I am contemplating creating my own CAI, what I am curious about is the MAF sensor. Can that be located anywhere along the intake path or is there something about the location of it and how much plumbing follows it that all plays a role in its effectivness? What would it take to remove it all together? Does it matter what size K & N filter cone I put at end?

 

You could run a tube into the trunk, extend the wires, and mount the MAF there if you wanted to.

 

Can't imagine why you would want tubing running all through your car, but point taken, it has no effect. What exactly is the MAF sensing. Is it the amount of oxygen in the air being drawn in, say to compensate for high altitude driving. Or is it how much volume of air is entering throttle body? If it was the latter then it would seem the length and dia of any tubing after the sensor could change the volumn before it arrives at the intake manifold and hence brought the original question to mind.

 

It measures the Mass of the air. Hence Mass Air Flow sensor.

 

being a mod with over 5k posts... i REALLY hope your kidding.

Yes, it has to be within the path of the incoming air... how would the ecu compensate for more air flow? See how good of a performer that is by unpluging it and drive around...
Bring the MAF between the cone and the tb. that would give it a good messurement of the air flow. the larger the cone, the more area there is for breathing.. but you could have a 100' by 100' cone... ifyou have .5" intake path... all that air flow is wasted... i would go with a nice cone filter to put at the end... i didnt see if you have a camaro or a fire bird... the camaro intake is very good for stock, and its very hard to improve upon the flow it has with out making a big deal.

 

Kidding about what? If you wanted to you could move it into the trunk. Hell, it could be 100' behind, in front of, or above the car. The MAF doesnt care where it sits, as long as its on the cold side of the airflow.

 

yeap... put it a 100' behind ya on a boom so it can scoop up all the air flowing around your car... the idea is to have the intake track as short as you can get it, but placed in a cool area...

 

no kidding! Mass of air however can be subjective in its nomenclature. Is it mass as in density, higher altitude thinner air, less o2 molecules. Or does it mean mass as in volume, flow, CFM? They are really two complety different measuremnets that can be described simply as Mass. Or maybe I am thinking about this to much Maybe it does both. I understand its basic function just not the detail of it.

 

Well... if it was IN the trunk it wouldn't really be IN THE AIRFLOW now would it?

 

I was wondering if anyone ever did research to find the best location of the MAF, considering that on my 87 Formula, and on all the camaros I have ever seen it sits right behind the radiator. By moving it to a cooler place would this change your readings.

Essentially the MAF takes two temperature readings and calculates the mas of air by the differential of the two. I just wonder if the heat coming off the radiator would change the accuracy of the MAF.

John

 

I dunno, not having researched it, but thouht theMAF also measured incoming air temp...if so, you'd want it as close to intake as possible for accuarate calibration.

Then again, I've not researched it, so do as you seem fit.

 

I think so... I have a Speed Density but my MAT sensor is mounted way upstream near the filter, a friend of mine had his mounted like mine except his custom setup used a 4" metal tube, the heat from the radiator heated the whole thing like a furnace, he replaced it with plastic and the car felt a LOT snappier, plus on the dyno it picked up a few horses!!