• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Cai.....

  • Thread starter Thread starter four.six
  • Start date Start date Jul 21, 2005
F

four.six

New Member
Nov 27, 2004
443
0
0
Corpus Christi, TX
Jul 21, 2005
#1
  • Jul 21, 2005
  • #1
ok guys, i put a MAC CAI on my car. well i took off a screen looking thing. it was right where the stock filter connects to the MAF. the MAC CAI came with some sort of rubber seal that i put in its place. i could not fit that screen looking thing in there with the rubber seal. my question is, is that screen supposed to be there or did i do the right thing by not putting it back on??? thanks guys!!!
 

DropTopPony

Noob Slayer
Founding Member
Aug 13, 2002
2,570
3
48
south jersey
Jul 21, 2005
#2
  • Jul 21, 2005
  • #2
i've had mine out for almost 10 years and no problems.
 

Skidzz

Tinkerbell
Apr 11, 2005
328
1
19
Salt Lake City, UT
Jul 21, 2005
#3
  • Jul 21, 2005
  • #3
That's the intake silencer and you did your car a favor by removing it.
 

RedBullitt

New Member
Jul 7, 2004
462
0
0
Morgantown WV
Jul 21, 2005
#4
  • Jul 21, 2005
  • #4
yeah, most aftermarkey cai s will not use that screen, so no worries
 

99GTtony

Member
Mar 31, 2005
346
0
16
Seattle,WA
Jul 21, 2005
#5
  • Jul 21, 2005
  • #5
I have the same intake, no screen either. It won't throw any codes so don't worry about not having it in there.
 

CanadaStang

New Member
Sep 7, 2003
2,093
1
0
Mb
Jul 22, 2005
#6
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #6
This may help, I had typed this up for someone over at MD, and thought I'd just copy past it instead of typing it all over again.

The MAF Sensor uses hot wires inserted in a known cross sectional area to measure airflow. The MAF Sensor and the IAT Sensor output signals to the PCM determine the injector pulse time during Open Loop Condition. The MAF output signal is dependant on the resistance in the wire due to the wire temperature. The temperature is a function of the air velocity, as the faster the velocity the lower (cooler) the wire temperature. So, as the velocity of the air increases (acceleration) the wire cools and sends a signal to the PCM to lengthen the pulse time of the injectors to deliver more fuel in order to maintain the desired A/F ratio of 14.7:1.

In front of the heated wire is a screen. Many people are suggesting that improved airflow will be gained by cutting the screen out of the MAF. It is not recommend that this be done. Most people mistake this screens purpose as preventing debris from hitting the hot wires in the MAF (that is what the air filter is for). Actually the screen is a bank of straightening vanes used to straighten the airflow before passing by the hot wires. Eddies and vortices (turbulence) in the MAF will cause inaccurate readings. Straightening vanes are used in most mass flow measurement situations where 10 diameters of straight upstream conduit are not available. The intake does not meet this requirement.


An accurate MAF sensor is critical for the engine's fuel/air ratio adjustments. So, what happens when the screen is removed? The flow (mass) is the same, BUT without the screen the velocity is lower. Lower velocity means a hotter wire temperature which equates to a LOWER flow! So the PCM adjusts the injectors to provide LESS fuel. Since the HO2 sensors do not provide input when the MAF is online the PCM does not adjust for the LEAN condition, until it goes back into Closed Loop Condition.
 
F

four.six

New Member
Nov 27, 2004
443
0
0
Corpus Christi, TX
Jul 22, 2005
#7
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #7
CanadaStang said:
This may help, I had typed this up for someone over at MD, and thought I'd just copy past it instead of typing it all over again.

The MAF Sensor uses hot wires inserted in a known cross sectional area to measure airflow. The MAF Sensor and the IAT Sensor output signals to the PCM determine the injector pulse time during Open Loop Condition. The MAF output signal is dependant on the resistance in the wire due to the wire temperature. The temperature is a function of the air velocity, as the faster the velocity the lower (cooler) the wire temperature. So, as the velocity of the air increases (acceleration) the wire cools and sends a signal to the PCM to lengthen the pulse time of the injectors to deliver more fuel in order to maintain the desired A/F ratio of 14.7:1.

In front of the heated wire is a screen. Many people are suggesting that improved airflow will be gained by cutting the screen out of the MAF. It is not recommend that this be done. Most people mistake this screens purpose as preventing debris from hitting the hot wires in the MAF (that is what the air filter is for). Actually the screen is a bank of straightening vanes used to straighten the airflow before passing by the hot wires. Eddies and vortices (turbulence) in the MAF will cause inaccurate readings. Straightening vanes are used in most mass flow measurement situations where 10 diameters of straight upstream conduit are not available. The intake does not meet this requirement.


An accurate MAF sensor is critical for the engine's fuel/air ratio adjustments. So, what happens when the screen is removed? The flow (mass) is the same, BUT without the screen the velocity is lower. Lower velocity means a hotter wire temperature which equates to a LOWER flow! So the PCM adjusts the injectors to provide LESS fuel. Since the HO2 sensors do not provide input when the MAF is online the PCM does not adjust for the LEAN condition, until it goes back into Closed Loop Condition.
Click to expand...


wow....
 

Give Me TP

Member
Jun 17, 2004
936
0
16
Republic of Texas
Jul 22, 2005
#8
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #8
The orientation of the screen would also make some difference would it not, such as the screen mesh being parallel to the MAF sensor wires versus diagonal?
 

KronicRacer

Member
Jun 23, 2004
502
1
18
puttering around Ft Lauderdale, FL
Jul 22, 2005
#9
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #9
i was just thinking of something.....

as it is im working on a maf i just picked up from ebay

http://www.corral.net/tech/powerplant/mafgut.htm

well i have a hiflow intake and what im thinking is putting a small bit of screen on the sampling tube to streaighten out the airflow. any thoughts on this?
 

NasaGT

Founding Member
Sep 19, 2002
1,993
2
49
Virginia
Jul 22, 2005
#10
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #10
CanadaStang said:
This may help, I had typed this up for someone over at MD, and thought I'd just copy past it instead of typing it all over again.

The MAF Sensor uses hot wires inserted in a known cross sectional area to measure airflow. The MAF Sensor and the IAT Sensor output signals to the PCM determine the injector pulse time during Open Loop Condition. The MAF output signal is dependant on the resistance in the wire due to the wire temperature. The temperature is a function of the air velocity, as the faster the velocity the lower (cooler) the wire temperature. So, as the velocity of the air increases (acceleration) the wire cools and sends a signal to the PCM to lengthen the pulse time of the injectors to deliver more fuel in order to maintain the desired A/F ratio of 14.7:1.

In front of the heated wire is a screen. Many people are suggesting that improved airflow will be gained by cutting the screen out of the MAF. It is not recommend that this be done. Most people mistake this screens purpose as preventing debris from hitting the hot wires in the MAF (that is what the air filter is for). Actually the screen is a bank of straightening vanes used to straighten the airflow before passing by the hot wires. Eddies and vortices (turbulence) in the MAF will cause inaccurate readings. Straightening vanes are used in most mass flow measurement situations where 10 diameters of straight upstream conduit are not available. The intake does not meet this requirement.


An accurate MAF sensor is critical for the engine's fuel/air ratio adjustments. So, what happens when the screen is removed? The flow (mass) is the same, BUT without the screen the velocity is lower. Lower velocity means a hotter wire temperature which equates to a LOWER flow! So the PCM adjusts the injectors to provide LESS fuel. Since the HO2 sensors do not provide input when the MAF is online the PCM does not adjust for the LEAN condition, until it goes back into Closed Loop Condition.
Click to expand...

Good post. Most people don't realize that the stock MAF output is calibrated to have that screen in front of it.
 
F

fiveofanatic

How to fuel a Mustang:
Founding Member
Aug 12, 1998
8,152
0
76
Phoenix, AZ suburbs
Jul 22, 2005
#11
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #11
Who's got dyno numbers pre & post screen removal with no other changes? I wouldn't be concerned with it on a driver unless there's a dramatic drop in performance.
 

1bad04GT

New Member
Jul 6, 2004
174
0
0
Lubbock, Texas
Jul 22, 2005
#12
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #12
i saw something in mm&ff. they picked up 11 rwhp on a mach 1 with only the silencer and air box removed, but it went lean so they put it back...
 

timeless2

Vi Veri Veni Versum Vicus Vici
Admin Dude
Nov 29, 1999
1,366
202
154
the Shadow Gallery
Jul 22, 2005
#13
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #13
So why even bother with the silencer from the factory?
 

03ghoststang

Well-Known Member
Jul 16, 2005
1,930
1
57
Los Angeles, California
Jul 22, 2005
#14
  • Jul 22, 2005
  • #14
1bad04GT said:
i saw something in mm&ff. they picked up 11 rwhp on a mach 1 with only the silencer and air box removed, but it went lean so they put it back...
Click to expand...


i read that article too if you have a programer like the diablo sport then you can enrichen the mixture but the mach 1's are kinda delicate you have too retune for mods kinda of like the 05 GT thier computer is sensetive to mods
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
01 GT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK CYLINDER LINKAGE
  • Scwhitten
  • May 13, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
3
Views
213
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jun 19, 2026
melo.timo
M
A
Discussion on mild budget build/ top end
  • Acesario
  • Feb 21, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
20
Views
853
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Feb 23, 2026
General karthief
S
Mach 1 iac valve in a 4.6 gt
  • solodriverz
  • Jun 3, 2026
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
123
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Jun 5, 2026
squeak93
A
Blow through intercooled questions
  • AngryH58
  • Aug 31, 2026
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
5
Views
108
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Sep 1, 2026
AngryH58
A
J
Power Wire Upgrade Question
  • jhaling
  • Dec 21, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
293
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Mar 23, 2026
Noobz347
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?