DIY Ethanol Content Gauge

Discussion in 'Mazdaspeed 3/6 E85/CornFed' started by alexwlwsn, Aug 1, 2017.

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  1. JohnnyTightlips

    JohnnyTightlips Motorhead Silver Member

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    That doesn't look like a mazda lol. I have been meaning to do more work on this but it might be waiting until summer. If some spare cash and time fall out of the sky I will take a look. Should be a pretty easy install since you are full race car. Nice work.
     
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  2. AYOUSTIN

    AYOUSTIN Greenie Member

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    It's a Mitsuspeed8. If you guys interested I can look into making a bracket/enclosure to put it in the ashtray. Unfortunately with the air vents being round on the speeds I don't think it'd fit there for you guys. Also for those not interested in a permanent install you can power the arduino with a 9V battery instead of wiring it into the car. Overall, for the less than $100 it costs I think it's well worth it.

    And thanks! I'm going through all the wiring in the car this winter to try and clean things up/simplify routing, hoping to get the arduino stuff wired in neatly when I do that.
     
  3. JohnnyTightlips

    JohnnyTightlips Motorhead Silver Member

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    It should be pretty easy to tap the cig lighter and use the buck converter to get a nice power source. I would like to just install it and never mess with it again so I would go that route. The arduino allows for almost limitless configurations. Follow your heart lol
     
  4. alexwlwsn

    alexwlwsn Greenie Member

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    I have a cut out ash tray holder for my screen and everything all in a box waiting to be installed! @JohnnyTightlips trying to buy an unfinished project??
     
  5. JohnnyTightlips

    JohnnyTightlips Motorhead Silver Member

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    Possibly, the only part I would need is the ashtray and Ken said he could look at doing a 3d printed holder for the stock tray so idk what I will be doing.
     
  6. Maisonvi

    Maisonvi Platinum Member

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    you got all the fittings and what not for your set up?
     
  7. SharksInSpace

    SharksInSpace Planets and shit. Silver Member

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    looks good, Austin!

    I'm antsy to get this set up but since I don't have a backup car, I don't want to be the guinea pig for figuring out how to run the fitting and sensor into our stock fuel line.
     
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  8. JohnnyTightlips

    JohnnyTightlips Motorhead Silver Member

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    Send me that cash :) I will be your huckleberry.
     
  9. alexwlwsn

    alexwlwsn Greenie Member

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    Yes sir, everything needed to tap into a -6an fuel system with no cutting.
     
  10. Maisonvi

    Maisonvi Platinum Member

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    I know a guy with a 6an fuel system...

    Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
     
    Maisonvi, via a mobile device, Nov 3, 2017
    #50
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  11. alexwlwsn

    alexwlwsn Greenie Member

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    [​IMG]
     
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  12. AYOUSTIN

    AYOUSTIN Greenie Member

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    Made an enclosure for the arduino as well as a prototype bracket to mount the sensor on the back of the intake manifold. Confirmed bracket fitment earlier today and should be cutting one out of metal later this week. I'll post up some pictures of the finished setup when I'm done with it. Just need to finish wiring everything up and I should be good to go then.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  13. AYOUSTIN

    AYOUSTIN Greenie Member

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    Milled out a bracket and finished wiring everything yesterday. Got it all running today. Everything is wired so that it is completely plug and play, no splicing into factory harnesses and is key hot so no switches needed to turn the system on or off. The bracket mounts on the back of the intake manifold using existing holes and can use the factory return line, also gets rid of the return hard line that runs over the top of the fuel rail, just had to get some hose to connect the sensor to the FPR. Now the only thing left to do is figure out why the temp is displaying wrong.


    [​IMG]

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  14. JohnnyTightlips

    JohnnyTightlips Motorhead Silver Member

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    Looks good, I have not heard great things about those push clip fittings so I hope they hold up.
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2017
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  15. AYOUSTIN

    AYOUSTIN Greenie Member

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    Interesting. First I've heard of that. It's a standard quick disconnect on one end and a hose barb on the other end. Pretty normal stuff that you see in OE applications.
     
  16. JohnnyTightlips

    JohnnyTightlips Motorhead Silver Member

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    @Maisonvi suggested I use a different fitting as you can see from the one I posted on the other thread for the sensor. I thought it was strange too but he knows his stuff.
     
  17. AYOUSTIN

    AYOUSTIN Greenie Member

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    What thread? Link?
     
  18. JohnnyTightlips

    JohnnyTightlips Motorhead Silver Member

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  19. VashEXE

    VashEXE ButtStallion Tuned Greenie Member

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    I've been thinking about doing this, but utilizing my android head unit that I purchased a while ago. Since all of these ethanol sensors seem to be pretty basic (power, ground, signal) I would think that an app like this would probably work:

    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dmacpro91.fuel_it_eth&hl=en

    There are a few like this, and this vendor offers a bluetooth adapter for the kit that they have. Bluetooth could be added onto some Arduinos as well.That would make this whole install so much cleaner for me. I haven't done much with Arduino yet, does anybody see a reason why this wouldn't work?
     
  20. JohnnyTightlips

    JohnnyTightlips Motorhead Silver Member

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    It should work it just makes it more complicated. The arduino does have stuff for bluetooth and it would be cool to see it on he HU but most people would just want a standard display.
     
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