Descreen the MAF

syntrix · 12-04-2003, 09:32 PM

Ok, I got bored tonight. This has helped on other cars, but who knows with the RX8.

I'm not saying much about the mod yet. Read and discuss:

http://rx8.swankmonkey.com/airbox/

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Fab 8 · 12-04-2003, 11:21 PM

How does the car feel after the mod? More eager?

But...a basic question from a non-tech guy first - Can someone explain why there is a need for the screens? After all, the air is already filtered at that stage.

SpreeGuy · 12-04-2003, 11:30 PM

it may sound silly, but it's to straighten the airflow before it reaches the MAF sensor. Gets a better reading that way.

syntrix · 12-04-2003, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SpreeGuy
it may sound silly, but it's to straighten the airflow before it reaches the MAF sensor. Gets a better reading that way.

Actually, that is correct in most cases, but our maf is more like a fine mesh, so it would possibly disrupt airflow or create some turbulence over the maf wire.

I wonder what it looks like in the FD?

So far, so good, but I'm going to give it a few days for the ecu to adapt, then maybe take the second one out.

bureau13 · 12-05-2003, 12:37 AM

No MAF in the FD! Speed density system....

jds

panda · 12-05-2003, 03:29 PM

i dont now if this would affect anything, but is it louder than before, or just the same?

andrew

syntrix · 12-05-2003, 06:55 PM

Sounds about the same. Hard to tell with the windows up.

Wildcard · 12-09-2003, 10:47 PM

OK, I just tried this mod for myself. I removed both mesh screens - not just the front one. I've just returned from a 30 minute test flight. How did it go?

At this stage, I have to say that I didn't really notice much difference. The engine runs fine and power feels the same. It's certainly no worse than before. Is it any faster though? Maybe. There might be an extra hp or two, but my butt dyno didn't sense any great leap in performance.

Noise from the intake is the same - no quieter no louder. I'm going to leave the screens out for at least a few days anyway just to see if the ECU learns any new tricks.

I pretty much followed the instructions, with the exception that I didn't do an ECU or DSC reset afterwards. I figure it's a learning ECU anyway, so let it learn!

rotarygod · 12-09-2003, 11:22 PM

Theoretically it should do something. More airflow is more airflow. It's just that damn messed up factory ecu that will effect whether it works better or not. I'm impressed to see the nice aero flare inside the airbox to help with turbulence. That's a first for manufacturers.

syntrix · 12-10-2003, 12:35 AM

DGW, glad you tried it too!

Butt dyno says maybe a tad more up high, but although the ecu is "learning" it can take a while if your long term fuel trim is set for aggressive (richer) driving.

I think the best bet would be to drive like a grandma for the first 600 miles, then test it.... but who can wait 600 miles to go WOT in this car

Rotarygod, a lot of other manufacturers are using an intake with a velocity stack at the air box now. Is this a first for Mazda?

rotarygod · 12-10-2003, 12:48 AM

It's the first that I've seen, at least on a rotary powered Mazda.

syntrix · 12-10-2003, 12:53 AM

Cool! It is very interesting that it's not a perfect circle though:

rotarygod · 12-10-2003, 12:57 AM

I wondered that myself since it does make a difference. Oh well, something is better than nothing. You know, I wonder if I can use a Rockford aeroport flare instead of that? It is the same shape but a full circle. So what that it is designed for speaker boxes. Airflow is airflow.

syntrix · 12-10-2003, 01:06 AM

The aero port flange comes out almost flush (as in the box surface).

This one and others that I have seen tend to wrap around over themselves a little bit.

I'd say close enough, but the aeroport is designed to remove sounds that come from a standard port in a speaker box... and work with airflow going in AND out.

Once again.... close enough

Wildcard · 12-10-2003, 01:18 AM

I'm back again. I've been driving around all afternoon, pretty hard too with plenty of WOT. After a good 2-3 hours of driving (about 75km) I've noticed one more thing - no soot.

Before I did the mod I washed my car and cleaned the exhaust pipes. Normally I find that the soot starts to build up again almost straight away. But now, after two hours of aggressive driving, there isn't so much as a speck of soot on the pipes. Nothing! It looks like I cleaned them 2 minutes ago.

Normally 2 hours of WOT would have them covered in black sh*t, but not this time. They are clean as a whistle.