Is solely a MAFT enough for tuning?

[illeagle_talon]

Pretty much just what the title says. I was just needed to know whether a my datalogger and a MAFT setup would be enough to properly tune. Or whether I need to go ahead and get an SAFC II as well. I had heard that with the translator you can tune in 5% increments and with an SAFC you can tune in 2-3% increments and that you won't notice a big difference. If there is anyone out there thats had success with just a MAFT setup I'd like to hear about it. Thanks in advance to anyone in advance.

 

[98spydert]

I've had success with just the MAFT and logger as many other people do.

Maft tunes in 5% (based on airflow ranges) and then 2% (based on RPM) fine tuning in WOT mode. SAFC tunes in 1% (based on rpm/tps)

Do a search and see how many people argue that the MAFT is not enough, but then there are many that have great success with it alone. A friend of mine here is selling his SAFC after upgrading and tuning with the MAFT. Makes me think the people who argue for the SAFC are simply incapable "tuners"

 

[HighPSI TSi Guy]

depends what is "enough"... in my opinion it is not... and i'm never one to over-do things.. you can make the car run half ass decent with just the MAFT, but if you're picky about tuning the SAFC will make it a lot easier to get where you want

 

[98spydert]

you can make the car run half ass decent with just the MAFT,

You can say "I could only make my car run half ass decent with the just the MAFT" but when I and many others have their cars running perfectly according to trims and have plenty of adjustibilty under WOT, your statement is hardly accurate. Again, some can't cut it with just the MAFT and need the pretty blue screen.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[HighPSI TSi Guy]

if you can't get fuel trims in line you should sell your car... all you have to do is be in the ballapark to get a trim tuned, since the ECU will adjust itself.. and we're talking hte biggest ballpark in the league here.. .. like i said.. it depends on your definition of "enough". the SAFC will always be capable of a more precise tune. whether or not you need it, is up to the user. the same could be said of hte SAFC. there's always a step further that COULD be gone, but the question is how far do you need to go

i personally run the SAFC and MAFT and would never try and tune with just the MAFT. it was too sloppy for my tastes, though if i really wanted to, i could have gotten away with just it. but the SAFC was much easier to get the fuel curve to where i wanted it. i'm not one to overdo things either.. i refused to give up my 1G MAF till it finally went bad one day, i was putting 400+ whp through it.. i then swapped to a 2G MAF and the only reason i went with the blasphemous MAFT is because i started to outflow the 2G MAF. i'm still hanging on to my SAFC till it becomes impossible to go further without more

 

[illeagle_talon]

Thanks you guys for your replies. In response, I don't know if another 300 bucks for 1% increments is right for me. Lets keep this discussion goin' eh?

 

[Talonman]

you can find an safc for $150 used. popping the hood and adjusting the mbc is fine by me but I would be annoyed having to do that everytime you need to tune for weather changes or race gas, imo. If youre not out flowing your maf the safc is cheaper and more precise even if you need to buy a used $75 2G maf.

Ive never tried the maft but going from 2% to 1% adjustments (-10, to -9, to -8 on my safc) goes from +10 knock@-10 to 4 or less knock@-9 to 0 knock @-8 at wot. 0 knock is good but slightly richer and less power than 4 knock or less, timing advance being nearly identical from log to log.