Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Craig A Carlson

Peter James Maloney

In Kwang Yoo

Andrew D Herman

Hallett D Breidenbach

Deog H Yoo

Sergio E Garcia

William R Robertson

Darrell W Burleigh

The present invention provides an improvement over conventional engine controls by adjusting engine air/fuel &lsqb;AF&rsqb; ratio, as a function of fuel volatility, during engine start and initial operation. It is comprised of three detection tests to determine the volatility of the fuel and provide compensation to the AF ratio in proportion to that volatility during engine crank and initial operation. The method includes compensating for incomplete fuel vaporization as a function of predicted intake valve temperature.

Compensation for fuel volatility for internal combustion engine start and run

An improved engine fuel control detects combustion instability due to the use of high DI fuel during cold start and warm-up and compensates the fuel control for detected combustion instability through temporary enrichment of the delivered air/fuel ratio. When the engine idle speed error magnitude is less than a calibrated threshold, usage of high DI fuel is detected by identifying a surge signal based on the engine speed error fluctuation in a predetermined frequency range attributable to combustion instability due to the presence of high DI fuel in a cold engine. When the average amplitude of the surge signal exceeds a calibrated surge threshold, the presence of high DI fuel is detected. Additionally, the method is disabled for a prescribed period following commanded load transitions associated with the air conditioning system and the automatic transmission.

Engine starting and warm-up fuel control method having low volatility fuel detection and compensation

An improved engine fuel control detects combustion instability due to the use of high DI fuel during cold start and warm-up and compensates the fuel control for detected combustion instability through temporary enrichment of the delivered air/fuel ratio. The usage of high DI fuel is detected during an engine idle period following starting by monitoring the engine speed to identify an engine speed excursion more than a calibrated percentage below the desired idle speed. The detection method is enabled under specified environmental conditions, provided the engine run time is greater than a specified time and the engine temperature is within a specified range. Additionally, the method is disabled for a prescribed period following commanded load transitions associated with the air conditioning system and the automatic transmission. When the presence of high DI fuel is detected, and the air/fuel ratio is temporarily enriched to alleviate the instability and to ensure acceptable driveability without unnecessarily increasing hydrocarbon emissions in the engine exhaust gases.

An improved engine fuel control detects combustion instability due to the use of high driveability index (DI) fuel during cold start and warm-up and compensates the fuel control for detected combustion instability through temporary enrichment of the delivered air/fuel ratio. The usage of high DI fuel is detected during engine cranking by measuring the time required for the engine speed to increase from a lower reference speed to an upper reference speed, provided the engine run time is less than a calibrated value. A timer is started when the lower reference speed is achieved, and the timer value is compared to a crank time threshold determined as a function of the initial engine coolant temperature. If the timer value exceeds the crank time threshold before the engine speed reaches the upper reference speed, the presence of high DI fuel is indicated, and the air/fuel ratio is temporarily enriched.

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Honeoye Falls, NY, United States of America

Craig A Carlson