Should I remove MAF Screens?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Should I remove MAF Screens?
I've been searching on this topic and found that removing both MAF screens will flow around 40% more air. I've also read that the screens actually straighten the airflow going into the TB and protect the heated wires.
Is it worth it to remove the screens or, should I just leave them in place. I don't want anything to damage the MAF since it's an expensive part.
It sounds like a good free mod but, I'd like some advice from those that have actually done it. Thanks
Is it worth it to remove the screens or, should I just leave them in place. I don't want anything to damage the MAF since it's an expensive part.
It sounds like a good free mod but, I'd like some advice from those that have actually done it. Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Gutting (removing both end screens & heat sink fins) a stock L98 MAF does increase air flow potential to about 750cfm.
It will also make the delicate detector wires vulnerable to being hit by debris; so you should not run the engine without the air filter in place.
You will not likely see any performnace gains unless you do other air flow mods so that the engine requires more than the 530cmf that the stock MAF can deliver. If more air is needed you should also go to a 52mm TB, which also will flow to 750cfm.
Indeed the end screens "may" straighten the air flow through the MAF, but I don't believe this is any benefit. Do the math on air flow velocity at WOT and you will see that air is moving pretty fast and so will take a consistent path. So the ECM will compensate for any inaccuracy at part throttle and you can trim fuel pressure at WOT.
That being said, it won't hurt to do this mod; it was one of the first mods I did along with porting the plenum.
It will also make the delicate detector wires vulnerable to being hit by debris; so you should not run the engine without the air filter in place.
You will not likely see any performnace gains unless you do other air flow mods so that the engine requires more than the 530cmf that the stock MAF can deliver. If more air is needed you should also go to a 52mm TB, which also will flow to 750cfm.
Indeed the end screens "may" straighten the air flow through the MAF, but I don't believe this is any benefit. Do the math on air flow velocity at WOT and you will see that air is moving pretty fast and so will take a consistent path. So the ECM will compensate for any inaccuracy at part throttle and you can trim fuel pressure at WOT.
That being said, it won't hurt to do this mod; it was one of the first mods I did along with porting the plenum.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
Here is some information I found on why the screens were put in place.
The two screens on either end of the MAF sensor are there to straighten the airflow across the heated wire so the airflow measurement at that point will be consistant.
I'm just going to leave the screens in place for now until I can afford to get the super ram one of these days.
The two screens on either end of the MAF sensor are there to straighten the airflow across the heated wire so the airflow measurement at that point will be consistant.
I'm just going to leave the screens in place for now until I can afford to get the super ram one of these days.
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From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
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Originally Posted by GKK
Here is some information I found on why the screens were put in place.
The two screens on either end of the MAF sensor are there to straighten the airflow across the heated wire so the airflow measurement at that point will be consistant.
I'm just going to leave the screens in place for now until I can afford to get the super ram one of these days.
The two screens on either end of the MAF sensor are there to straighten the airflow across the heated wire so the airflow measurement at that point will be consistant.
I'm just going to leave the screens in place for now until I can afford to get the super ram one of these days.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
One other note on this thread that you guys may want to think about. The OE (GM) ECM has tables which are calibrated to the GM MAF sensor. The sensor is a calibrated device designed to have an output be it a voltage in the earlier cars or a frequency signal in the later cars. Modifying the MAF by removing the screens or gutting a newer version changes the calibrated output of the unit. So now the ECM or a PCM sees a different input from the MAF for the same given airflow.
So now what happens is that the controller sees a richer or a leaner condition as indicated by the O2 sensor feed back. Then the controller has to skew the fuel trims in order to bring the AFR back in the place. The O2 sensors are the final element in the controller for fueling. So if you change it without changing the tables in the PCM or the tables in the EPROM then you could be doing more damage than good. That is why I never recommend change to aftermarket MAF (so called HiPro sensors) or gutting the stock units.
So now what happens is that the controller sees a richer or a leaner condition as indicated by the O2 sensor feed back. Then the controller has to skew the fuel trims in order to bring the AFR back in the place. The O2 sensors are the final element in the controller for fueling. So if you change it without changing the tables in the PCM or the tables in the EPROM then you could be doing more damage than good. That is why I never recommend change to aftermarket MAF (so called HiPro sensors) or gutting the stock units.
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