Awesome vid, thanks.

 

Logically, water contamination (as long as there is a notable amount, as David pointed out) would cause the sensor to read an increase in E content, actually an increase in fluid-that-is-not-gasoline content.

 

^Correct, that's sorta the unfortunate thing about the way the sensor determines ethanol content.

 

almost seems like false advertising. It should be called a gasoline content analyzer.

 

Well done sir. Mind blown.

As i understand it, the sensor measures resonant frequency of the RC circuit created by the liquid. Gasoline being a higher capacitance fluid, ethanol being higher conductivity and lower capacitance, water being conductive and should effectively make it look like a higher ethanol content.

Makes sense on the 100% water... But the E90... Mind blown.

Wait... What happens with distilled water? As distilled water is a dielectric and it's the minerals in your tap water that actually make it conductive...

FWIW, I think all flex fuel vehicles use a wideband and use it to trim the afr on top of the content sensor correction. They can correct for water contamination this way.

 

I was going to ask the same. Curious what the sensor would read with DI, Distilled, reagent grade water.

Interesting

 

Subscribed as I have the same sensor and it reads different then my test tube. Guessing the test tube is more accurate

 

This I needed to know. Great info as I was going to buy the sensor.... I think I'm just going to continue to use the test tube lol
Could it be that the water in your tank that you produced was actually pure water, and the mineral content in the tap water was throwing it off? Idk just spit ballin here

 

Thanks for doing that testing David. I learned something new.

 

werd. who new?

 

Buschur uploaded the 2nd part of his test on his Youtube account... meanmitsu

 

Nice testing. I haven't done any research on any possible differences in ethanol sensors between GM and Zeitronix, so bare with me, but do sensors found in GM vehicles analyze things differently with the same, or multiple sensors?

Very informative for everyone in the tuner/performance community thanks again Dave!.

 

thanks for the vid. if the sensor is based on conductivity, it makes sense that tap water, which is high conductivity, appears as 100% eth. would be interesting to see DI water which is much lower conductivity.

curious as to why you are suspecting water contamination. i guess its not an unrealistic possibility for e85 from a pump, but since water+eth is a bad combo for a motor, i like to think it doesn't happen.

 

I apologize for not making this 100% clear, but yes, the GM or whatever variant sensor thinks of water as ethanol.

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/10591085-post63.html

Great video!

I don't know why your "premium" ethanol fooled the sensor! I still have my logs and Everclear does in fact peg the sensor.

 

EDIT: I really don't wanna bust out my o-scope, but I will of you guys need closure. This could be a high-limit on ZT-Gauge as the analog circuit I devised doesn't care about limits.

Sorry for double post.