A fuel sensor for a vehicle, comprising:
- a housing comprising:
- a first surface having a first aperture therein;
- a second surface opposing the first surface, the second surface having a second aperture therein;
- and
- a sensor chamber disposed between the first and second surfaces,
- wherein the first aperture, the sensor chamber, and the second aperture are in fluid communication;
- a fuel composition sensor element disposed within the sensor chamber, the fuel composition sensor element comprising:
- an outer cylindrical electrode having a first inner diameter D1;
- an inner cylindrical electrode disposed within and concentric with the outer cylindrical electrode, the inner cylindrical electrode having a second inner diameter D2;
- a first electrical contact electrically connected to the outer cylindrical electrode;
- a second electrical contact electrically connected to the inner cylindrical electrode;
- an outer fluid flow channel disposed between the outer cylindrical electrode and the inner cylindrical electrode;
- and
- an inner fluid flow channel disposed within the inner cylindrical electrode, wherein the inner flow channel and the outer flow channel form a continuous fluid flow path from the first aperture to the second aperture within the sensor chamber;
- at least two fuel connector modules that are removable and interchangeable, each fuel connector module comprising:
- a flange having a mating surface configured to removably engage either of the first or second surfaces of the housing, and an outer surface opposing the mating surface;
- a fuel connector fitting attached to the outer surface of the flange, the fuel connector fitting selected from the group consisting of a ⅜-inch quick-connect fitting, an A/N fitting, a DIN fitting, a pipe fitting, and an O-ring boss fitting;
- and
- a flange aperture passing through the flange, the flange aperture configured to provide fluid communication between the fuel connector fitting and the first or second aperture in the housing when the flange is engaged with the first or second surface of the housing;
- an oscillator circuit attached to the housing and connected to the first and second electrical contacts of the fuel composition sensor element, the oscillator circuit operable to generate a frequency signal based on dielectric properties of fuel flowing through the outer flow channel;
- a fuel pressure sensor attached to the housing, the fuel pressure sensor operable to generate a fuel pressure signal indicative of pressure of fuel flowing through the sensor chamber;
- and
- a microprocessor attached to the housing, the microprocessor operable to receive the frequency signal and the fuel pressure signal and:
- generate a fuel composition signal based at least in part on the frequency signal,
- determine based on the fuel pressure signal that there is a loss of fuel pressure, and
- determine based on the loss of fuel pressure that the fuel composition signal is inaccurate.