Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

[Matt]

Anyone who has purchased a flex fuel sensor after 15 June please check the serial number (5 of these were sold from myself)

SN: 1122600270 this part number is the same for all sensors in the batch I received from my usual supplier in the states. However all parts carry the same serial number and after some testing found they do not work

Results from tests:
Stock serial Air E85 E0

Good 1207100475 0 80 0

Bad Batch

1 1122600270 0 0 0
2 1122600270 23 100 30
3 1122600270 21 56 30
4 1122600270 21 23 31
5 1122600270 22 21 31
6 1122600270 24 100 31
7 1122600270 21 100 31

[Jono]

any word on when you'll have these back in stock mate?

[Matt]

I need to find another supplier. Haven't given that part much effort yet! I'll have a look around today

[Jono]

No worries, thanks for the reply. Let us all know when we can buy from you again

[djstatic]

Something with AN6 fittings would be perfect

[RomChip200]

These are working fine.

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/13507129-Fuel-F ... SwNOVa8P~2

[Matt]

With the batch which I got in (and then returned), some worked and some did not. Quality control is poor.

Inspection of internals showed some terminals were not soldered to the main board

Further inspection by checking known ethanol levels showed inconsistency between sensors with testing batches of 10. It depends how many sensors you order from a supplier and your means of testing, before claiming they are 'fine'

When I order in sensors and onsell them to customers, it just takes one bad sensor to report lean mixtures and damage an engine, so ensuring legit sensors as a supplier is important for me

[RomChip200]

Good to know.

I just wanted to highlight the ratio sensor size / price.
For E85, you cannot rely 100% on the sensor only, they may fail as any automotive sensor. Water condensation may jeopardize the readings.
It just means as any automotive sensor, some counter measures are required and some diagnostic procedures too.

In France, Ethanol content varies from 64% in winter to 74% in summer. So E85 is never 80 or 85% of ethanol

[Matt]

We have variances in ethanol content here also. As you say, the longer you leave it the amount of water condensation sends to increase

[R33GTR]

Hello,

I received a flex fuel sensor from this supplier : https://www.ebay.fr/itm/164097262558

The sensor seems fake, what do you guys think?



I put the sensor on my R33GTR with R32 ECU and the FP v1 with nistune flex fuel converter board and it doesn't seems to work precisely.
I tried two different ethanol on the car, and I tested both chemically.
One was 54% of ethanol and the ECU read 51% the other one was 72% and the ECU read 64%
What difference you usualy have between the real rate and the rate read by the sensor?

Thanks

[RomChip200]

I have tried 2 sensors in my life, the huge version (like yours) and the tiny version which is an unbranded item btw (currently installed in my 300zx since 3 years)
Both works the same.

You need a constant flow through the sensor to get accurate readings, sensor being fitted to the return line to the tank.
I got down to 63% in winter and up to 75% in summer (France).

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[R33GTR]

Hello Rom,

I'm from France too
My sensor is also fitted on the return line so it should work fine.
Did you compare the rate read by your sensor and the real rate of ethanol with this thing for example ; https://www.ebay.fr/itm/253824998647

[RomChip200]

No , I didn't.

From experience (since 2007), I trust the values.
In my case, they are informative only, this allows to highlight disruptions in ethanol content between the seasons and fuel suppliers.
For example, in winter "Carrefour" got 62% (so richer) when others are still at 65%.
At the end, I don't really care as I have self-adjusting routines using the oxygen content.