As appears to be common knowledge on this website, a CAI or intake other than stock can throw off the calibration of the MAF causing the engine to run lean, rich, or just not as smoothly. Could someone who is familiar with the stock EM explain to me what relation the MAF sensor and O2 sensor have with each other and making the car run lean or rich. As I understand the O2 sensor measures O2 in the exhaust to see if is rich or lean and modifies the incoming fuel accordingly.
I just fixed a salvage wrx, with front end damage. Because the stock plastic snorkel/silencer/cold air scoop where smashed I have just been running the top half of the airbox (with filter), and now the entire airbox (top and bottom together) until I can get the other parts. I should'nt be to far off the calibration of the MAF, right? Would this setup cause me to run lean? What are the dangers of running lean? Is it ok to run this setup and not get the other stock intake parts?
Any advice is appreciated.