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MAF vs SD: List PROS and CONS

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Old 02-17-2005, 05:01 PM
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Default MAF vs SD: List PROS and CONS

I'd like to know the pros and cons of the MAF vs SD.
Old 02-17-2005, 05:15 PM
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SD Pro: Limited sensors, less room for error due to skewed sensor readings
SD Pro: No Restriction, especially if running a larger TB than 78mm
SD Neg: As conditions change , requires some tweaking to stay 100% dead on

MAF Pro: at higher RPMs accurately measures air entering
MAF Pro: No need to adjust once locked in as weather changes
MAF Pro: Lets you runa dry nitrous kit
MAF Neg: Any changes prior to MAF can cause the reported values to be skewed high or low
MAF Neg: Restriction to air from airbox to TB
Old 02-17-2005, 06:16 PM
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SD, easier to tune for drivability
MAF, harder to tune for drivability
Old 02-17-2005, 06:43 PM
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Originally Posted by horist
SD Pro: Limited sensors, less room for error due to skewed sensor readings
SD Pro: No Restriction, especially if running a larger TB than 78mm
SD Neg: As conditions change , requires some tweaking to stay 100% dead on

MAF Pro: at higher RPMs accurately measures air entering
MAF Pro: No need to adjust once locked in as weather changes
MAF Pro: Lets you runa dry nitrous kit
MAF Neg: Any changes prior to MAF can cause the reported values to be skewed high or low
MAF Neg: Restriction to air from airbox to TB
Can you give some examples on MAF Neg: Any changes prior to MAF can cause the reported values to be skewed high or low.
Old 02-17-2005, 06:59 PM
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MAF

SD

But i do have plans for FI, so that plays a big part.

Ryan
Old 02-17-2005, 07:12 PM
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MAF con: can't handle reversion at low rpm.
SD pro: histograms make VE table easy to tune, MAF table is harder
SD con: if you have an auto, you need a maf for the transmission to work right
SD con: 1998-2000 run on the secondary VE table

Slow, SD won't keep you from going FI. HP tuners can change your operating system so it can read a 3 bar map.
Old 02-17-2005, 08:23 PM
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your right, it won't stop you from going FI and i will probaly try the 2 bar whenever it comes available.

But, tuning by boost can be bad if air density changes.


Ryan.
Old 02-17-2005, 08:47 PM
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Originally Posted by P Mack
MAF con: can't handle reversion at low rpm.
SD pro: histograms make VE table easy to tune, MAF table is harder
SD con: if you have an auto, you need a maf for the transmission to work right
SD con: 1998-2000 run on the secondary VE table

Slow, SD won't keep you from going FI. HP tuners can change your operating system so it can read a 3 bar map.
I have a 98 so I am wasting my time using the SD method to tune?
Old 02-17-2005, 08:56 PM
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You're not wasting your time, you just have less resolution. Unless of course you're only making changes to the primary and not the secondary, then you're wasting your time.
Old 02-17-2005, 09:19 PM
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Definitely not a waste of time. I have been doing it for a long time.
Old 02-17-2005, 09:21 PM
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Originally Posted by P Mack
You're not wasting your time, you just have less resolution. Unless of course you're only making changes to the primary and not the secondary, then you're wasting your time.
MAF, closed loop, increases your resolution.
Old 02-17-2005, 09:40 PM
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Right, I realize he would see the changes to the primary table when/if he plugs the maf back in. But while tuning in SD you have to make changes to the secondary ve if you want to see results while you're still in SD. I made that mistake once, and was getting pissed off when I was tuning in sd, i would make changes to the primary table, but the fuel trims wouldn't change. If he leaves it in SD like a lot of people do, he'll always be running of the secondary table.
Old 02-17-2005, 09:53 PM
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You will never have a MAF-only tune. The PCM uses
SD for a lot of things. You can get by without the
MAF at the cost of some adaptability. But getting
the SD tune right, or right enough, pays off even
if you keep the MAF, in areas like transient throttle
response and low RPM operation in particular.
Old 02-17-2005, 10:00 PM
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so, what I would like to know is what gains did you see at the track on back to back passes?

tranny and diff are preventing me from finding out myself
Old 02-17-2005, 10:41 PM
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Originally Posted by jimmyblue
But getting
the SD tune right, or right enough, pays off even
if you keep the MAF, in areas like transient throttle
response and low RPM operation in particular.
Which is why I will never pay for a shop to tune my car. I'm not sure if any shops will take the time to get your ve table right, and I don't blame them cause it's time consuming.
Old 02-17-2005, 10:55 PM
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Originally Posted by P Mack
Right, I realize he would see the changes to the primary table when/if he plugs the maf back in. But while tuning in SD you have to make changes to the secondary ve if you want to see results while you're still in SD. I made that mistake once, and was getting pissed off when I was tuning in sd, i would make changes to the primary table, but the fuel trims wouldn't change. If he leaves it in SD like a lot of people do, he'll always be running of the secondary table.
That is actually how it should be done to keep the Primary resolution, then just copy the required (every other MAP row) cells over to the secondary. I am using this method and I don't need to guees at the empty Primary cells, because I based my Secondary on it. Plus it is easier to make the copy/paste correction to the Primary.

Last edited by Flame Throwing SS; 02-18-2005 at 09:14 AM.
Old 02-17-2005, 10:57 PM
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Originally Posted by jimmyblue
But getting
the SD tune right, or right enough, pays off even
if you keep the MAF, in areas like transient throttle
response and low RPM operation in particular.

Originally Posted by P Mack
Which is why I will never pay for a shop to tune my car. I'm not sure if any shops will take the time to get your ve table right, and I don't blame them cause it's time consuming.
Really good points. Also, you need days with different intake temps to get the IAPark right. I some areas of the country you could wait months for warm weather and in some it never get cold. A tuner would need a lot of time to do it right.

SD Pro- You can get a smoother idle by running it richer.
MAF Pro- Not that much harder to get it running and transitioning well and will hold the tune.
Old 02-17-2005, 11:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Flame Throwing SS
That is actually how it should be done to keep the Primary resolution, then just copy the required (every other MAP row) cells over to the secondary.
Yeah that's actually the method i settled on too. The copy and paste process is easier that way. When I was just starting out I just forgot i had to copy every other row to the secondary.
Old 02-18-2005, 08:45 AM
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It might be worth tossing that MAF back in after an extreme porting job to match the TB flow. As long as you can scale your MAF table properly.
Old 02-18-2005, 09:07 AM
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Ok now whats up with this every other row thing? When I start to think I got a hang on this some new info comes up.
Ok today I will be going to the dyno. Yeah I should wait but I want to know what my numbers are before the tune and to see if I am running lean. Sunday I have a nice Autox on a 1.5 mile course and I want to make sure I'm not lean.
Should I go in there and get about 3 runs with the MAF on and 3 with the MAF off? And maybe get 2 runs at WOT as if I was at the track? All this recorded info can help figure out a lot things.
One thing I want to know is the SD or the MAF working the LTFT correctly when I match up against the A/F against the wide band.




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