Reading ethanol sensor while mixing at the pump isn't as easy as it seems

brad65ford · 09-13-2022, 06:40 PM

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Most likely this has been talked about but was unbeknownst to me. Seems you need to be under load for the ethanol sensor (fuel-it) location to show up the new mix. I was adding E85 with the car running and checking the gauge but it wasn't changing. Im like wft is it broken?

Is that because there is a different fuel pump line for different load? I'm a little new to mixing fuel normally I go E85 can call it a day but aiming for a specific range is challenging with the unknown amount left in the tank. Had to guess how much E85 to fill then drive down the road under load to get a new reading. Did this 3 times to get an E50 mix correct. People at the gas station must thought I had a screw loose

rmeitz167 · 09-13-2022, 09:29 PM

No its because it takes a lot longer than you think for the gas to make its way to the sensor. there are several calculators that get you close that are available

brad65ford · 09-14-2022, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmeitz167

No its because it takes a lot longer than you think for the gas to make its way to the sensor. there are several calculators that get you close that are available

Nah that isn't the case. I waited for ever, its not till you put the car under a load does it move flow by that sensor.

rmeitz167 · 09-14-2022, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad65ford

Nah that isn't the case. I waited for ever, its not till you put the car under a load does it move flow by that sensor.

Yup, its not like i have been running ethanol for 5k miles or anything. There is a single fuel line. Under load your car uses more fuel faster so you see results at the sensor faster. Like i said, its a fuel demand/flow difference at idle vs under load.

G MONEY · 09-14-2022, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad65ford

Most likely this has been talked about but was unbeknownst to me. Seems you need to be under load for the ethanol sensor (fuel-it) location to show up the new mix. I was adding E85 with the car running and checking the gauge but it wasn't changing. Im like wft is it broken?

Is that because there is a different fuel pump line for different load? I'm a little new to mixing fuel normally I go E85 can call it a day but aiming for a specific range is challenging with the unknown amount left in the tank. Had to guess how much E85 to fill then drive down the road under load to get a new reading. Did this 3 times to get an E50 mix correct. People at the gas station must thought I had a screw loose

Spend the money and unlock the ECU and have a true Flex fuel vehicle. Only way to roll!! Fuck all that mixing nonsense 😉🤣

djpapeleta · 09-14-2022, 08:49 AM

It takes a while for Fuel it to show the ethanol content. After I pump I have to drive for 5-10 minutes before I see the readings change. My only issue with the Fuel it sensor now is I thought I would be able to tell what the ethanol content is at the e85 gas station without testing it. I had to test it 2 days ago because I was getting a lower reading with Fuel it and wanted to make sure I was putting enough E.

rmeitz167 · 09-14-2022, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G MONEY

Spend the money and unlock the ECU and have a true Flex fuel vehicle. Only way to roll!! Fuck all that mixing nonsense 😉🤣

That would require also cloning and going back to the old ecu. Honestly i dont even see them doing this anymore. There is no full flex available on the new ecus.

Indo Rider · 09-14-2022, 08:51 AM

Math. Try it.

GixY2K · 09-14-2022, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indo Rider

Math. Try it.

E85 varies.

G MONEY · 09-14-2022, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmeitz167

Quote:

Originally Posted by G MONEY

Spend the money and unlock the ECU and have a true Flex fuel vehicle. Only way to roll!! Fuck all that mixing nonsense 😉🤣

That would require also cloning and going back to the old ecu. Honestly i dont even see them doing this anymore. There is no full flex available on the new ecus.

So Visconti is doing that anymore?

mike@x-ph.com · 09-14-2022, 11:00 AM

I have the fuel-it kit, and the mix starts changing as soon as I start driving after an E85 fill up

takes about 10 minutes before settling on the final number

yousefnjr · 09-14-2022, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmeitz167

Yup, its not like i have been running ethanol for 5k miles or anything. There is a single fuel line. Under load your car uses more fuel faster so you see results at the sensor faster. Like i said, its a fuel demand/flow difference at idle vs under load.

+1, takes time for the mix to settle in your tank and make it to the fuel line. Just drive around for a while, only takes a few minutes.

brad65ford · 09-14-2022, 11:20 AM

Thanks guys, I thought I was going nuts since it took a while to see it change on the Fuel-It app.

BTW regarding true flex fuel, didn't now it was available yet? Please provide a link. Flex fuel was a nice option recently release by DS1 software though that is for Audi's. Was nice having it on the RS3, could fill up anywhere anytime and not have to change maps etc...

G MONEY · 09-14-2022, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brad65ford

Thanks guys, I thought I was going nuts since it took a while to see it change on the Fuel-It app.

BTW regarding true flex fuel, didn't now it was available yet? Please provide a link. Flex fuel was a nice option recently release by DS1 software though that is for Audi's. Was nice having it on the RS3, could fill up anywhere anytime and not have to change maps etc...

Look up Visconti bud. He was doing it

Indo Rider · 09-14-2022, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GixY2K

E85 varies.

Sure, so you can take a sample from the gas station, test the E content, then do math.

Or easier, look up the expected E content based on the latitude where you live, and time of year to get a good idea of what the E content SHOULD be, then do math.

Either way will get you pretty darn close. Then your can adjust based on what the E sensor tells you.

curtdragon · 11-22-2022, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GixY2K

E85 varies.

He's right though.

You know how much is in your tank, the content and the tank size.
You then test teh 93 and the E85 at the pump. Make calculations and pump the exact amounts of 93 and E85 needed and go. Or you can guesstimate

timmyg789 · 11-22-2022, 05:49 PM

I thought the guys with higher HP are still running maps not just flex fuel.....

rmeitz167 · 11-23-2022, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmyg789

I thought the guys with higher HP are still running maps not just flex fuel.....

Very very few people are running flex with the older ecu. Its not cost effective, nor would the choice of tuners for ecutek be ideal.

markoz28 · 11-23-2022, 10:48 AM

The closest station for E85 is 30min from me. They have been consistently over E70. Sometimes I test it at E79-80. I tend to play it safe and do the math for E70 mixed with 93 (E10). Just to get an average of E20. Roughly 1 gallon of E to 5 gallons of 93.

before I punch it, I drive about 10 miles allowing the fuel to mix.

09-13-2022, 06:40 PM	#1
brad65ford Captain 255 Rep 764 Posts Drives: 2022 M3 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: fl iTrader: (0)	Reading ethanol sensor while mixing at the pump isn't as easy as it seems Featured on BIMMERPOST.com Most likely this has been talked about but was unbeknownst to me. Seems you need to be under load for the ethanol sensor (fuel-it) location to show up the new mix. I was adding E85 with the car running and checking the gauge but it wasn't changing. Im like wft is it broken? Is that because there is a different fuel pump line for different load? I'm a little new to mixing fuel normally I go E85 can call it a day but aiming for a specific range is challenging with the unknown amount left in the tank. Had to guess how much E85 to fill then drive down the road under load to get a new reading. Did this 3 times to get an E50 mix correct. People at the gas station must thought I had a screw loose
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09-13-2022, 09:29 PM	#2
rmeitz167 bmw tech 473 Rep 365 Posts Drives: g80 m3 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA iTrader: (0)	No its because it takes a lot longer than you think for the gas to make its way to the sensor. there are several calculators that get you close that are available __________________ Lehigh Valley Motors 193 Front Street Hellertown, PA 18055 484.214.6464 Mainentance-Repair-Performance
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09-14-2022, 08:49 AM	#6
djpapeleta First Lieutenant 258 Rep 373 Posts Drives: G83 Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Montclair, VA iTrader: (0)	It takes a while for Fuel it to show the ethanol content. After I pump I have to drive for 5-10 minutes before I see the readings change. My only issue with the Fuel it sensor now is I thought I would be able to tell what the ethanol content is at the e85 gas station without testing it. I had to test it 2 days ago because I was getting a lower reading with Fuel it and wanted to make sure I was putting enough E.
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09-14-2022, 08:51 AM	#8
Indo Rider Captain 542 Rep 729 Posts Drives: 135 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Math. Try it.
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09-14-2022, 11:00 AM	#11
mike@x-ph.com BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 24095 Rep 190,633 Posts Drives: 07-335/12-328/18-M4/21-M4CP Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (23)	I have the fuel-it kit, and the mix starts changing as soon as I start driving after an E85 fill up takes about 10 minutes before settling on the final number __________________ Check out our current sale by clicking on this link! https://x-ph.com/sale/ Phone number 702-494-9435
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09-14-2022, 11:20 AM	#13
brad65ford Captain 255 Rep 764 Posts Drives: 2022 M3 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: fl iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys, I thought I was going nuts since it took a while to see it change on the Fuel-It app. BTW regarding true flex fuel, didn't now it was available yet? Please provide a link. Flex fuel was a nice option recently release by DS1 software though that is for Audi's. Was nice having it on the RS3, could fill up anywhere anytime and not have to change maps etc...
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11-22-2022, 05:49 PM	#17
timmyg789 Enlisted Member 23 Rep 42 Posts Drives: bmw m3 Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	I thought the guys with higher HP are still running maps not just flex fuel.....
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11-23-2022, 10:48 AM	#19
markoz28 First Lieutenant 215 Rep 359 Posts Drives: BMW 2017 340i, BMW 2020 M340i, Join Date: May 2021 Location: South TX iTrader: (1)	The closest station for E85 is 30min from me. They have been consistently over E70. Sometimes I test it at E79-80. I tend to play it safe and do the math for E70 mixed with 93 (E10). Just to get an average of E20. Roughly 1 gallon of E to 5 gallons of 93. before I punch it, I drive about 10 miles allowing the fuel to mix.
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