Any Downside to Removing MAF Screen?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara Ca
Re: Any Downside to Removing MAF Screen? (LIGHTNING)
If the car is sill in warranty, G.M could void warranty.
If the fuel trim is too lean, taking out screen will drive the fuel trims even leaner, esp in hotter weather, and you'll get some surging, more knock, less timing, less torque, hotter engine temps, thus less performance.
Easy fix to enjoy the extra air volume is to tune the AFR which will solve the ills.
Be wise, do a PCM trace before yanking screen, if long term fuel trim is close to zero, then yanking screen will be OK, but if LTFT is already 5% lean or greater, either intend to tune AFR or do not take screen out.
You might do this in colder weather and all is well but once summer heat is back, the problems of being too lean will show up.
[Modified by team-zr1, 9:57 PM 10/29/2001]
If the fuel trim is too lean, taking out screen will drive the fuel trims even leaner, esp in hotter weather, and you'll get some surging, more knock, less timing, less torque, hotter engine temps, thus less performance.
Easy fix to enjoy the extra air volume is to tune the AFR which will solve the ills.
Be wise, do a PCM trace before yanking screen, if long term fuel trim is close to zero, then yanking screen will be OK, but if LTFT is already 5% lean or greater, either intend to tune AFR or do not take screen out.
You might do this in colder weather and all is well but once summer heat is back, the problems of being too lean will show up.
[Modified by team-zr1, 9:57 PM 10/29/2001]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,743
Likes: 3
From: Davie Florida
Re: Any Downside to Removing MAF Screen? (team-zr1)
I was also thinking of removing my screen. I spoke to Steve Cole of Powerloader and one of the techs at the Vette Doctors both felt removing the screen would serve little purpose, and you would gain little or nothing in added performance. Plus some fellows have reported surging once they removed their screens. Just my 0.02
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 17,710
Likes: 1,219
From: Phila PA, Bonita Springs FL
Re: Any Downside to Removing MAF Screen? (Mitch C)
I put back the stock MAF after having the Granatelli one. Car ran great.. Removed the screen, car ran better. I don't think the screen is that critical. I have not heard anyone who had richness/leaness or surging problem just from removing the screen. And I've been on the Forum for a long time....
