Mass Airflow Sensor and Throttle body spacer
#1
01-09-2001 | 09:53 PM
Mass Airflow Sensor and Throttle body spacer
Mr. Mike T.,
I heard you were the man to ask so here's my question: I was toying with the idea of a Granatelli M.A.S. and a throttle body spacer from Airaid for my 5.4l. These units will run me about $400. Will they do me some good or am I wasting my bucks? The only engine mod I have so far is a K&N fipk.
Doc Banzai
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2000 Flareside XLT SC 4x4, Met. Is. Blue/ Med. Parch Int., Capt. Chairs, 5.4L, 3.55LS, K&N fipk, A.R.E. Hard tonneau, BedRug, American Auto Designs F-1 hood.
I heard you were the man to ask so here's my question: I was toying with the idea of a Granatelli M.A.S. and a throttle body spacer from Airaid for my 5.4l. These units will run me about $400. Will they do me some good or am I wasting my bucks? The only engine mod I have so far is a K&N fipk.
Doc Banzai
--------------------
2000 Flareside XLT SC 4x4, Met. Is. Blue/ Med. Parch Int., Capt. Chairs, 5.4L, 3.55LS, K&N fipk, A.R.E. Hard tonneau, BedRug, American Auto Designs F-1 hood.
#2
01-09-2001 | 10:29 PM
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,444
Likes: 0
From: DFW, Texas
Mike will probably post as well but everything I've heard is don't waste your money. The MAF will more than likely lean it out too much.
If you're considering spending $400, if you haven't already, save about $150 and chip it. Mike can talk to you about the advantages, and read the posts. There are both positive and negitive but you'll see mostly positive. It's the best bang for your buck. I did my 2000 Expy and wow, it's fun to drive. And in my case, I'm seeing about about 3 MPG better around town. Now keep in mind that's not usual and the Superchip isn't designed to specificly improve MPG. It is a performance chip.
------------------
2000 Eddie Bauer Expedition 4x2
Estate Green
5.4 ltr
3:55 LS rear
Tow Package
Superchip
Airaid FIPK
Rear Load Leveling
Moonroof
Century Child Seat!
Gibson S/S Swept Side Finally Arrived 1/9!!
If you're considering spending $400, if you haven't already, save about $150 and chip it. Mike can talk to you about the advantages, and read the posts. There are both positive and negitive but you'll see mostly positive. It's the best bang for your buck. I did my 2000 Expy and wow, it's fun to drive. And in my case, I'm seeing about about 3 MPG better around town. Now keep in mind that's not usual and the Superchip isn't designed to specificly improve MPG. It is a performance chip.
------------------
2000 Eddie Bauer Expedition 4x2
Estate Green
5.4 ltr
3:55 LS rear
Tow Package
Superchip
Airaid FIPK
Rear Load Leveling
Moonroof
Century Child Seat!
Gibson S/S Swept Side Finally Arrived 1/9!!
#3
01-11-2001 | 01:44 PM
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Doc,
Well, they're both good quality parts, I don't think there is any question about that.
With regards specifically to increasing the flow capacity of the mass airflow meter in the hopes of increasing power on a stock engine, we usually don't see appreciable power gains until the engine has been modified to the point that it can out-strip the flow capacity of the stock unit (supercharged, nitrous, etc.), and it's not "maxed out" from the factory, though it is a bit more restrictive from the sampling tube being in the airway.
What usually happens when you bolt on the aftermarket MAF is that it will feel a bit snappier from the lean out of the A/F ratio, as leaning it out does increase power, but that can be tricky, as you don't want to run around too lean of course. We're seeing more and more aftermarket MAF's doing this lean out to bring up power on basically stock engines with stock size fuel injectors. So they alter the calibration to lean it out and bring power up that way. But that needs to be compensated for, especially if you're going to use a performance chip in addition, and once you compensate for the lean out, there isn't an appreciable power gain, perhaps 2 hp @ 5000 rpm from the sampling tube not being right there in the airflow path. I know that Granatelli advertises a 17 horsepower gain on that part, but we've never seen that kind of gain unless the engine was supercharged, so I don't know how they got that kind of gain, unless it was on a modified motor perhaps.
It all depends on what you plan to do in the future, meaning, if you plan on doing more mods, or perhaps at some point going with larger fuel injectors, or a supercharger, etc., then sure, it's a great part to use.
I think the most honest answer I can give you is that if you're not contemplating using a performance chip, then you could try it, and see if you like the results. If you are contemplating using a performance chip, then you need to know that it will most likely require a custom program to compensate for the lean-out.
Me personally, I don't use aftermarket MAF's unless the engine has had mods like ported cylinder heads, or a supercharger, or nitrous oxide, etc., something that really increases the engine's ability to make use of the additional airflow capacity, so that you really do get appreciable power gains.
Every once in awhile you'll find an exception, like the 4.6 DOHC motor used in the 1996 & newer Mustang Cobras, they are a bit "strangled" from the factory in terms of the MAF, and with just a good MAF & raising the rev limiter, they can see some nice gains from a larger MAF.
Best of luck whatever you decide,
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer
Well, they're both good quality parts, I don't think there is any question about that.
With regards specifically to increasing the flow capacity of the mass airflow meter in the hopes of increasing power on a stock engine, we usually don't see appreciable power gains until the engine has been modified to the point that it can out-strip the flow capacity of the stock unit (supercharged, nitrous, etc.), and it's not "maxed out" from the factory, though it is a bit more restrictive from the sampling tube being in the airway.
What usually happens when you bolt on the aftermarket MAF is that it will feel a bit snappier from the lean out of the A/F ratio, as leaning it out does increase power, but that can be tricky, as you don't want to run around too lean of course. We're seeing more and more aftermarket MAF's doing this lean out to bring up power on basically stock engines with stock size fuel injectors. So they alter the calibration to lean it out and bring power up that way. But that needs to be compensated for, especially if you're going to use a performance chip in addition, and once you compensate for the lean out, there isn't an appreciable power gain, perhaps 2 hp @ 5000 rpm from the sampling tube not being right there in the airflow path. I know that Granatelli advertises a 17 horsepower gain on that part, but we've never seen that kind of gain unless the engine was supercharged, so I don't know how they got that kind of gain, unless it was on a modified motor perhaps.
It all depends on what you plan to do in the future, meaning, if you plan on doing more mods, or perhaps at some point going with larger fuel injectors, or a supercharger, etc., then sure, it's a great part to use.
I think the most honest answer I can give you is that if you're not contemplating using a performance chip, then you could try it, and see if you like the results. If you are contemplating using a performance chip, then you need to know that it will most likely require a custom program to compensate for the lean-out.
Me personally, I don't use aftermarket MAF's unless the engine has had mods like ported cylinder heads, or a supercharger, or nitrous oxide, etc., something that really increases the engine's ability to make use of the additional airflow capacity, so that you really do get appreciable power gains.
Every once in awhile you'll find an exception, like the 4.6 DOHC motor used in the 1996 & newer Mustang Cobras, they are a bit "strangled" from the factory in terms of the MAF, and with just a good MAF & raising the rev limiter, they can see some nice gains from a larger MAF.
Best of luck whatever you decide,
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer