Apparatus and method for detecting ignition and engine conditions

Abstract

A sensor system is provided configured to communicate data to a processing module of a vehicle, the processing module configured to perform computational analysis based on the data received from the sensor system, the sensor system including a means for determining a condition of an ignition switch for cranking an engine of the vehicle and a means for determining a running condition of the engine. Computational analysis of the received operational parameter data may be used to detect a catastrophic lubricant loss. Other computational analysis associated with the vehicle may be performed based on the operational parameter data. A method is provided for determining a condition of at least one operational parameter associated with an internal combustion engine of a vehicle and performing computational analysis associated with the vehicle based on the condition of the at least one operational parameter. The method may include determining whether a quantity of lubricant in a sump of the engine is below a threshold value, determining whether an ignition switch of the vehicle is in an on-position or an off-position, determining whether the engine of the vehicle is in a running condition or a not running condition, and flagging a catastrophic lubricant loss if the quantity of lubricant is below the threshold value and the ignition switch is in the on-position and the engine is in the running condition.