Which One is the MAF Sensor?
2 Answers
MAF refers to the Mass Air Flow sensor, also known as the air flow meter. More information about the air flow sensor is as follows: 1. The air flow sensor is one of the most critical sensors in a car's electronic fuel injection engine. Since the amount of air inhaled by the engine during operation determines the fuel injection amount, the inhaled air volume serves as a crucial basis for fuel injection. If the air flow sensor malfunctions, the car's computer will not receive accurate signals, leading to improper fuel injection regulation. This can cause the engine's air-fuel mixture to become too rich or too lean, easily affecting the engine's normal operation. 2. MAF working principle: After external air enters the throttle, it flows through the sensor and into the engine, carrying away a significant portion of heat. The greater the external air flow, the more heat is carried away. To maintain the necessary temperature of the air flow sensor, additional current is required to heat the sensor. The sensor then adjusts the air flow size by regulating the current.
As an experienced mechanic, I can point out the exact location of the MAF sensor as soon as I open the engine hood. It's that metal tubular device with a wire harness connector behind the air filter, professionally called the Mass Air Flow sensor. Its core function is to monitor in real-time how much air the engine is sucking in, and the electronic control unit uses this data to precisely calculate the fuel injection volume. Last time, an Audi A6 had rough idling with a fault code indicating air-fuel ratio imbalance. After removing it, we found an oil film coating the hot wire causing detection inaccuracy. It returned to normal only after cleaning and checking the data stream with a diagnostic tool. I recommend inspecting this part every 20,000 kilometers, especially for vehicles frequently driven on dusty roads.
