Page 1 of 1

Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Tue Aug 11, 2015 2:58 pm
by 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

Re: Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:11 pm
by Jono
any word on when you'll have these back in stock mate?

Re: Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 10:04 am
by Matt
I need to find another supplier. Haven't given that part much effort yet! I'll have a look around today

Re: Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 11:54 am
by Jono
No worries, thanks for the reply. Let us all know when we can buy from you again

Re: Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 9:10 pm
by djstatic
Something with AN6 fittings would be perfect

Re: Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 9:07 pm
by RomChip200

Re: Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Fri May 18, 2018 11:30 am
by 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

Re: Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Fri May 18, 2018 6:01 pm
by 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 :)

Re: Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 10:55 am
by 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

Re: Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Sat May 29, 2021 1:21 am
by 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?

Image

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

Re: Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Sat May 29, 2021 1:43 am
by 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).

1622213308587.jpg
(189.89 KiB) Downloaded 2521 times

Re: Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Sat May 29, 2021 7:13 pm
by 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

Re: Counterfeit Continental flex fuel sensors

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2021 8:58 pm
by 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.