Ethanol Sensor Owners Unite

[ecko04]

How are you achieving E30 (or E50 for CPI users)? I would like to hear from those who are actively calculating what they’re putting in the tank, which would mean you’ve tested the content in some fashion.

I typically run E30 (E85 and 93) mix. I tested the E85 at a local station, and it was E85. I used to use an app to calculate how much I needed based on the tank size (15.9 gallons) to achieve E30.

Little did I know the calculator was flawed, and I was running something closer to E35.

Now I use the Fuel-It Ethanol sensor. With the Fuel-It app, you enter the tank size, as a whole number (16), and it’s capable of spitting out how much ethanol and gasoline is needed to achieve a specific blend. However, it’s also incorrect.

At 1/8 of E30, I decided to fill up. I open the app and calculate how much it claims I need to maintain E30.

9.1 gallons of gas and 5.2 gallons of E85.

Now, I’ve been using the Fuel-It sensor since late July/early August, so I know the numbers above are incorrect. I’ve gotten pretty good at being able to calculate the difference too. So I add 4.1 gallons of E85, which measured as E85. That brought my ethanol content up to E61.

I then added 10.5 gallons of 93, which contains up to E10, and once things settled down, I achieved my target mix of E30.

Why the discrepancy? There are several factors. One is simply that the applications can’t possibly take into account just how much fuel is left in the tank. The fuel gauges themselves are analog. As fuel sloshes, the level changes, and there’s always some fuel left even when you try to run it all the way to empty.

I suppose this is my argument for getting the ethanol sensor. You’d know what’s going to the fuel pump, and it’ll appear in your logs.

 

[Tonkabob]

I run e20 all the time so just make the calculation on what i put in the tank not what is already in the tank. I rarely fill up completely because i never know when ill get the urge to go break some records.
I picked up 20 gals of E yesterday and the winter blend dropped to E80 from E85 during summer.
E80 makes a nice even 3:1 when i blend with pure gas.

 

[Whytiptoe]

I have been using the Ethanol sensor for only a few weeks, and luckily I have been able to use ecko04 as a resource for getting the correct content. I do agree with him if I followed the recommendations on the app I would have been much higher than the E30 target.

 

[StungBlueGT2]

How are you achieving E30 (or E50 for CPI users)? I would like to hear from those who are actively calculating what they’re putting in the tank, which would mean you’ve tested the content in some fashion.

I typically run E30 (E85 and 93) mix. I tested the E85 at a local station, and it was E85. I used to use an app to calculate how much I needed based on the tank size (15.9 gallons) to achieve E30.

Little did I know the calculator was flawed, and I was running something closer to E35.

Now I use the Fuel-It Ethanol sensor. With the Fuel-It app, you enter the tank size, as a whole number (16), and it’s capable of spitting out how much ethanol and gasoline is needed to achieve a specific blend. However, it’s also incorrect.

At 1/8 of E30, I decided to fill up. I open the app and calculate how much it claims I need to maintain E30.

9.1 gallons of gas and 5.2 gallons of E85.

Now, I’ve been using the Fuel-It sensor since late July/early August, so I know the numbers above are incorrect. I’ve gotten pretty good at being able to calculate the difference too. So I add 4.1 gallons of E85, which measured as E85. That brought my ethanol content up to E61.

I then added 10.5 gallons of 93, which contains up to E10, and once things settled down, I achieved my target mix of E30.

Why the discrepancy? There are several factors. One is simply that the applications can’t possibly take into account just how much fuel is left in the tank. The fuel gauges themselves are analog. As fuel sloshes, the level changes, and there’s always some fuel left even when you try to run it all the way to empty.

I suppose this is my argument for getting the ethanol sensor. You’d know what’s going to the fuel pump, and it’ll appear in your logs.

Interesting and know several people with the JB4 that have confirmed its e85 measurements are pretty accurate. Most just use 5g e85 and 10.9g of 93 and stay between 29-32 on the JB4 gauges.

But gotta know why you’re using the WMI/map8 with e30? If you have WMI you don’t also need to run e30. Terry and others confirmed it doesn’t really add any performance gains so curious why you’re doing both?

 

[ecko04]

Interesting and know several people with the JB4 that have confirmed its e85 measurements are pretty accurate. Most just use 5g e85 and 10.9g of 93 and stay between 29-32 on the JB4 gauges.

But gotta know why you’re using the WMI/map8 with e30? If you have WMI you don’t also need to run e30. Terry and others confirmed it doesn’t really add any performance gains so curious why you’re doing both?

Not sure if these people you’re referencing are using an ethanol sensor or whether they’ve measured the ethanol content of the E85 they’re using. If they’re using the virtual sensor, Terry has said that’s inaccurate and the only way of knowing precisely what’s going to the pump is to use a sensor.

E85: The ethanol mixture. Generally only accurate if also equipped with a Fuel-IT flex fuel sensor. There is a BETA version of a virtual flex fuel logic in the latest firmware but it’s not fully accurate and only there for data collection.

Having used that 5 gallon method, I know it to be the case that you’d get something higher 15-20% higher than E30 if using E85 that measures as E85, but shouldn’t get to E40 and therefore should still be fine. Of course if they are using something less than E85, then 5 gallons may be necessary to get to E30.

More octane, better detonation control, greater cooling effect, etc. Running E30 doesn’t cause me to go out of my way to refill. I haven’t been to a dyno recently, but from my conversations with Terry, there’s certainly power to be made by the combination.

As development, and testing continues, we will likely see auto tuning as a function of ethanol content, which would lead to performance gains.

 

[Intelliburn]

How are you achieving E30 (or E50 for CPI users)? I would like to hear from those who are actively calculating what they’re putting in the tank, which would mean you’ve tested the content in some fashion.

I typically run E30 (E85 and 93) mix. I tested the E85 at a local station, and it was E85. I used to use an app to calculate how much I needed based on the tank size (15.9 gallons) to achieve E30.

Little did I know the calculator was flawed, and I was running something closer to E35.

Now I use the Fuel-It Ethanol sensor. With the Fuel-It app, you enter the tank size, as a whole number (16), and it’s capable of spitting out how much ethanol and gasoline is needed to achieve a specific blend. However, it’s also incorrect.

At 1/8 of E30, I decided to fill up. I open the app and calculate how much it claims I need to maintain E30.

9.1 gallons of gas and 5.2 gallons of E85.

Now, I’ve been using the Fuel-It sensor since late July/early August, so I know the numbers above are incorrect. I’ve gotten pretty good at being able to calculate the difference too. So I add 4.1 gallons of E85, which measured as E85. That brought my ethanol content up to E61.

I then added 10.5 gallons of 93, which contains up to E10, and once things settled down, I achieved my target mix of E30.

Why the discrepancy? There are several factors. One is simply that the applications can’t possibly take into account just how much fuel is left in the tank. The fuel gauges themselves are analog. As fuel sloshes, the level changes, and there’s always some fuel left even when you try to run it all the way to empty.

I suppose this is my argument for getting the ethanol sensor. You’d know what’s going to the fuel pump, and it’ll appear in your logs.

I’m weighing whether to get the Fuel-it sensor to go with the JB4. Do you guys leave the sensor on when sending your car to get worked on at the dealer? (I.e. any warranty concerns and is it plug and play like the JB4).

 

[Whytiptoe]

I’m weighing whether to get the Fuel-it sensor to go with the JB4. Do you guys leave the sensor on when sending your car to get worked on at the dealer? (I.e. any warranty concerns and is it plug and play like the JB4).

It takes minutes to remove the device and there is no need to leave it on if your also taking the JB4 off to go to the dealership.

 

[Intelliburn]

It takes minutes to remove the device and there is no need to leave it on if your also taking the JB4 off to go to the dealership.

Ok. Thx. Yeah with Echo4 fuel harness the JB4 is super easy to remove. Just didn’t know much about the Fuel-It sensor and it’s plug n playness. I was looking at cost comparison on Sunoco 260GT and E85 and it didn’t take me long to figure out I should probably lean the E85 route most of the time. lol. Plus I got a station 15 miles closer with E85. Are you guys happy you got the Fuel-It sensor? Does it seem to couple well with the JB4 logs?

 

[Whytiptoe]

Ok. Thx. Yeah with Echo4 fuel harness the JB4 is super easy to remove. Just didn’t know much about the Fuel-It sensor and it’s plug n playness. I was looking at cost comparison on Sunoco 260GT and E85 and it didn’t take me long to figure out I should probably lean the E85 route most of the time. lol. Plus I got a station 15 miles closer with E85. Are you guys happy you got the Fuel-It sensor? Does it seem to couple well with the JB4 logs?

I really like it, it is assuring to know exactly what ethanol content you actually have vs a rough guess with doing the whole 5 gallons and the rest in pump. Another thing is it is nice to be able to fill the car up at a quarter tank and still get your E content correct rather than having to wait till its almost empty and then using the 5 gallon and it should be close method.

 

[Intelliburn]

I really like it, it is assuring to know exactly what ethanol content you actually have vs a rough guess with doing the whole 5 gallons and the rest in pump. Another thing is it is nice to be able to fill the car up at a quarter tank and still get your E content correct rather than having to wait till its almost empty and then using the 5 gallon and it should be close method.

Ok. Thx for the input. I probably will pull the trigger on it...

 

[turboAWD]

It takes minutes to remove the device and there is no need to leave it on if your also taking the JB4 off to go to the dealership.

Is there always some spillage when it's attached / removed?

 

[Whytiptoe]

Is there always some spillage when it's attached / removed?

Minor minor amount, a small rag is the most you would need to keep the area clean.

 

[Intelliburn]

Minor minor amount, a small rag is the most you would need to keep the area clean.

What maps have you done with the E30 mix?

 

[Intelliburn]

What maps have you done with the E30 mix?

Just ordered it so, Happy Thanksgiving to myself..

 

[Whytiptoe]

What maps have you done with the E30 mix?

Well I installed the Fuel-it at the same time as my WMI so I’ve mainly been on map 8. However I did run map 3 and 5 using the 5 gallon method with no issues.

 

[turboAWD]

Minor minor amount, a small rag is the most you would need to keep the area clean.

Thanks. What tools are needed?

 

[Whytiptoe]

Thanks. What tools are needed?

I user a door trim tool from my kit as it fits perfect to apply pressure to the unlock mechanism. Super easy to take on and off once you do it once.

 

[turboAWD]

I user a door trim tool from my kit as it fits perfect to apply pressure to the unlock mechanism. Super easy to take on and off once you do it once.

Thanks - that's all that's needed? Ok, maybe need to invest in one of these..

 

[Whytiptoe]

Thanks - that's all that's needed? Ok, maybe need to invest in one of these..

Yea I got a full kit off Amazon that had quite a few items including wire pin keys to depin wiring, which could come in handy for certain things in the future. I hate to cut wire when I can depin and then put in a connector in between to be able to go back 100% factory with NO evidence.

 

[Intelliburn]

How are you achieving E30 (or E50 for CPI users)? I would like to hear from those who are actively calculating what they’re putting in the tank, which would mean you’ve tested the content in some fashion.

I typically run E30 (E85 and 93) mix. I tested the E85 at a local station, and it was E85. I used to use an app to calculate how much I needed based on the tank size (15.9 gallons) to achieve E30.

Little did I know the calculator was flawed, and I was running something closer to E35.

Now I use the Fuel-It Ethanol sensor. With the Fuel-It app, you enter the tank size, as a whole number (16), and it’s capable of spitting out how much ethanol and gasoline is needed to achieve a specific blend. However, it’s also incorrect.

At 1/8 of E30, I decided to fill up. I open the app and calculate how much it claims I need to maintain E30.

9.1 gallons of gas and 5.2 gallons of E85.

Now, I’ve been using the Fuel-It sensor since late July/early August, so I know the numbers above are incorrect. I’ve gotten pretty good at being able to calculate the difference too. So I add 4.1 gallons of E85, which measured as E85. That brought my ethanol content up to E61.

I then added 10.5 gallons of 93, which contains up to E10, and once things settled down, I achieved my target mix of E30.

Why the discrepancy? There are several factors. One is simply that the applications can’t possibly take into account just how much fuel is left in the tank. The fuel gauges themselves are analog. As fuel sloshes, the level changes, and there’s always some fuel left even when you try to run it all the way to empty.

I suppose this is my argument for getting the ethanol sensor. You’d know what’s going to the fuel pump, and it’ll appear in your logs.

do you have issues with convergence with the JB4 and Fuel it app? It seems that the Fuel-it app is more accurate than what is shown on JB4. JB4 seems to always under represent the amount compared to the Fuel-it app. Both work off the same sensor so it is a bit of a head scratcher. I notice that the JB4 app shows more accurate numbers after you drive it 30 miles or so. But it takes a while. On my current tank I’m 20-30 miles in after refuel and Fuel-it app shows E31 and JB4 app is showing E24. What is your take on this anomaly?