'06 LS2 surging - MAF/intake issue?
 

My 2006 LS2 6mt car has been having issues with very subtle surging on light throttle input. I believe I have narrowed it down to an issue with the MAF or cold air intake as unplugging the MAF fixes the issue and overall improves the feel of the car dramatically.

Has anyone experienced this before, and if so what was your solution? Only current mods are SLP Blackwing CAI and 1-7/8th headers with a tune from Doug at ECS.

So far have done the following:

• Smoke test and found zero vacuum leaks.
• Cleaned the MAF
• Checked all hose clamps before TB

Update! I manged to get a my hands on a stock LS2 intake and swapped it on to test the intake theory. It is 100% better now, zero surging and no other changes made.

This issue has been confirmed by many now to be attributed to bad airflow hitting the MAF caused by aftermarket intakes.

Have you cleaned the MAF with MAF cleaner yet? That's step one, along with making absolutely certain all of the connection points between the filter and throttle body are tight and not sucking air.

Yeah should have put that in the op, just added what I've done so far (maf clean, smoke test, hose/clamp connection check etc).

Stock cam, or some wild aftermarket cam that is causing the surging all on its own low rpm instead?

As I said the only mods are CAI, headers and a tune

small exhaust leak sucking in unmetered air

Exhaust leak sucking in air? What near the headers or something? I don't think that's it as I've had the headers on and off with new gaskets since the issue started and no change, but I will definitely check the gaskets and bolt torques

Exhaust manifold gasket at the cylinder head.Once at WOT will clear up as car goes into open loop and ignores data from 02 sensors.Did you use the factory multi layered steel gaskets?Check your 02 sensors pigtail and any extensions for damage

Shouldn't that give a code? And yeah I used GM multi layer steel gaskets.

The 02 sensor's should set a code but sometimes no codes present

could be your ignition coils. I replaced mine after 16 years on the oems. Found new inexpensive oems on ebay.

Could be something in the tune causing the surging isue. Upload the stock tune back into the ECM and test drive it to compare driveability then... can't hurt.

Updating OP now - I got my hands on a stock LS2 intake from a local owner and tested. Everything feels MUCH better now, zero surging. All of it was caused by the intake.