Blow through MAF

[SHOSIG]

If all this is true...how does a company like C&L stay in business? They have numerous applications for different Ford vehicles. If their meters did not work, I'm sure they would not be in business.

 

[Axianator]

Companies selling aftermarket MAF sensors use the "calibrated for x injectors" fallacy in order to sell their products to the uneducated masses, as it's a relatively easy way to match off-the-shelf parts with a given vehicle for the ignorant consumer.

MAF sensors simply provide data to the PCM. It's up to the PCM logic to determine what to do with that data.

In the real world, any MAF other than stock should be calibrated in the PCM tuning in order to obtain the best results and also to avoid problems. To just install a MAF and assume that because it's allegedly "calibrated" for x injectors that it will work perfectly is foolish.

Well put, sir.

If all this is true...how does a company like C&L stay in business? They have numerous applications for different Ford vehicles. If their meters did not work, I'm sure they would not be in business.

The primary difference between C&L and most of the other aftermarket MAF manufacturers is that C&L does not include a calibrated sensor package with their MAFs, relying instead upon your factory sensor package and a number of various-sized sample tubes to alter load metering and fuel delivery. Modifying voltage readings in this way is yet another tuning "hack" that should most certainly be avoided at all costs. If someone's airflow needs truly dictate the need for a MAF sensor upgrade, then that person should size and price a sensor that comes with it's own electronics and will complement that person's particular setup, not tune "around" the computer.

 

[Axianator]

Companies selling aftermarket MAF sensors use the "calibrated for x injectors" fallacy in order to sell their products to the uneducated masses, as it's a relatively easy way to match off-the-shelf parts with a given vehicle for the ignorant consumer.

MAF sensors simply provide data to the PCM. It's up to the PCM logic to determine what to do with that data.

In the real world, any MAF other than stock should be calibrated in the PCM tuning in order to obtain the best results and also to avoid problems. To just install a MAF and assume that because it's allegedly "calibrated" for x injectors that it will work perfectly is foolish.

Well put, sir.

If all this is true...how does a company like C&L stay in business? They have numerous applications for different Ford vehicles. If their meters did not work, I'm sure they would not be in business.

The primary difference between C&L and most of the other aftermarket MAF manufacturers is that C&L does not include a calibrated sensor package with their MAFs, relying instead upon your factory sensor package and a number of various-sized sample tubes to alter load metering and fuel delivery. Modifying voltage readings in this way is yet another tuning "hack" that should most certainly be avoided at all costs. If someone's airflow needs truly dictate the need for a MAF sensor upgrade, then that person should size and price a sensor that comes with it's own electronics and will complement that person's particular setup - not tune "around" the computer.

 

[SHOSIG]

Modifying voltage readings in this way is yet another tuning "hack" that should most certainly be avoided at all costs.

If it's such a "hack", why do they sell soo many units and it includes boosted applications such as the '03 and up Cobra and the F150 Lightnings?

 

[Axianator]

If it's such a "hack", why do they sell soo many units and it includes boosted applications such as the '03 and up Cobra and the F150 Lightnings?

Most people do the best they can with that they know. For some, ignorance truly is bliss.

Of course, just because C&L can or does sell a lot of these meters doesn't mean that they should ...

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

If it's such a "hack", why do they sell soo many units and it includes boosted applications such as the '03 and up Cobra and the F150 Lightnings?

And because most builders settle for "good enough"

 

[Mr Anonymous]

If it's such a "hack", why do they sell soo many units and it includes boosted applications such as the '03 and up Cobra and the F150 Lightnings?

Refer to my earlier uneducated masses reference. I'd be willing to wager that better than 90% of the people who purchase such products have never had their car on a dyno. If they don't notice any adverse effects of the products, they just drive around happy, albeit with lighter wallets.

When you have the chance, peruse some of the tuning related forums around the web, and you'll see a whole lot of people who have issues after installing C&L products trying to get their engine to run properly. Creating custom tuning files for various C&L products could become a cottage industry all by itself.

While aftermarket MAFS such as those from Granatelli or Pro-M have their electronics customized by application and thus can be slightly more reliable out-of-the-box without additional tuning, you'll find that a calibration worksheet for those meters doesn't simply ask for what motor and injectors they will be used with. That's the crux of the point we're trying to make -- simply selecting a MAF by make/model and injector size is not sufficient to maximize the desired benefits.

Because the C&L meters are designed to use factory electronics, they essentially imitate ("fake", "fool", whatever term one might use) factory readings to the PCM. But, I have never been convinced that simply slapping a factory electronics pack on a larger meter can provide the improved resolution and accuracy that a complete MAF unit with appropriate PCM firmware modifications can.

 

[UnderPSI]

If you need further proof of the above, then I would encourage you to look up the application listing for the F1ZF MAF that was used on our '89-'95 V6 SHOs. You will see that this same MAF sensor (utilizing the same electronics package and programmed transfer function) was used in several other factory applications where the engine size and/or number of injectors did not match our own.

I know this, factories program the PCM. For example, the 93 Cobra Mustang uses 24lb injectors with the standard 5.0 MAF, computer is tuned differently. However I think for a moderate upgrade buying an aftermarket MAF is not all that bad, and usually much cheaper than buying software (Tweccer, EEC tuner, etc.) I agree that for best results it should be tuned, but money is an issue in most cases.

And C&L makes complete trash IMO, have never had a good experience with them.