Have you ever wondered how the parts of your car engine work? If you are driving a car, it is deemed important to be familiar with how they operate. This way, if you encounter problems in the future, you can save yourself in deep trouble. Even if you are not really an expert when it comes to auto mechanic, it is still advisable to gain awareness on how your car runs.

One of the most essential parts of a vehicle is the mass air flow sensor. Basically, mass air flow is the part of the engine responsible for finding out the mass of air going through a fuel-injected internal combustion engine. It acts in response to the amount of fluid (normally, gas) that flows through the chamber where the sensor is contained. Regardless of the changes in the density of the fluid, it is intended to be precise.

MAF sensor is an integral piece in a closed loop feedback system which is accountable for engine operation control. Placed between the air cleaner outlet tube and air cleaner assembly, it has the ability to measure the amount of air gushing through the car engine.

The gathered information about the air mass is considered essential for it indicates how the engine control unit (ECU) will balance and provide the accurate fuel mass to the engine. Changes in air density can be observed together with the altitude, temperature, and use of forced induction. To ensure the optimal performance and efficiency of the vehicle, the mass air flow sensor provides the necessary information to the electronic control module to identify the amount of fuel to be consumed thus must be kept clean at all times with the use of a mass air flow sensor cleaner.

Mass airflow sensors come in two types: mechanical and electronic. Mechanical MAF sensors make use of a vane in its intake airflow to measure the mass of air, while electronic ones take its cue on the changes in temperature in heated film or wire. Neither of the two utilizes a system that can directly measure air mass. Nevertheless, accuracy can be achieved in measurement of the air mass flow rate with additional sensors.

When used in combination with oxygen sensor, there is a greater chance of precisely controlling the ratio of engine’s air and fuel. The MAF sensor gives out the open-loop controller air flow information, while the oxygen sensor sends the closed-loop feedback to adjust the predicted air mass.

It will be helpful to be well-educated about your engine’s parts to make sure that you are employing the right practices of taking good care of your car. Through this, you can be confident that you will not shell out lots of money in having the damages repaired if the need arises.