Mass Airflow Sensor Screen

racerx55 · May 29, 2007

so a friend of mine removed the screen in front of the airflow sensor, and his truck runs better and gets better gas mileage, so what is the point of this screen?

i run a GM airflow meter on my DSM (Talon) and i dont have a screen like that.no issues with that setup but i also tuned the air / fuel ratio on that car to where i wanted it with extras.

does it have a real purpose or is it just some horse s**t thing thats supposed to increase low end response somethin of that sort...?? i think i might try removing mine.

07 6.0L BTW

omegafiler · May 29, 2007

so a friend of mine removed the screen in front of the airflow sensor, and his truck runs better and gets better gas mileage, so what is the point of this screen?
i run a GM airflow meter on my DSM (Talon) and i dont have a screen like that.no issues with that setup but i also tuned the air / fuel ratio on that car to where i wanted it with extras.

does it have a real purpose or is it just some horse s**t thing thats supposed to increase low end response somethin of that sort...?? i think i might try removing mine.

07 6.0L BTW

My understanding of the screen is that its primarily there to even out the air flow to the Mass Airflow Sensor, so it can get a better reading. I suppose it would also be a 2nd form of protection to make sure nothing big got in your intake.

Some folks have experienced a rough idle when they removed theirs. I actually did remove mine from '00 Grand Prix GTP (it had a CAI) and my last '00 OBS Tahoe, factory intake. Never had any issues.

Don't plan on removing mine from the Denali for warranty purposes though. And I'm not convinced it's going to make any noticable change with a stock airbox.

dietz4ibanez · May 29, 2007

Aftermarket performance mass air flow sensors dont have a screen! I bought one and it was a big difference with cold air intake and computer mods

racerx55 · May 30, 2007

seems to incrase power at topend bigtime, and also helped the gas mileage so far.

runs fine, no SES light, no lean conditions according to my wideband a/f ratio gauge.

the computer seemed to compensate for it after a few minutes of a slighly lean idle but now its fine.

2500HD 8.1 · June 2, 2007

I pulled the screen off my sensor last nite. I haven't run the car yet, so I will see what happens. The screen seems very restrictive for airflow. I have the stock airbox with a MIT tube, so I think the screen is the most restrictive part of my system right now. I imagine without it, the air will increase greatly, and the computer should adjust to it. The older style Granatelli sensors did not have a screen, and I never had any problems with one on my 01 Suburban.

jjrobo · June 4, 2007

How do you get the screen off? I couldn't get mine pried off. Am I missing something?

I keep a log of my gas mileage and keep track of things like style of driving, weather, gas stations, etc. So if it helps, I should be notice it quickly.

trever1t · June 4, 2007

DO NOT REMOVE THE SCREEN!

The screen keeps airflow over the sensor in a measured manner. Removing the screen will either cause problems or do nothing. This is another one of those mods not worth your time. Believe it or not!

2500HD 8.1 · June 4, 2007

I put over a hundred miles on my Yukon yesterday without the screen. No problems and no lights on. You can feel a little better pickup.

Maybe I'll have a problem later, but it has to flow a lot more air without that restrictive screen. It does not come off easy. I started to cut it around the edge with a razor blade, but I ended up pushing it out from the other side. There does not seem to be a way to get it out without damaging it. Just don't damage the sensor.

I know the new Granatalli sensors have screens, but the early ones did not. I ran a Granatelli without a screen in my 01 Suburban for over 15K miles and never had a problem.

2500HD 8.1 · June 4, 2007

DO NOT REMOVE THE SCREEN!

The screen keeps airflow over the sensor in a measured manner. Removing the screen will either cause problems or do nothing. This is another one of those mods not worth your time. Believe it or not!

I wonder if anyone has removed the screen and had a problem. Or is this just one of those mods that you should not do because of potential to have a problem.

dietz4ibanez · June 4, 2007

As I said before aftermarket mass airflow sensors have no screen! And the screen is not going to direct any air differently with or without to the sensor. My truck has had no screen for 180,000 Miles and counting

trever1t · June 5, 2007

After market MAF?, lol, waste of money.

I know guys who have had problems and I know guys who have not. I have seen no dyno data showing any improvement over a stock screened MAF.

I make over 500hp without nitrous (on a 5.3L) and I have a stock, screened MAF. I know guys making way more than I and they have screens in there MAFs. Go ahead, descreen it if you want. Why not do a throttle body spacer while your at it, lol.

I'm being a smartass but really, if you want some extra power you have to pay for it.

Nice rig · June 5, 2007

Washing and waxing gives 5 horses...not to mention that flowmaster sticker on your back window.

2500HD 8.1 · June 7, 2007

I have no doubt that you can run a 500hp motor with a screened MAF, but I would bet your 500hp motor would be a 510hp with the screen removed from the MAF.

trever1t · June 8, 2007

I have no doubt that you can run a 500hp motor with a screened MAF, but I would bet your 500hp motor would be a 510hp with the screen removed from the MAF.

I don't want to get into a pissing match here really, I am only trying to help. Go ahead and descreen your MAF if you like. I make 550hp with mine and I'll keep the screen as is.

2500HD 8.1 · June 8, 2007

I have no doubt that you can run a 500hp motor with a screened MAF, but I would bet your 500hp motor would be a 510hp with the screen removed from the MAF.

I don't want to get into a pissing match here really, I am only trying to help. Go ahead and descreen your MAF if you like. I make 550hp with mine and I'll keep the screen as is.

No pissing match here. I may be wrong, but the screen seems to be a large obstruction. I'm sure it has its purpose, or GM would not have put it there. I'm not sure if the extra air always equals extra HP, and if so I know its minimal. But any MAF has to flow more air without the screen. Just my 2 cents.