Page 1 of 1

What to "soak" AFM in?

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:39 pm
by high n mighty
My AFM needs a good clean, contact cleaner didn't do the job and I know of someone who took their prado to a toyota dealership who apparently soaked his AFM which brought it back to spec increasing power which by all means should bring economy back.


So what to "soak" the AFM in is the question considering it is cased in plastic.

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:59 am
by PGS 4WD
I spray them with carby clean

Joel

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:15 pm
by high n mighty
Can I soak it in carby clean without damaging it? The type that comes in a normal tin(not a spray).

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:02 pm
by high n mighty
I put a whole can of carby cleaner through it today until the writing was off the stickers and the rubber seal went soft. I put it back in with some silastic just incase air has been aso getting past the seal.


I might be joshing myself but it feels kinda different, doesn't seem to take as much right boot to get off the line or sit at the speed limit :?

No power difference when I put the pedal to the floor though :?

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:53 pm
by r0ck_m0nkey
high n mighty wrote:I might be joshing myself but it feels kinda different, doesn't seem to take as much right boot to get off the line or sit at the speed limit :?
That's about how mine felt after cleaning. Full throttle not a great deal difference, but response in the first half of the throttle improved noticably. Also a lot smoother in the gear changes.

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:25 pm
by PGS 4WD
It does work as the element gets coated with crap this effects the heating of it which is how the ECU works out fuel calculation.

Joel

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:20 am
by high n mighty
I also noticed that the near new air filter was filled with sand. I guess the snokel must be right in the line of fire unlike my lux....


I will replace it though the week, if memory serves me the 17ltr per hundred was just after I put this filter in.


Don't get me wrong, it is still very free flowing but I will throw one in and see if it comes down again :?

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:49 am
by MightyMouse
CRC make a specific cleaner for a MAF.

CRC MAF Cleaner

Have no idea if it works or is advisable to do but ....

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:41 am
by HotFourOk
Just soak it in petrol, then metho to dry it out :D

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:33 am
by mud4b
HotFourOk wrote:Just soak it in petrol, then metho to dry it out :D

i hope your joking?

Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:41 am
by Ruffy
mud4b wrote:
HotFourOk wrote:Just soak it in petrol, then metho to dry it out :D

i hope your joking?
X2


As joel said, Carby clean is fine. Or a carbon/throttle body cleaner. You shouldn't need to 'soak it' and it would probably be a good idea not to 'soak' the eletrics. All you need to do is clean the hot wire in the middle of the sensor. DONOT attempt to touch or wipe the hot wire. just spray.
The AFM will work for partial throttle applications, most Engine management systems have predetermined values for Wide Open Throttle (WOT) application and hardly rely on AFM response as economy is not an issue if your driving WOT so injector pulse and ignition timing will increase to predetermined values and things like AFM and O2 sensor become asthetic pretty much.
That explains why you may notice an improvement in throttle response from start off etc.
Cheers Dan

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:34 am
by high n mighty
Ruffy wrote:
mud4b wrote:
HotFourOk wrote:Just soak it in petrol, then metho to dry it out :D

i hope your joking?
X2


As joel said, Carby clean is fine. Or a carbon/throttle body cleaner. You shouldn't need to 'soak it' and it would probably be a good idea not to 'soak' the eletrics. All you need to do is clean the hot wire in the middle of the sensor. DONOT attempt to touch or wipe the hot wire. just spray.
The AFM will work for partial throttle applications, most Engine management systems have predetermined values for Wide Open Throttle (WOT) application and hardly rely on AFM response as economy is not an issue if your driving WOT so injector pulse and ignition timing will increase to predetermined values and things like AFM and O2 sensor become asthetic pretty much.
That explains why you may notice an improvement in throttle response from start off etc.
Cheers Dan
So you are saying that even if it feels like it has made a difference the fuel usage won't have changed?? Just a reference note, the wire isn't clearly visible on a prado afm, I'm no mechanic but I havent seen such an enclosed one before.


Hot40k is pulling the piss, he knows I have cleaned it already ;)

Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:03 pm
by Dexter
No, he is saying you should see a fuel difference as the car will now be getting a better reading while at cruise(part throttle). The car ignores the AFM and EGO sensors at WOT(Wide Open Throttle).

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:11 am
by high n mighty
Ahh good stuff, new air filter can only help too. Anyone wanna buy a fuel efficent prado :armsup:


I'm kinda serious, it is outta here in a couple of weeks :D

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:18 am
by HotFourOk
mud4b wrote:
HotFourOk wrote:Just soak it in petrol, then metho to dry it out :D

i hope your joking?
What? I did that to mine after I used the sand for the port polishing :D


HnM finally feels like a big man again in his HiLux :armsup:

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:12 pm
by KaMo
Soooooooo.....Any difference to fuel economy Craig?