Mass air?
#1
03-11-2000, 03:04 PM
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: California
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Mass air?
I'm a little behind on all my performance tech. talk. I was wondering what mass air is, what it does, how it affects performance, and how much it costs. Thanks in advance!
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1990 F-150 4x4 XLT Lariat, 2 tone grey, reg. cab, short bed, Delta diamond plated toolbox, 302 V8, 4.10 gears with rear limited slip, shorty headers, 40 Series Flowmaster exhaust with dual 3" chrome tips, K&N air filter, great Alpine cd player, modest amp, subs, and tweeters, custom 15x8 rims, and p.o.s. 31x10.5" a/t tires.
Future mods. include a 1.5" front suspension lift, 32x11.5" muds, a superchip, thinking about some intake, and a paint job!
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1990 F-150 4x4 XLT Lariat, 2 tone grey, reg. cab, short bed, Delta diamond plated toolbox, 302 V8, 4.10 gears with rear limited slip, shorty headers, 40 Series Flowmaster exhaust with dual 3" chrome tips, K&N air filter, great Alpine cd player, modest amp, subs, and tweeters, custom 15x8 rims, and p.o.s. 31x10.5" a/t tires.
Future mods. include a 1.5" front suspension lift, 32x11.5" muds, a superchip, thinking about some intake, and a paint job!
#2
03-11-2000, 03:54 PM
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Ford has used 2 different control systems on late model EFI engines (actually 3 if you count the Mazda based MECS.) The speed density system, which you have, and the mass air system. On stock engines both work equally well and the S/D may actually produce more power (it does in the Mustangs.) Once you begin modifications the S/D system gets into trouble and mass air is required.
This is because of how they work. S/D controllers use a variety of sensors to measure manifold pressure, air temperature and throttle position and from the known characteristics of the engine adjust the fuel and timing accordingly. If you change those characteristics through a new cam or new heads etc., the computer will miscalculate the adjustments. Mass air systems directly measure the air ingested by the engine and adjust their settings automatically to accomodate most modifications. A modifiad MAF controlled engine can still benefit from burning a custom chip, but it is not an absolute necessity for moderate mods.
For this reason Ford sells a mass-air conversion kit which retails for $600-$675.
It is a necessity for doing significant mods on S/D trucks
For a detailed explanation see:
Probst, Charles O. FORD FUEL INJECTION AND ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL, 1988-CURRENT.
Cambridge, Ma. Robert Bentley Publishers. 1993. ISBN 0-8376-0301-3.
Available from Ford SVO as P/N M-1832-Z1
[This message has been edited by StrangeRanger (edited 03-12-2000).]
This is because of how they work. S/D controllers use a variety of sensors to measure manifold pressure, air temperature and throttle position and from the known characteristics of the engine adjust the fuel and timing accordingly. If you change those characteristics through a new cam or new heads etc., the computer will miscalculate the adjustments. Mass air systems directly measure the air ingested by the engine and adjust their settings automatically to accomodate most modifications. A modifiad MAF controlled engine can still benefit from burning a custom chip, but it is not an absolute necessity for moderate mods.
For this reason Ford sells a mass-air conversion kit which retails for $600-$675.
It is a necessity for doing significant mods on S/D trucks
For a detailed explanation see:
Probst, Charles O. FORD FUEL INJECTION AND ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL, 1988-CURRENT.
Cambridge, Ma. Robert Bentley Publishers. 1993. ISBN 0-8376-0301-3.
Available from Ford SVO as P/N M-1832-Z1
[This message has been edited by StrangeRanger (edited 03-12-2000).]
