Flex Fuel Sensors!
If you are looking into installing a flex fuel sensor then this is the only thing you will need to know as far as the physical aspect of things. The sensor is installed between the fuel pressure regulator and the fuel tank, it monitors the ethanol content of the fuel returning to the tank. It must be installed like so:
That is about the extent of the physical install, you will need a tune and other fueling upgrades to support flex fuel capabilities if you are installing this on a car that was not originally set up for flex fuel.
Buyer Beware!
There are a few common sensors that people are using out there for flex fuel and if you are looking into it then we are certain you have come across these commonly used sensors we have listed below:
First up Part No.13577429. This is the smallest in the lineup as you may notice. The sensor itself does not come with mounting points but has a standard 3/8 line.
Second Part No.13577379. This sensor is commonly known as the medium size. Due to it's shorter inlet/outlet, but other wise still a 3/8 line.
Third Part No.13577394. This sensor is commonly referred to as the largest of the three sensors. Due to its longer inlet/outlet, but still has the 3/8 line.
As you may have noticed, we have pictured the sensors with their corresponding connector plug. Notice any similarities? Yeah us too. So we decided to do some digging through forums, blogs, spec charts and other various sources. We found on a few separate sources that the people confirmed the only differences stated above! Now you may interpolate this information and say well "My tuner recommends sensor XXXXXXXXX" and that is perfectly fine. We wanted to put this information out there for you guys that maybe wanna save a buck or two.
Now you might be thinking "Well whats a couple dollars going to change, might as well get the recommended"
Well here is the price points from amazon:
Small: $35.95
Medium: $65.99
Large: $79.99
That is probably the cheapest you will find these sensors and if you find them cheaper then more power to you!
Now that brings us to this Haltech sensor. Part No.HT-011000.
If you look closely at the top image you will notice the "large" sensor has the same shape and length of the inlet/outlet as the Haltech sensor. We couldn't find a close up photo of the connector but it looks identical as well. We noticed the main difference between the "large" sensor and the Haltech sensor was the "Haltech" sticker and the price point! This sensor from the Haltech website goes for: $185.00
Use this information to your advantage or just take it into account if you plan on going flex fuel. We are not trying to sell you the cheaper sensors nor are we trying to get you to buy the most expensive sensors. There is always a quality difference in aftermarket and OEM and we welcome the companies such as Haltech to come in and explain why their sensor has a higher price tag. Maybe its better quality? Maybe it will last longer? Or maybe they just put their branding on it?
There are other companies out there, Haltech is just one example of many. They that have very similar sensors if not the same "re-branded" sensor, just keep an eye out for those trying to sell a $80 sensor for $200.
Now with all that in mind, also keep this in mind. Some sensor may or may not be able to give you a ethanol content readout to a gauge. We did not do any research on that viewpoint so if that is a factor for you then you may want to look into that before purchasing any sensors.
Tell us your thoughts on this subject below. Commenting enabled and with the exception of vulgar/hateful comments, all comments will be allowed!
**ALL INFORMATION WAS GATHERED FROM CREDIBLE AND UN-CREDIBLE SOURCES. NO MANUFACTURERS HAVE THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, AND IF THEY DO IT IS WELL HIDDEN. WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY PURCHASES YOU MAKE BASED OFF THIS INFORMATION AND IT IS TO BE USED ONLY FOR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE.**
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