General LSX Automobile Discussion - Whatever You Do, Don't Descreen Your Maf!!! Pics

wow, been trying to figure out why my Z feels like it has a governor on it lately...

http://webboox.com/0726071910.jpg

wow thats pretty crazy..I would be taking a close look at the sealing lip on the lid, and around the bellow to see where it is leaking...

Suprised your air cleaner didn't catch that..

wow that sucks dude, thanks for the heads up

Were you running with no filter? Crazy, one of the reasons I like my clear lid. I can tell if it's a tight fit.

no, look again, took me a minute to figure out, but that tape looking stuff is part of the rubber gasket sealing between the lid and filter, and that's part of the gasket hanging through the lid there! I superglued it back in place...


But anyway, I just drove it again...BINGO!!! It was so freakin' nice, smoth as silk right up to redline and chirps third once again :D :D :D :jest: MHUAHAAHAAHAA :jest:

best part is, I had an appointment at the dealer today to see if it was a bad cat or whatever. I held off to give myself time to figure it out...saved myself some serious chunk of change there! :D

I cant imagine all that getting through the lid, it must have not been sealed properly. I descreened my maf and never had any problems with my volant cai.

It didn't get through the lid, it's the weatherstrip from around the lid. Provides the seal. :judge: ;) Looks like it wasn't stuck down properly.

I descreend a long time ago and I had the same issue about a month ago. Total loss of power and stalling. The maf was the last thing I checked and saw that the other half of that gasket had already gone into the engine.

I descreend a long time ago and I had the same issue about a month ago. Total loss of power and stalling. The maf was the last thing I checked and saw that the other half of that gasket had already gone into the engine.

:eek2:

You just need a better seal on your air-filter and that stuff won't get up there. I've been running a ported/descreened MAF since 2001 with no problems. I use a Fram and make sure that the lid is tightly sealed.

... never had the problem with mine. I just made sure the lid/filter sealed good.

Ya Man This Has Been Discussed, DONT REMOVE YOUR MAF SCREEN!

If you take the screen out, that shit won't get stuck there !! :jest:

I say go ahead and remove the screen and port the ends...just keep the seal tight and change your filter regularly. There's no screen on a carbeurator and they've been around forever...

The screen isn't for protection, it's an air straightener for cleaner flow, and removing it will actually HURT your performance. That's why you can't see through the screen unless you look straight on, because it's not a mesh, it's more like a honeycomb.

any proof on this theory you got here? i figured that with les restriction equaled more flow...kinda thing...

any proof on this theory you got here? i figured that with les restriction equaled more flow...kinda thing...

Sort of....I remember before I bought my Z, doing a lot of reading about these cars, a few years ago...it was debated a lot back then. Back then I was convinced of the theory, and verified it yesterday looking at the screen up close, you can see it's not a woven screen, it has more thickness to it, with very thin walled honeycomb shaped holes...if it was just for a screen, they could have used old-fashioned woven screen much cheaper I imagine. But anyway, it's commonly accepted that it is an air straightener, not a crap catcher...just a bonus that it'll catch big stuff that might sneak by your air filter somehow, as in my case! Can I prove it to you? No...but I do know a lot of people in the know would back me up on this.

That looks like a pretty piss poor lid design. The lid I have fits tight enough that weather stripping is not needed between the lid and filter to assist in sealing.

I removed my screen long ago. The vettes quit using the screen in 2002 I believe.

The screen is in there as a default up to a certain year and it's only really for the types of cars that have bent elbows before the air enters the maf to aid the airflow over the sensors behind the screen. Like the LT1 style cars and the trucks I believe also have a bent elbow.

Shouldn't be an issue if the lid is a good fit.

yeah, I never really liked the way the lid fit. When you buy a lid, does it come with the whole air box, or just the top part? I never liked the way my kn fits in the bottom of the box too, I wonder if the bottom of my box is stock, I always assumed it is. The filter really doesn't fit very well in the bottom part. Tough to tell with the top part, but not the other day it wasn't! How about you guys, how snug does the filter fit in the bottom half of the air box? Stock or kn filter?

I have a Texas Speed lid and I had to seal it with weather stripping from Home Depot to keep the big stuff out.

Good idea. I'll be doing that tomorrow.

Did the texas speed come with just the one piece lid, or the whole air box?

Doesn't the screen help "straighten" airflow? You know air is coming in through the filter in swirls or something and the maf screen is supposed to straighten it, or something, correct me if I'm wrong.

The screen isn't for protection, it's an air straightener for cleaner flow, and removing it will actually HURT your performance. That's why you can't see through the screen unless you look straight on, because it's not a mesh, it's more like a honeycomb.

:jest: that sounds like the same theory that "Turbonator" uses to sell their product. Sounds pretty crazy to me. Mine screen was removed 70K miles ago and hasn't had the first problem yet.

:jest: that sounds like the same theory that "Turbonator" uses to sell their product. Sounds pretty crazy to me. Mine screen was removed 70K miles ago and hasn't had the first problem yet.

I think it's not about more flow, but more accurate Mass Air Flow Sensing.

The screen isn't for protection, it's an air straightener for cleaner flow, and removing it will actually HURT your performance. That's why you can't see through the screen unless you look straight on, because it's not a mesh, it's more like a honeycomb.
No offense, but the gist of your original post implied protection as you had a bunch of crap stuck to your screen.
The screen doesn't do much of anything except restrict air-flow. Why do you think GM got rid of the screens for the LS6/Z06?
How many guys with 500+rwhp keep the screen? I doubt that you'll find many... I now push over 600rwhp and haven't run a screen since I did basic bolt-ons. It was never/isn't an issue.
Do a search...the topic has been beaten to death.

With the 90/90 setup, I kept the screen and it's sealed right nicely ... with the 90/90 there's no reason to descreen or I'd have that shit canned already.

No offense, but the gist of your original post implied protection as you had a bunch of crap stuck to your screen.
The screen doesn't do much of anything except restrict air-flow. Why do you think GM got rid of the screens for the LS6/Z06?
How many guys with 500+rwhp keep the screen? I doubt that you'll find many... I now push over 600rwhp and haven't run a screen since I did basic bolt-ons. It was never/isn't an issue.
Do a search...the topic has been beaten to death.


You make sense, but miss my point. Yes, it cought debris in my case, but the point is what the screen design intent. I believe it was designed intending to straighten the air. I was Just saying, in my case I was lucky so there is a second reason to leave it in.

Funny.......ZO6's do not have a screen, maybe we should tell the GM engineers that they should put a screen in them A.S.A.P.!!! :judge:

So let me get this straight. You should not remove the screen (besides catching shit) but more so to straighten out air flow that is about to bounce off the inner stock accordion causing massive turbulence???!!! LMAO!

That gasket that fell off and got sucked back must have been in horrible shape, and in which the owner should have seen when he checks the air filter = operators fault.

I've been running no MAF screen on my SS for almost 7 years, and when I got the FAST 90/90 for my 427 I bought the Granatelli 85mm MAF. And guess what, it does not come with a screen.

Maybe I should fab one up to fit in there so the air can bounce around with turbulence as it travels straight into the throttle body and straight into each cylinder.

No matter what there is always something in the way as air travels into the cylinders.

Peace,
Craig.

wow that would of been super bad :(

The mesh screen on an LS1 MAF is used to diffuse the air entering the meter and ensure an accurate air mass reading by the element. This is how our MAF sensors were designed to operate, but DOES NOT mean that a different vehicle's MAF must be identical. Some use mesh screens, other's use a small sampling tube to meter air past an element, some use an edge-to-edge element to ensure a reading across the entire inner area. A MAF can be designed to accurately measure air flow in many different ways. However, if you alter the original design then there is a good chance that you are also going to alter it's measuring ability. In our cars, this different reading could remove a rich condition as programmed by the factory, optimizing your A/F for better HP. On a bolt-on car, I seriously doubt that you can flow more air than the stock mesh screen will flow. Here is a quote from Wiki's Mass Flow Sensor page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_flow_sensor):

LS1 and onwards engines (as well as others) use a "coldwire" MAF system (produced by AC Delco) where by the air passing over a tiny sensor causes inductance, this inductance is converted to a frequency which is then fed to the car's ECU. This frequency is related to the amount of air (CFM) passing over the unit, these MAF units (such as the one pictured) have 3 pins, +, - and F, the F contains the square-wave frequency between - and F.

The mesh on the MAF is used to smooth out airflow to ensure the sensors get the best chance to get a steady reading, it is not used for measuring the air flow per-se, it is not recommended that you "clean" these units other than ensuring the wire-mesh is completely flat and free of any debris. Manufacturers claim that a simple but extremely reliable test to ensure correct functionaldiscarded and an OEM replacement installed.

My 85mm Granatelli has no tube as you mention, I think the new C6 ZO6's have them but not the C5 ZO6's.

I believe you will flow alot more air, but you are right about one thing. You should get a tune so you can bring in more fuel. I've heard of A4 guys having trouble with no screen, but is M6 guys are fine.

Peace,
CRaig.

Good idea. I'll be doing that tomorrow.

Did the texas speed come with just the one piece lid, or the whole air box?

To answer your question, it came with the lid and a clamp.

i have been running a descreened ported stock MAF for over a year with no probs, sorry for the bad luck

Ya Man This Has Been Discussed, DONT REMOVE YOUR MAF SCREEN!

Yes it has...and it's been discussed in extreme detail by people
that actually know what they are talking about. :nod: Bottom
line is that I highly recommend descreening it. I descreened my
MAF back when I had my LS1.

Looks like the weatherstrip wasn't applied correctly to me.

wow so thats the screen do all the ls1's have it becauase i dont have a screen like that but then again im not the first owner.

i have been running a descreened ported stock MAF for over a year with no probs, sorry for the bad luck

No problem. I consider it good luck really, car runs great again for free, and thanks to the screen, that junk stayed out of the engine, which seems to run great again.

Funny thing is, didn't get any codes, until I fixed it, then I got a ses light. Ran strong and smooth, but almost weaker off idle. Cleared the codes, and now it's perfect again, so, looks like pretty good luck, thanks though.

As for the weather stripping installed wrong, I was thinking that maybe. As for the operator error comment, I agree, I could have nipped the problem in the bud when I saw the corner of the weather stripping separated, but thought the lid would hold it in place. Guess not!

Well anyway, feel free to descreen if you like. It seems to me the car is not starving for air due to the screen, and the MAFS is designed and calibrated for having the screen, and if you have this rare problem, it can even keep your parts out of your intake valves. :)

You make sense, but miss my point. Yes, it cought debris in my case, but the point is what the screen design intent. I believe it was designed intending to straighten the air. I was Just saying, in my case I was lucky so there is a second reason to leave it in.
Yep, in your case it was damn good thing the screen was there. The MAF screen MAY help straighten air that has just come around a corner, like on the L98/LT1 F-bodys, but our intake design is such a straight shot that the "straightening" benefits were far outweighed by air-flow restriction. GM realized this and removed it on the later performance MAFs.
Again, I'm not busting balls, just trying to give a counter-point. :chug:

ive had it for 6 months and have had 0 problems so far

seems to me if you had a good cai lik eon my gto there would be no reason any debris could get in the , i may descreen mine does it really help with power? i already have a slp mass air

Yes, descreening the MAF will help alot with the air flow, PERIOD!!!!!!!:judge:

A "seat-in-the-pants" feel from the power gian? I's not like switching from stock exhaust manifolds to long tube headers or somethintg.
I doubt there will be very little noticeable different. But that with all the ofther free mods and other little things add's up! :judge:

BOTTOM LINE IS: The air filter will catch everything, but what MIGHT get past the air filter is your own fault, case closed.

But it does help to descreen it, and add all of them other mods...like the free ram air mod, ERG mod, or any air improvements, now you're your getting somewhere. ;)

And for you guys saying leave it:

Take a look at this pic:

http://www.installuniversity.com/install_university/installu_graphics/freshman_year/mafh_swap/mafh_install.jpg

Are you seriously going to tell me that it's striaght through, look at thet pic with the stock accordion sitting there, which will have the air bounce around and cause alot of turbulence before it hits the manifold where it'll split again for it to get to each cylinder.

Peace,
CRaig.

Are you seriously going to tell me that it's striaght through, look at thet pic with the stock accordion sitting there, which will have the air bounce around and cause alot of turbulence before it hits the manifold where it'll split again for it to get to each cylinder.

Peace,
CRaig.
I think that the arguement is that of a straight shot BEFORE the MAF, which eliminates the need for the screen. After the MAF is of little consequence as the flow has already been measured. Either way, I agree with what you are saying... :chug:

I think that the arguement is that of a straight shot BEFORE the MAF...
I see what you are saying. Plenty of people have been running without one, and the C5 ZO6's didn't even come with one, and my 85mm Granatelli MAF didn't have one as well. Shows (to me atleast) that the screen is garabege and useless, no need for it, pop it out and throw it away. :judge: lol


Peace,
CRaig.

thrown any codes from the descreen???

thrown any codes from the descreen???
I installed ported ends with no screen, did the PCM reset and got no codes. When I got it dyno-tuned later after headers, there were no stored codes at all.

I see what you are saying. Plenty of people have been running without one, and the C5 ZO6's didn't even come with one, and my 85mm Granatelli MAF didn't have one as well. Shows (to me atleast) that the screen is garabege and useless, no need for it, pop it out and throw it away. :judge: lol


Peace,
CRaig.
Yah. I am agreeing with you as I haven't run a screen in about 7 years. Read my posts further up... :chug:

ill descreen mine when i get off work this week

Exactly why I didn't remove mine. It isn't worth the one horse you may gain.

It didn't get through the lid, it's the weatherstrip from around the lid. Provides the seal. :judge: ;) Looks like it wasn't stuck down properly.
Mine was coming apart, when the foam gets older the glue dries out and it comes apart. I just glued mine back on with some ultra black the other day.

They originally put the maf screen on the lt1's due to the fact that the intake came from the front driver side and hooked into the maf. Since the ls1 intake is directly in front of the maf the air is already coming in straight so there is no need to straighten it out more. I descreened mine and have never had a problem. Just make sure the seal is tight

Mine was coming apart, when the foam gets older the glue dries out and it comes apart. I just glued mine back on with some ultra black the other day.

I should mention what I did, which seems great.

I measured that black gasket thing and went to home depot to find a nice soft weather strip twice as wide and twice as thick. I found some 10 year rated stuff that has like 4 lips and holes cored through it for compression. Very plush for a great seal, but tough with it's 10 year rating. Also looks great when it's apart, as the gasket is a nice off-white, almost silvery.

Also, the box under the filter fit the filter terribly, as it looked like the front of the box sat too far forward, leaving a gap for the filter to fall into a little. As ghetto as it sounds, what I did under there worked perfect, I took a strip of about 3/8" thick wood and cut it to length the inside width of the air box, and ripped it to be the right height, so on edge with the flat mill edge supporting under the filter, fit's perfect between the box inside and underside of the filter edge, finally holding the filter straight where it used to sag some in the middle for a terrible "seal". Now the seal is quite overkill, which is good. Someday I'll spray the wood black maybe...

If you take the screen out, that shit won't get stuck there !! :jest:

Yeah, I don't even run a MAF.

i didn't even use my weather stripping

I guess I won't descreen mine. Oh wait, I did back in 01.

<----2years,no screen, auto and no problems. :secret2: And as this has been discused at length---> :lock:

I descreened mine and it messed with some stuff in the tune. My tuner straightened out all the tables and it made quite a difference. But I ran it untuned for 2 years with no problems at all. I say de-screen em.

it's a freaking tapeworm! ewwww. keel heeem!

descreening the MAF is such a waste of time. for what 2-5 HP. id rather shed my beer gut.

^^lol..weight reduction mod..

I descrened mine, I'm running and Tuned for the Corvette 85mm one..no problems. :)

[QUOTE=Black FormulaLs1]any proof on this theory you got here? i figured that with les restriction equaled more flow...kinda thing...[/QUOTE
BERNOULIS PRINCIPLE

:jest:

I just don't see why anybody would take the time to remove the screen when it don't get you enough HP to make a difference. For you guys that say all the little things add up...well true but not enough to matter. I guess if your a dyno queen and want to see that extra 1 hp after removing the screen go for it. :soapbox:

were u running with no filter and shit cuz ive never had that problem or something is wrong with your intake

What the shit!!!!.... How on earth did all that get through?!

I have two Camaro's with no MAF screens on either :rock: My '99 has a SLP lid with a K&N. My '01 has the K&N FIPK. No problems with either one...go figure.

i took the screen out of my 85mm corvette maf.. no problems yet

damn thats ridiculous. wasnt planning on descreening...now it give me a reason not to

damn thats ridiculous. wasnt planning on descreening...now it give me a reason not to
Read the whole thread before you post.