E85+Fuel Sensor+ECU

[NickVR]

Had a thought about E85 and with it becoming more of a main stream fuel that caltex will be selling and others will probably follow eventually. Could the sensor that the new VE 2 use, be adapted to use on factory ecu's or even aftermarket ecu in other makes/models? This sensor is used to find out what fuel is being run and adjust the tune accordingly. Not sure if any ECU (other than VE2) have this capability though. Done a search about E85 but nothing came up in regards to this.

This would be good for tuning other cars (some that use them for daily duties) that want to use E85 but if they go on a trip can fill up at any servo if needed.

Probably more a question for the tuning guys I guess.

Would post a pic of the sensor but not allowed yet. Just take out the spaces in the link.

[http: //us. tnpv. net//2010/GMC201009/GMC2010090970070_PV.jpg

[Tre-Cool]

http://us.tnpv.net//2010/GMC201009/GMC2010090970070_PV.jpg

[ls1vt209]

Any vehicle with a E38PCM (VE 6ltr etc) have the ability to use a sensor or a wiring mod to run E85 and another type of fuel, or LPG and normal unleaded etc.

The sensor is an expensive piece of gear (Well they were the last time I got a price). The wire mod (1 wire gets placed into the PCM wiring loom and connected to a switch mounted whereever you like), is easy to do but required some specific things to be included in the PCM's tune, not sure if HPTuners offers this in their tuning software but EFILive does.

[macca_779]

So is it confirmed that Holden are indeed using an Ethanol Sensor? GM used to use them in early flex fuel cars but went away from it and its now just resolved by the software off the fuel trims (o2 sensors). I would have thought Holden would adapt the same technique as it cuts cost. Something which Holden has become renowned for of late.

[Delft Maloo]

Im with you macca, im yet to have a look at a ve2 to confirm but i believe it will be a software based calculation going from the gm trend atm.

[macca_779]

Im with you macca, im yet to have a look at a ve2 to confirm but i believe it will be a software based calculation going from the gm trend atm.

The interesting thing will be if EFI LIVE give us the ability to use the Flex Fuel software techniques in older calibrations.

[Delft Maloo]

Does anyone have their hands on an VE2 yet? a efilive and hptuners file would be good to get.

[NickVR]

Something that would be interesting to find out if the older ECU's can do it and if so being able to tune it to do so. Obviously the older ECU's (Buick 6/5ltr style) won't have this capability but hopefully newer ECU's that come onto the market (Motec, Autronic, etc) can do this. There would definitely be a market for it, I would think anyway.

P.S Thanks Tre-Cool for posting the pic. Can't edit the post to take that last sentence out though.

[macca_779]

Something that would be interesting to find out if the older ECU's can do it and if so being able to tune it to do so. Obviously the older ECU's (Buick 6/5ltr style) won't have this capability but hopefully newer ECU's that come onto the market (Motec, Autronic, etc) can do this. There would definitely be a market for it, I would think anyway.

P.S Thanks Tre-Cool for posting the pic. Can't edit the post to take that last sentence out though.

Mate the current ECU's and even the LS1 PCM can do it. US models have had Flex Fuel across all the late model controllers for years in some model variants, Australia is just a bit behind.
The problem with the E38 (or more accurately the other on board modules) is they don't work with alternate calibrations from different models like the LS1's do. So we can't just use a US spec Flex Fuel tune in a VE. But what may happen is we are given the option to turn it on in our existing calibrations

O and I think your giving the after market gear a bit to much credit mate.

[NickVR]

Mate the current ECU's and even the LS1 PCM can do it. US models have had Flex Fuel across all the late model controllers for years in some model variants, Australia is just a bit behind.
The problem with the E38 (or more accurately the other on board modules) is they don't work with alternate calibrations from different models like the LS1's do. So we can't just use a US spec Flex Fuel tune in a VE. But what may happen is we are given the option to turn it on in our existing calibrations

O and I think your giving the after market gear a bit to much credit mate.

Yeah, i am probably giving them too much credit lol. But i guess we can always hope and dream that they may do it. I think that E85 is the future with fuels and that it would be good if they could get it to work, as oem (gm anyway) already have the capability.