornados (junk) and a Flowmaster exhaust. I'm running stock tires and this thing is a dog off the line. A friend told me that the Mass Air Flow Sensors in some vehicles gets gummed up from oil being suck in from the K&N filter and altering the vehicles performance. Has anyone heard of this before and if so, how would I clean it? The truck seems to have to load up for about 2-3 seconds before it gets any power and the throttle response is terrible. This truck ran better stock than it does now and I need help before I go back to the dealer and have them grease me up with Vasoline, if you know what I mean. If you have any other suggestions please let me know.
Rob
Rob
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 227
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From: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Remove the mass airflow sensor section from the air intake system,
make sure the engine has cooled a bit before hand. I also undo
the electrical harness connection so I can take the section completely out of the engine compartment. I then spray the MAS with Brakleen. Don't touch the filaments
with anything or they might break, just squirt them good and let them dry.
They should look clean again. Be sure you take your cables off the battery
and let it sit for 15 minutes (while you do the rest of the work is a good time for this
as I'm sure you know). Reconnect the battery, start it up, and let it run for 15 minutes before driving. How many miles on your truck? Check engine light on?
If so, let Autozone read it for free then report back with the code here. There is also a list of codes in the tech section.
make sure the engine has cooled a bit before hand. I also undo
the electrical harness connection so I can take the section completely out of the engine compartment. I then spray the MAS with Brakleen. Don't touch the filaments
with anything or they might break, just squirt them good and let them dry.
They should look clean again. Be sure you take your cables off the battery
and let it sit for 15 minutes (while you do the rest of the work is a good time for this
as I'm sure you know). Reconnect the battery, start it up, and let it run for 15 minutes before driving. How many miles on your truck? Check engine light on?
If so, let Autozone read it for free then report back with the code here. There is also a list of codes in the tech section.
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Originally Posted by FourthFordTruck
Remove the mass airflow sensor section from the air intake system,
make sure the engine has cooled a bit before hand. I also undo
the electrical harness connection so I can take the section completely out of the engine compartment. I then spray the MAS with Brakleen. Don't touch the filaments
with anything or they might break, just squirt them good and let them dry.
They should look clean again. Be sure you take your cables off the battery
and let it sit for 15 minutes (while you do the rest of the work is a good time for this
as I'm sure you know). Reconnect the battery, start it up, and let it run for 15 minutes before driving. How many miles on your truck? Check engine light on?
If so, let Autozone read it for free then report back with the code here. There is also a list of codes in the tech section.
make sure the engine has cooled a bit before hand. I also undo
the electrical harness connection so I can take the section completely out of the engine compartment. I then spray the MAS with Brakleen. Don't touch the filaments
with anything or they might break, just squirt them good and let them dry.
They should look clean again. Be sure you take your cables off the battery
and let it sit for 15 minutes (while you do the rest of the work is a good time for this
as I'm sure you know). Reconnect the battery, start it up, and let it run for 15 minutes before driving. How many miles on your truck? Check engine light on?
If so, let Autozone read it for free then report back with the code here. There is also a list of codes in the tech section.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa, Oklahoma
How many miles? A bad or dirty MAS will definitely mess up your engine's performance.
Did Ford also clean the EGR valve ports and passage
on the throttle body? That must be done too. This is a very common problem
on the 4.6. Racerguy or someone else with more experience will have some good insight on other causes and solutions. Good luck.
Did Ford also clean the EGR valve ports and passage
on the throttle body? That must be done too. This is a very common problem
on the 4.6. Racerguy or someone else with more experience will have some good insight on other causes and solutions. Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
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Originally Posted by FourthFordTruck
How many miles? A bad or dirty MAS will definitely mess up your engine's performance.
Did Ford also clean the EGR valve ports and passage
on the throttle body? That must be done too. This is a very common problem
on the 4.6. Racerguy or someone else with more experience will have some good insight on other causes and solutions. Good luck.
Did Ford also clean the EGR valve ports and passage
on the throttle body? That must be done too. This is a very common problem
on the 4.6. Racerguy or someone else with more experience will have some good insight on other causes and solutions. Good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa, Oklahoma
You will need to unplug the battery cable, remove the air
intake housing from the throttle body. Your objective will
be to take the throttle body housing off. Disconnect everything that
is in the way (accelerator cable, etc.). Remove the throttle
body housing. It will have the egr valve connected to it.
Remove the egr valve and look at the two dime sized
ports on the throttle body housing. Are they clogged with carbon?
Scrape, scrape. I used a wire coat hanger, took about an hour to clean, it
was insane, completely closed up with carbon.
I don't know about 56,000, but these engines are notorious for this problem.
Mine came with the check engine light one and a list of codes when purchased at 124K. Now has 128K. Try the MAS first, that may clear it right up.
Odd your truck isn't throwing a code of some kind, even for the MAS.
intake housing from the throttle body. Your objective will
be to take the throttle body housing off. Disconnect everything that
is in the way (accelerator cable, etc.). Remove the throttle
body housing. It will have the egr valve connected to it.
Remove the egr valve and look at the two dime sized
ports on the throttle body housing. Are they clogged with carbon?
Scrape, scrape. I used a wire coat hanger, took about an hour to clean, it
was insane, completely closed up with carbon.
I don't know about 56,000, but these engines are notorious for this problem.
Mine came with the check engine light one and a list of codes when purchased at 124K. Now has 128K. Try the MAS first, that may clear it right up.
Odd your truck isn't throwing a code of some kind, even for the MAS.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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Originally Posted by FourthFordTruck
You will need to unplug the battery cable, remove the air
intake housing from the throttle body. Your objective will
be to take the throttle body housing off. Disconnect everything that
is in the way (accelerator cable, etc.). Remove the throttle
body housing. It will have the egr valve connected to it.
Remove the egr valve and look at the two dime sized
ports on the throttle body housing. Are they clogged with carbon?
Scrape, scrape. I used a wire coat hanger, took about an hour to clean, it
was insane, completely closed up with carbon.
I don't know about 56,000, but these engines are notorious for this problem.
Mine came with the check engine light one and a list of codes when purchased at 124K. Now has 128K. Try the MAS first, that may clear it right up.
Odd your truck isn't throwing a code of some kind, even for the MAS.
intake housing from the throttle body. Your objective will
be to take the throttle body housing off. Disconnect everything that
is in the way (accelerator cable, etc.). Remove the throttle
body housing. It will have the egr valve connected to it.
Remove the egr valve and look at the two dime sized
ports on the throttle body housing. Are they clogged with carbon?
Scrape, scrape. I used a wire coat hanger, took about an hour to clean, it
was insane, completely closed up with carbon.
I don't know about 56,000, but these engines are notorious for this problem.
Mine came with the check engine light one and a list of codes when purchased at 124K. Now has 128K. Try the MAS first, that may clear it right up.
Odd your truck isn't throwing a code of some kind, even for the MAS.
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if not already done throw the tornado in the trash.
then remove the f&n, make sure your air cleaner and maf are clean. Try the truck while running the stock intake with a clean stock air fiter.
Poweraides are in my opinion a cousin of the tornado junk devices but i dont think it is causing you any problem. If truck is otherwise well maintained, plugs/wires are good, all filters (including fuel filter) are good, sensors/vacuum hoses are good, brakes arent binding, tranny fluid level is good and fluid is fresh, fuel injectors are good, cat converter is not blocked, then you are back to the exhaust mod or maybe O2 sensor issue. I am assuming your engine is throwing zero codes.
then remove the f&n, make sure your air cleaner and maf are clean. Try the truck while running the stock intake with a clean stock air fiter.
Poweraides are in my opinion a cousin of the tornado junk devices but i dont think it is causing you any problem. If truck is otherwise well maintained, plugs/wires are good, all filters (including fuel filter) are good, sensors/vacuum hoses are good, brakes arent binding, tranny fluid level is good and fluid is fresh, fuel injectors are good, cat converter is not blocked, then you are back to the exhaust mod or maybe O2 sensor issue. I am assuming your engine is throwing zero codes.
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Originally Posted by 03f150man
if not already done throw the tornado in the trash.
then remove the f&n, make sure your air cleaner and maf are clean. Try the truck while running the stock intake with a clean stock air fiter.
Poweraides are in my opinion a cousin of the tornado junk devices but i dont think it is causing you any problem. If truck is otherwise well maintained, plugs/wires are good, all filters (including fuel filter) are good, sensors/vacuum hoses are good, brakes arent binding, tranny fluid level is good and fluid is fresh, fuel injectors are good, cat converter is not blocked, then you are back to the exhaust mod or maybe O2 sensor issue. I am assuming your engine is throwing zero codes.
then remove the f&n, make sure your air cleaner and maf are clean. Try the truck while running the stock intake with a clean stock air fiter.
Poweraides are in my opinion a cousin of the tornado junk devices but i dont think it is causing you any problem. If truck is otherwise well maintained, plugs/wires are good, all filters (including fuel filter) are good, sensors/vacuum hoses are good, brakes arent binding, tranny fluid level is good and fluid is fresh, fuel injectors are good, cat converter is not blocked, then you are back to the exhaust mod or maybe O2 sensor issue. I am assuming your engine is throwing zero codes.
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