How to read Ethanol w/ P3 Gauge?

Mahdi ZL1 · 04-30-2023, 02:14 PM

Recently had a P3 gauge put in my car, and well when I scroll over to ethanol it reads E 0. I just had a flex fuel sensor installed as well so I assumed since i’m on 93 i’d at least see 9-12% ethanol.

My question is, am I missing a component which will enable me to read ethanol or is there a parameter when tuning the vehicle that has to be configured.

Reason I ask is because my local mod shop explained that this is a configuration that is enabled when tuning the vehicle which allows the P3 to then read ethanol.

But looking online I see things like needing either:
Ethanol sensor or a P3 signal inverter.

Thanks in advance.

WiggyB · 04-30-2023, 04:01 PM

No you're not going to see anything with just 93 in there. The sensor will only pick up any level of e85 in the tank. I assume you already had the tune adjusted to read the sensor so just drop some E in there and you will see the adjustments depending on your mixture.

arpad_m · 04-30-2023, 04:41 PM

Normal 93 octane pump gas has about 10% ethanol, and it's reasonable to expect that it would show up on the gauge.

WiggyB · 05-01-2023, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Normal 93 octane pump gas has about 10% ethanol, and it's reasonable to expect that it would show up on the gauge.

I thought the same thing when I first installed my gauge but no bueno. Didn't see any real readings until I did dropped some in there.

ShockingZ · 05-01-2023, 08:21 PM

You’d see 10% on pump gas because pump is e10 essentially. And a real alcohol sensor will read that.

arpad_m · 05-01-2023, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WiggyB

I thought the same thing when I first installed my gauge but no bueno. Didn't see any real readings until I did dropped some in there.

Then that gauge must have some "clever" clamping to 0 feature, meaning it won't start displaying the real value and is stuck at 0% until alcohol content exceeds 10% or maybe 11 or 12%. The real value, read via a proper scan tool, will range from 0% to 100%.

Chrome383Z · 05-01-2023, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Then that gauge must have some "clever" clamping to 0 feature, meaning it won't start displaying the real value and is stuck at 0% until alcohol content exceeds 10% or maybe 11 or 12%. The real value, read via a proper scan tool, will range from 0% to 100%.

Yeah my banks gauge reads 8-10% for pump 93. His should too I would think don’t know the purpose of defaulting to 0 until you’re above a range. I have seen some 93 that is ethanol free. Maybe that was it and it was E0.

04-30-2023, 02:14 PM	#1
Mahdi ZL1 GRIM REAPER Drives: 2022 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: Michigan Posts: 15	How to read Ethanol w/ P3 Gauge? Recently had a P3 gauge put in my car, and well when I scroll over to ethanol it reads E 0. I just had a flex fuel sensor installed as well so I assumed since i’m on 93 i’d at least see 9-12% ethanol. My question is, am I missing a component which will enable me to read ethanol or is there a parameter when tuning the vehicle that has to be configured. Reason I ask is because my local mod shop explained that this is a configuration that is enabled when tuning the vehicle which allows the P3 to then read ethanol. But looking online I see things like needing either: Ethanol sensor or a P3 signal inverter. Thanks in advance.

04-30-2023, 04:01 PM	#2
WiggyB Drives: 2022 Camaro 2SS 1LE Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: NC Posts: 278	No you're not going to see anything with just 93 in there. The sensor will only pick up any level of e85 in the tank. I assume you already had the tune adjusted to read the sensor so just drop some E in there and you will see the adjustments depending on your mixture. __________________ p1sc1 factory box w/ stage 2 intercooler, Lt4 fueling, JMS BAP, lt2 intake, kooks 1/78 longtube headers w/ h/f cats, alky meth kit, thpsi port injection Last edited by WiggyB; 05-01-2023 at 08:06 PM.

04-30-2023, 04:41 PM	#3
arpad_m Drives: 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 11,696 View My Garage	Normal 93 octane pump gas has about 10% ethanol, and it's reasonable to expect that it would show up on the gauge. __________________ 2018 Camaro 2SS — G7E MX0 NPP F55 IO6 735 rwhp \| 665 rwtq Magnuson TVS 2300 80mm pulley \| Kooks 1 7/8" LT headers \| JRE smooth idle terminator cam \| LT4 FS & injectors \| TSP forged pistons & rods JMS PowerMAX \| DSX flex fuel kit \| Roto-Fab CAI \| Soler 95mm LT5 TB \| 1LE wheels \| 1LE brakes \| BMR rear cradle lockout \| JRE custom tune 1100 - 1/30/18 \| 2000 - 1/31/18 3000 - 2/06/18 TPW 2/26/18 3400 - 2/19/18 \| 3800 - 2/26/18 4300 - 2/27/18 \| 4B00 - 3/01/18 4200 - 3/05/18 \| 4800 - 3/14/18 5000 - 3/16/18 \| 6000 - 3/19/18

05-01-2023, 08:21 PM	#5
ShockingZ Account Suspended Drives: Chevy Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Floriduh Posts: 121	You’d see 10% on pump gas because pump is e10 essentially. And a real alcohol sensor will read that.

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