What is an Mass Air Flow Sensor?

Okay, let’s start with the basics: Yes, “MAF” sounds super badass. So, you can keep calling it that if it makes you feel better. MAF stands for mass air flow. The MAF sensors monitor how much air is making its way to the engine. Yes, the mass air flow sensor literally is a sensor for the amount off air flowing through your vehicle. It’s that simple. In theory, at least. Your car’s engine relies on a proper ratio of air to fuel. With the right air to fuel ratio, the car runs beautifully. With the wrong fuel ratio, your car runs like you do that time you tried to run five miles after pounding a meatball sub and not hydrating. The energy we put in impacts the power we get out. That’s as true for your car as it is for your body. Based on the readings from the mass air flow sensor, the engine makes appropriate changes to its parts to make the drive as efficient and productive as possible. There are a lot of different car components that factor into the engine, and many of them rely on accurate data from the sensor. This makes the sensor kind of important. Here, let’s put this another way to make it practical. When’s the last time you thought about breathing? Are you consciously controlling your breath right now? Whoops. Sorry. That thinking part is what the MAFs sensor does for your car. The mass air flow sensor is always going to be located in line with the intake system, and there’s good news: Despite being in use every time you drive, the sensor is pretty durable, and don’t die often. But, like all things in your car, they’re not indestructible. They’re also not fixable, so one must remove and replace a broken sensor.

How urgent is an MAF Sensor replacement?

Much of the time it’s possible to keep on chugging along with a bad air sensor. You won’t really be unsafe doing so. But you’ll notice that you won’t be able to get the same performance out of your car that you used to, and that should bother you. You’ll also notice changes in your fuel economy.

And look, as much as you might take the ignorance is bliss route with these things, these issues don’t magically go away. Instead, they get worse, and as they get worse, they burn a bigger hole in your pocket. Therefore, replace the faulty mass airflow sensor.