300GT

Posted on the general 05+ forum yesterday and got no response, so I'll try it again here. I'm checking out the Tuneable Induction CAI and on their website they indicate that their CAI has a plastic MAF sensor housing.They claim that is an advantage over billet/aluminum housings on other CAI's (Like C&L, JLT, BBK, etc) because as those metallic housings heat up in summer/prolonged driving, it will cause the MAF sensor readings to be less accurate (TI calls it a "hotspot"). Anyone have any thoughts/opinions as to whether there is any truth to this, or is it much ado about nothing?
Thanks.

22kart22

If it is, its marginal...Not much of a difference, or else ford would have put a stock plastic one on from the factory since it would be cheaper.

May I ask why tunable?

300GT

the stock airboxMAF housing is plastic. Looking at the TI because of the plastic MAF housing ( that's why I'm trying to figure out if this is a valid concern or marketing gimic), and the fact that you can get it custom painted (tube and heat shield), similar to what JLT is doing.

hammeron

+1 marginal.

as i currently understand the maf system:


the maf sensor probe is kept at a predetermined
temperature by the pcm. as air moves over
it (traveling from the filter to the intake) the
probe cools. the amount of current required
to maintain the probe temp, is the info the
pcm uses, to know how much air is entering
the intake.

so the probe enclosure could affect the reading,
but only a very verysmall amount

300GT

thanks hammeron. that's what I was getting at. I understand that "theoretically" the material the housing is made of could affect the reading, what I am interested in is in "real world driving situations" does it have an effect. Anyone else have an opinion/theory?

Dex

what these guys said. it wouldnt make much of a difference

GT Bob

I've spent alot of time datalogging, both witha metal MAF housing (A C&L and a Profab Intake from Modular Depot) and a plastic housing (the stock one) and the effect of the material on the intake temps is non-existant. Once the car gets to operating temp, the only place you will find ANY difference between the intake temps is sitting for a prolonged time idling, like in traffic. Then the metal intakes climb about 5 to 8 degrees higher than the plastic ones... and they retain that heat for about as long as it take you to run thru first gear and shift to second. Also, while I don't have any numbers or timing on it, the metal ones cool down faster after the heatsoak conditions, due to the added thermal conductivity that metal has over plastic.

I will say this tho, to any who question the "Cold" part of the cold air intake... data log the stock AIT's, vs. ones from a CAI. Most times I generally see between a 15 to 25 degree cooler AIT from the CAI's than from the stocker.

300GT

Thanks GT Bob. I knew sooner or later you'd chime in with some facts and figures. I appreciate your input.

GT Bob

Here to help!