anybody remove screen on maf sensor
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,792
Likes: 2
From: Millington Tennesse
St. Jude Donor '11-'12, '14
anybody remove screen on maf sensor
installing var ram looking at the maf and wondering if i should remove screen for more airflow. wondering the good and bad of doing this. need help from the pros.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
From: Marysville WA
DO NOT REMOVE SCREEN!!! Ok, maybe that is a little strong, but nonetheless, I stand by it. There have been some bad stories about people removing the screen. For two main reasons:
1. And this is the most important - you could end up with debris through it. Anything that gets sucked in through the VRAM would end up right in the intake!
2. The air flow is disrupted. The car will not run the same and in some instances, notably different - rougher.
Just my .02. Cheers!
1. And this is the most important - you could end up with debris through it. Anything that gets sucked in through the VRAM would end up right in the intake!
2. The air flow is disrupted. The car will not run the same and in some instances, notably different - rougher.
Just my .02. Cheers!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 5
From: Ambler Pa.
There has been much debate on this mod, do a search to review the info. I personslly have removed the maf screens on ALL of my LS1 and LS2 maf's [ 4 ] It is recommended to adj. the LTFT's afterward with a predator or another tuner.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
DO NOT REMOVE SCREEN!!! Ok, maybe that is a little strong, but nonetheless, I stand by it. There have been some bad stories about people removing the screen. For two main reasons:
1. And this is the most important - you could end up with debris through it. Anything that gets sucked in through the VRAM would end up right in the intake!
2. The air flow is disrupted. The car will not run the same and in some instances, notably different - rougher.
Just my .02. Cheers!
1. And this is the most important - you could end up with debris through it. Anything that gets sucked in through the VRAM would end up right in the intake!
2. The air flow is disrupted. The car will not run the same and in some instances, notably different - rougher.
Just my .02. Cheers!
Not worth the effort or the possible consequences! 
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,747
Likes: 0
From: Sebring, Florida
I removed mine 20,000+ miles ago and have never had any issues. Currently using a Halltech intake.
Just food for thought...some think that the screen does not impede airflow. I'm no engineer but the total surface area of the screen when it is compressed will cover about 25% of the amount of the MAF opening. The total surface area of the screen has got to offer at least some resistance to airflow.
Just food for thought...some think that the screen does not impede airflow. I'm no engineer but the total surface area of the screen when it is compressed will cover about 25% of the amount of the MAF opening. The total surface area of the screen has got to offer at least some resistance to airflow.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 667
Likes: 0
From: Marysville WA
I removed mine 20,000+ miles ago and have never had any issues. Currently using a Halltech intake.
Just food for thought...some think that the screen does not impede airflow. I'm no engineer but the total surface area of the screen when it is compressed will cover about 25% of the amount of the MAF opening. The total surface area of the screen has got to offer at least some resistance to airflow.
Just food for thought...some think that the screen does not impede airflow. I'm no engineer but the total surface area of the screen when it is compressed will cover about 25% of the amount of the MAF opening. The total surface area of the screen has got to offer at least some resistance to airflow.
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,725
Likes: 709
From: Bergen County, NJ
I have an '88 Vette with a MAF that has a screen,and that question has been asked a million times
I would say that after twenty years, GM has a reason why they put a screen on the MAF.
However, I don't know what the reason is.
I'll just keep mine on, for now.
I would say that after twenty years, GM has a reason why they put a screen on the MAF.
However, I don't know what the reason is.
I'll just keep mine on, for now.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,725
Likes: 709
From: Bergen County, NJ
Just food for thought...some think that the screen does not impede airflow. I'm no engineer but the total surface area of the screen when it is compressed will cover about 25% of the amount of the MAF opening. The total surface area of the screen has got to offer at least some resistance to airflow.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
Do not remove the MAF screen. The screen is an air straightener which is required to make accurate mass flow measurements. The only way to make accurate measurements without the air straightener is to have 10 times the diameter of the inlet in front of the sensor. I calibrated flow for NASA at Kennedy Space Center for several years and have much experience with flow measurements. There is no reason to remove this screen.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,762
Likes: 4
From: Chandler Arizona
This is an ongoing argument, but I'll throw in my 2 cents. I've always thought the screen was a flow straightener to make the MAF more accurate. Take it out and I've read that some people had issues, but I believe that if you get a tune everything is then fine. I really doubt that you pick up much power, but consider this, the LS6 had a screenless MAF. And I do not believe there is a screen in the LS7 or LS3.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1781361
here is one before and after that is logged with hptuners.
here is one before and after that is logged with hptuners.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 3
From: Penn Valley California
I removed mine concurrent with the install of my Breathless Vortex Rammer.My car runs like a scalded cat and throttle response is excellent-a definate improvement over stock! Ernie recommends it with his system and has thoroughly tested his system with it removed with no adverse experience.I can at least vouch for it on my car with this ram air system,and I have not had it tuned,only road miles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
The fact that the car still seems to run well with it removed, is not a good reason to remove it. I have done it in the past, with NO apparent good as the result. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
For those interested, since I did it on numerous cars and had 100% success: Use the 2002-2004 Z06 MAF table and the car runs perfectly. People with real cfm requirements from modding will need to increase airflow and decrease air restrictions upstream of the manifold in order to see 99/100kpa MAP readings. On a stroker it could mean a 100mm throttle body such as lingenfelter's unit that also comes with the tuning MAF table patch peice. No change to the MAF can be done without scaling the MAF table and I dont mean linearly. The Z06 table increases cell to cell more than the screened units do since expected air at higher rpms is increased.
All the stock guys should leave it stock and stop answering for all the modded guys that are looking for a jump in power.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Do not remove the MAF screen. The screen is an air straightener which is required to make accurate mass flow measurements. The only way to make accurate measurements without the air straightener is to have 10 times the diameter of the inlet in front of the sensor. I calibrated flow for NASA at Kennedy Space Center for several years and have much experience with flow measurements. There is no reason to remove this screen.The Z06 has the same path for the air cleaner in case NASA doesnt know. It also appears to have the same relative position in the tube.
For the rest of the MAF world: You can buy a housing for the Z06 MAF to be used on any LS2 motor with the appropriate software patch peice from halltech.
Last edited by SpinMonster; Sep 4, 2007 at 07:59 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
By the way, the wise butt answers are motivated by seeing the exact same statements by the same people time and time again who refuse to take info that comes from first hand wrenchers that prove their info wrong time and time again.
The most powerful and most driveable cars run in speed density without an MAF altogether. Its in the software and prying out a screen with no tuned in changes will not work but if it is tuned in it does. This at some point becomes a required mod along the power curve. Strokers and screens dont always mix. One guy I sold a FAST to reported a drop off in power at 6100rpm and got a 100mm MAF and it pulled to 6700 with increasing power on his 440 stroker. 20+rwhp there and thats a fact. So maybe the stock guys should stop typing what they read from some other stock car owner and leave the mod answers to those that did them successfully so people can learn how to do them correctly for a gain.
The screen straightens nothing and the car is faster without it at a point along the mod curve. The C5 and C6 Z06 should prove the screen isnt needed for straightening air. They dont have one and they outperform the base models with them.
The most powerful and most driveable cars run in speed density without an MAF altogether. Its in the software and prying out a screen with no tuned in changes will not work but if it is tuned in it does. This at some point becomes a required mod along the power curve. Strokers and screens dont always mix. One guy I sold a FAST to reported a drop off in power at 6100rpm and got a 100mm MAF and it pulled to 6700 with increasing power on his 440 stroker. 20+rwhp there and thats a fact. So maybe the stock guys should stop typing what they read from some other stock car owner and leave the mod answers to those that did them successfully so people can learn how to do them correctly for a gain.
The screen straightens nothing and the car is faster without it at a point along the mod curve. The C5 and C6 Z06 should prove the screen isnt needed for straightening air. They dont have one and they outperform the base models with them.
Last edited by SpinMonster; Sep 4, 2007 at 08:16 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,733
Likes: 15
From: SC
By the way, the wise butt answers are motivated by seeing the exact same statements by the same people time and time again who refuse to take info that comes from first hand wrenchers that prove their info wrong time and time again.
The most powerful and most driveable cars run in speed density without an MAF altogether. Its in the software and prying out a screen with no tuned in changes will not work but if it is tuned in it does. This at some point becomes a required mod along the power curve. Strokers and screens dont always mix. One guy I sold a FAST to reported a drop off in power at 6100rpm and got a 100mm MAF and it pulled to 6700 with increasing power on his 440 stroker. 20+rwhp there and thats a fact. So maybe the stock guys should stop typing what they read from some other stock car owner and leave the mod answers to those that did them successfully so people can learn how to do them correctly for a gain.
The screen straightens nothing and the car is faster without it at a point along the mod curve. The C5 and C6 Z06 should prove the screen isnt needed for straightening air. They dont have one and they outperform the base models with them.
The most powerful and most driveable cars run in speed density without an MAF altogether. Its in the software and prying out a screen with no tuned in changes will not work but if it is tuned in it does. This at some point becomes a required mod along the power curve. Strokers and screens dont always mix. One guy I sold a FAST to reported a drop off in power at 6100rpm and got a 100mm MAF and it pulled to 6700 with increasing power on his 440 stroker. 20+rwhp there and thats a fact. So maybe the stock guys should stop typing what they read from some other stock car owner and leave the mod answers to those that did them successfully so people can learn how to do them correctly for a gain.
The screen straightens nothing and the car is faster without it at a point along the mod curve. The C5 and C6 Z06 should prove the screen isnt needed for straightening air. They dont have one and they outperform the base models with them.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 133,592
Likes: 30
St. Jude Donor '11, '16
The air flow after the screen is the same as before the screen, what the screen induces is called a minor loss. The pressure of the air is reduced by the frictional loss of the air flowing past the screen. Since the screen is very short in length, the pressure loss is very minor compared to that of the intake pipe and filters.
Mine on my '07 is in.......
Last edited by owebo; Sep 4, 2007 at 09:01 PM.