Water in fuel sensor

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A '''water in fuel sensor''', or '''WiF sensor''', is an electronic [[sensor]] used to indicate the presence of [[water]] in [[fuel]]. It is installed in a [[fuel filter]]. When the water level in the water separator reaches the warning level, the WiF sends an electrical signal to the [[Engine control unit|ECU]] or to dashboard (lamp).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://klmperformance.com/collections/sensors-water-in-fuel-sensor-wif-sensor|title=Sensors/Water In Fuel Sensor WIF Sensor – KLM Performance|website=klmperformance.com|access-date=2019-11-23}}</ref>{{rs|date=May 2025}} The WiF is often used in [[common rail]] engines to avoid [[fuel injector]] damage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://passagemaker.com/technical/down-the-rabbit-hole-finding-water-in-a-fuel-tank/|title=Down The Rabbit Hole: Finding Water In A Fuel Tank|last=Parlatore|first=Bill|website=PassageMaker|date=6 May 2013 |language=en|access-date=2019-11-23}}</ref>

The WiF sensor uses the difference of [[electric conductivity]] of water compared to diesel and gasoline to determine the presence of water. The WiF sensor can consist of two electrodes that reads the level of resistance in the fluid or between the ground and the electrode.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.littelfuse.com/assetdocs/littelfuse-auto-water-in-fuel-sensor-datasheet?assetguid=deb745d1-968b-4704-a67a-77ac4f621cb4|title=Littelfuse Auto Water in Fuel Sensor Datasheet|year=2018|website=LittelFuse|access-date=2025-05-15}}</ref>

First generation WiF sensors use a potting resin to isolate the electronic circuit, while the latest generation of WiF sensors (the WS3 sensor in [[surface-mount technology]]) are made totally without leakage using an innovative co-molding process.

The latest generation of WiF sensors have a high resistance to vibrations and to thermal excursion cycles.

The main automotive WiF designer and producer is SMP Poland.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Auto parts]]

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