Putting IAT in the MAF

[95strokerPSU]

Just wondering if it would mess up my LMAF if I drill a hole in it for the IAT. I decided on where I'm going to mount the meter and filter....

Inside the fender...

If it's alright to put it in the MAF, I won't have to run the IAT wiring into the engine compartment.

Thoughts?

 

[HGFireHazard]

My gut tells me not to do it, but if you can drill into the housing without it cracking or such I don't necessarily see a problem either.

I'm not sure how the housing is built, where the sample tube ends, if there are layers etc, so drilling might ruin the housing, I honestly don't know.

But like I said, I wouldn't, maybe someone knows more about the housing designs?

 

[Yobi1Kanobi]

i wouldnt do it

 

[GTA_V6_Mustang]

Wow your engine bay....

 

[mo_dingo]

The only problem is

#1 the housing is not very thick, so tapping the threads will not be easy. You will be lucky to get maybe one or 2 threads.

#2 the maf works by using a simple ratio. the air that passes through the sample tube is x percent of the entire housing. With the sensor installed, it will change the entire housing's flow. Essentially, making the maf think it's getting more air than it is, and thusly a rich condition will occur.

#3 Since the computer doesn't calculate a/f at WOT and/or open loop, it will be affected. How much? I don't have a clue.

#4 You would really have to make a standoff of sorts, since the sensor has 1/2" of threads and most of the body of the threads would be inside the maf, creating a lot more turbulence.

All is possible when you set your mind to it. If you were serious about it, you need to make a standoff and tap threads onto it, and glue it to the maf; Only the "V" and the element need be in the airflow path. They make glue specifically for plastic, one that actually eats away at the plastic very slightly, making a very strong bond.

After it's installed, you need to get hooked up to a wideband and test to see how much it has affected your a/f. I can only guess, but if you put the sensor at the back of the maf, behind the sample tube but across from it, I would guess it would have the least effect there. Then the wake left over from the sensor would not affect the sample tube (so I think anyway).

Another idea would be to extend the pipe that the filter attaches to, so you have some area of pipe (non-visible) that you can attach the sensor to instead. I think that idea is a little better.
Scott

 

[Yobi1Kanobi]

What the F^ does that stupid little sensor do and how do you know its even working.?

 

[69clark]

From my research on MAFs it wouldn't be a very good idea. They are very sensitive to intake bends and such, so I won't want to run a risk of the IAT sensor affecting the MAF in any way. As you probably know the MAF is one of the most important sensors in the way the car runs and performs, althought they all work together, the MAF is one sensor that you don't want distorted readings. I wouldn't do it.

 

[final5-0]

I wouldn't do it!

Just put it in the pipe where it belongs so it does its job correctly.

Grady

 

[95strokerPSU]

Another idea would be to extend the pipe that the filter attaches to, so you have some area of pipe (non-visible) that you can attach the sensor to instead. I think that idea is a little better.
Scott

I wish I had more room in the fender, but if you look at the second picture, you'll see the filter is right up against the fender.

I guess I'll just drill into the pipe and try to keep it as non-visible as possible.

Thanks guys.

 

[VibrantRedGT]

Put it under the power pipe you made. Nobody will see it looking at the motor.

 

[mo_dingo]

Put it under the power pipe you made. Nobody will see it looking at the motor.

Yeah I thought of that, drilling the hole on the bottom, and using a lot of heat shrink and tape, running the wires under the power pipe into the fender.

 

[HGFireHazard]

What the F^ does that stupid little sensor do and how do you know its even working.?

IIRC, based on the reading the computer gets from the sensor timing is adjusted. When I installed my S/C I was told by my tuner that the sensor HAD to be in the discharge tube, and not in the intake before. This is because air coming into the engine before hitting the compressor is roughly air temperature, but after it goes through the S/C it is much hotter, and that's the temperature the computer needs to know, because that's what is going into your engine.

My tuner showed me all of this on his fancy schmancy program stuff, it was a difference in I think of over 50 degrees, I want to say more like 75, but I can't remember for sure.

 

[fiveohh94gt]

don't the newer style MAF's such as the LMAF you have, have the IAT built into them? thats why theres 6 wires on the newer ones and only 4 on our stock ones. couldnt that be wired in as long as you have a custom chip/tweecer?? (or am i completly comfused?)

 

[urban96]

don't the newer style MAF's such as the LMAF you have, have the IAT built into them? thats why theres 6 wires on the newer ones and only 4 on our stock ones. couldnt that be wired in as long as you have a custom chip/tweecer?? (or am i completly comfused?)

yup the newer sensors have IAT built in. i dont know anything about making them functional on our cars tho

 

[HISSIN50]

Someone could ohm the LMAF's integral IAT sensor out (it's terminals are on each end of the connector, IIRC. I'm not real sure on that though) and see how the calibration is compared to the stocker, I suppose. I really doubt it's calibrated for our cars though.
Don, that burning in your ears is us wondering about this.

One caveat with ohming out any stang IAT is that the ambient temps need to be decent (readings get inaccurate when it's real cold. That might be an issue this time of year).

Good luck.

 

[95strokerPSU]

don't the newer style MAF's such as the LMAF you have, have the IAT built into them? thats why theres 6 wires on the newer ones and only 4 on our stock ones. couldnt that be wired in as long as you have a custom chip/tweecer?? (or am i completly comfused?)

I was wondering about that too.

 

[ProKiller]

when i first got this car the guy before me had the IAT mounted in the fender, not in the intake tubing and it ran fine. Couldn't you just mount it in the fender and not in the pipe because the air in the fender is the same temperature going into the pipe. I can't see a huge change in temp between two inches in a pipe as apposed to in the space in the fender

 

[95strokerPSU]

when i first got this car the guy before me had the IAT mounted in the fender, not in the intake tubing and it ran fine. Couldn't you just mount it in the fender and not in the pipe because the air in the fender is the same temperature going into the pipe. I can't see a huge change in temp between two inches in a pipe as apposed to in the space in the fender

I was thinking that also, but does air need to be rushing past it to get an accurate reading?

 

[HISSIN50]

I was thinking that also, but does air need to be rushing past it to get an accurate reading?

This is correct.

Also, the air can get heat soaked while in the CAI for the short time it's there. The temp delta from inside the CAI vs outside can be huge (at least for me - I've done some high desert testing while it was 115*F outside).

Just MHO.

 

[mo_dingo]

Another thing to remember is that they put the IAT much closer to the TB in the foxes for a reason. Our computer obviously compensates in it's programming with the new location in the intake tube 1 1/2 feet away from the TB.
Scott