Just curious since I removed mine years ago. Any ill-effects? I'm not sure if it's there just for protection or also serves to create added swirl to ingested air?

 

There are some people doing it but I wouln't recommend it.

 

You've got it backwards...

It's there to straighten the airflow so the MAF can get a more accurate reading.

 

Oops...maybe I should straighten it out an slip it back on

 

Ive had mine off for a few k and no ill effects.

 

The reason I did it was that there was some debate as to it's use. Some guys were saying that it boosted top end when removed in conjunction with an intake.

 

That was one of the first things I took off when I had my car probably have done 40K since then and no problems either way...no noticable power difference at all. And if so it is so minute that it doesn't even matter.

-John