MAF descreen; worth it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 3
From: Jupiter Florida
I used to own an highly mod Audi TT...over on the Audi TT forum we were trying loads of stuff to get increased power...one was the removal of the MAF screen which acts like an 'air flow stabilizer' prior to air hitting the MAF sensor....the theory was any thing within the air stream such as a screen would reduce air flow...so that become the mod of the month (removal of screen)... result lots of 'seat of the pants dynos' claiming gains... reality>>> ECU began throwing codes. I know a turbo'd TT and a NA Vette are very different cars but I think if you do this mod be prepared to get codes thrown at you.
Just a thought
Michael
Just a thought
Michael
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
From: San Ramon CA
Originally Posted by C6FirstVette
I used to own an highly mod Audi TT...over on the Audi TT forum we were trying loads of stuff to get increased power...one was the removal of the MAF screen which acts like an 'air flow stabilizer' prior to air hitting the MAF sensor....the theory was any thing within the air stream such as a screen would reduce air flow...so that become the mod of the month (removal of screen)... result lots of 'seat of the pants dynos' claiming gains... reality>>> ECU began throwing codes. I know a turbo'd TT and a NA Vette are very different cars but I think if you do this mod be prepared to get codes thrown at you.
Just a thought
Michael
Just a thought
Michael
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Frankenstein never scared me. Marsupials do, because they're fassst…and they DART, THAT'S crazy!
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
I removed the screens on my 88 Vette and didn't notice any SOTP difference. I wouldn't try it on such a highly computerized car though, that's why I didn't do it on any of my later Vette's. You would probably get error codes out the wazoo.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 45,428
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From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Originally Posted by C6FirstVette
...so that become the mod of the month (removal of screen)... result lots of 'seat of the pants dynos' claiming gains... reality>>> ECU began throwing codes. Michael
awww, c'mon, you know the assdyno never lies !!!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
I've removed the screen on my C6, but I'm not sure it did anything. I have the Vortex intake which I think smooths out the airflow so I'm not sure the screen is needed if you have an intake that promotes smooth flow, but I can't say removing it did anything. No codes or problems though. Now that I've removed it, I'd say leave it in. You have to destroy it to remove it so if there isn't any noticeable gain, you might as well leave it in there.
Mike
Mike
Heel & Toe
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 21
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We have always removed the screens on C4/C5/C6's. On the dyno they always pick up horsepower from 3-7rwhp . We never have any problems setting codes, but usually always do a custom tune with the descreen and an airbox (Donaldson etc...)
Turbo
Turbo
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 27,254
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From: Short Hills, NJ
Originally Posted by TXblkc6
Also the screen is there to keep large particles from entering
2001 Z06s had MAF screens, 2002+ Z06s didn't, yes there were possibly some light tuning changes made to compensate for the change but if it was ok for the Z06 then it's ok for me. :burnout:
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by prc6vette
A recent post mentioned removing the screen from the MAF and seeing a marginal gain. Has anyone done this or know if this is worthwhile to attempt?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,400
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From: Oceansaide CA
I know the c6 MAF flows more then for instance an ol L98 MAF on a c4 like mine. And the stock MAFs on these will flow (with screens) enough air for 400hp once you start swapping heads and all that business. Just leave it on. Like a kitchen faucet has a screen, so does your MAF. For a reason - and I'd bet $10 that it's not even close to being a choke point, even on a well breathing motor like the LSx..
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
I can't imagine it would be worthwhile as a stand alone mod. Now if it were part of a MAF end replacement (like the nylon ends that came with the Haltech TRIC for C5), then I would not be afraid to try it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Originally Posted by ClarenceT
and I'd bet $10 that it's not even close to being a choke point, even on a well breathing motor like the LSx..
Technically anything that reduces airflow will impact HP a little bit, even if it "flows" more than the engine can inhale. Any intake will have resistance, even if it is much larger than it has to be.
Now, removing it with the stock intake in place might be more trouble than it is worth. Replace your intake with something like the Vortex or maybe even the Honker where airflow should be smoother to begin with, and removing the screen might make sense.
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 7,695
Likes: 51
From: Imperial Beach CA
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
You may be right, but it is worth pondering. The screen actually is very fine and it does amount to an obstruction in the airflow. It might not look like much but if you add up the number of mesh cross-sections in the screen and you multiply out the amount of surface area taken up by the mesh itself, it actually effectively makes the opening quite a bit smaller. I saw a calculation on another site years ago (I think it was f-body) that said if you add up all the mesh it actually amounts to the equivalent of about a 25% reduction in opening size. It reduced a 52mm opening (in that case) to something like a 40mm opening.
Technically anything that reduces airflow will impact HP a little bit, even if it "flows" more than the engine can inhale. Any intake will have resistance, even if it is much larger than it has to be.
Now, removing it with the stock intake in place might be more trouble than it is worth. Replace your intake with something like the Vortex or maybe even the Honker where airflow should be smoother to begin with, and removing the screen might make sense.
Mike
Technically anything that reduces airflow will impact HP a little bit, even if it "flows" more than the engine can inhale. Any intake will have resistance, even if it is much larger than it has to be.
Now, removing it with the stock intake in place might be more trouble than it is worth. Replace your intake with something like the Vortex or maybe even the Honker where airflow should be smoother to begin with, and removing the screen might make sense.
Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Originally Posted by jimman
It provides even airflow over sensors, what you think you pick up you may give back by that factor. I've removed mine in both my C5's, waste of time providing go change.
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 7,695
Likes: 51
From: Imperial Beach CA
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
But if you are running an intake that delivers smooth flow prior to the MAF anyway, you might be able to get by with it and get some improvement. How any of us will ever be able to confirm that a particular intake has smooth flow, I don't know, but it sounds good in theory.
Mike
Mike
Last edited by jimman; Jun 16, 2005 at 04:57 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Originally Posted by jimman
I don't think that is where the problem is. The screen will insure the proper angle of air and maintain a stable flow across the wires. I don't think it's a gross turbulance factor like swirling air. Also, if one looks at let say 4 ajoining openings in the screen the crossed support frame is such a low proportion of that area. One other thing to think of is that the turbulance caused my the piston/intake valve is far greater than an intake shape problem at the filter side.
Would be interesting to talk to some of the engineers about it. They'd be able to answer some questions that I have in my own mind like why they removed the screen for a couple of years in the Z and then put it back. I think I remember a claim at the time stating that the reason they removed it is because they felt that the intake flowed smooth enough to allow proper readings without it. But then... they put it back in, so who knows.
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 7,695
Likes: 51
From: Imperial Beach CA
Originally Posted by mikeyc6
Would be interesting to talk to some of the engineers about it. They'd be able to answer some questions that I have in my own mind like why they removed the screen for a couple of years in the Z and then put it back. I think I remember a claim at the time stating that the reason they removed it is because they felt that the intake flowed smooth enough to allow proper readings without it. But then... they put it back in, so who knows.
Mike