Systems and methods for controlling engine operation to support external electric loads

A method comprising:

• requesting an operator of a vehicle via a first alert to open a hood of the vehicle to reduce a temperature of an engine that is operating while the vehicle is stationary to power one or more loads external to the vehicle, in response to engine temperature reaching a first threshold temperature;
• controlling a cooling fan to a first speed responsive to the hood being opened and controlling the cooling fan to a second speed responsive to the hood not being opened;
• and
• responsive to engine temperature reaching a second threshold temperature regardless of whether the hood has been opened via the operator of the vehicle, the second threshold temperature being greater than the first threshold temperature, maintaining power to a first set of outlets powering the one or more loads external to the vehicle and discontinuing power supplied to a second set of outlets powering the one or more loads external to the vehicle.

A system for a vehicle, comprising:

• an engine that can drive a generator for providing power to a power box that in turn supplies power to one or more external loads;
• one or more temperature sensors for monitoring an engine temperature;
• an alert system for communicating visual and/or audible alerts to an operator of the vehicle;
• and
• a controller with computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory that when executed while the vehicle is stationary and in park and while the engine is combusting air and fuel to provide power to the power box for supplying power to the one or more external loads, cause the controller to:
• monitor the engine temperature via the one or more temperature sensors;
• issue a first alert requesting the operator of the vehicle to take mitigating action to reduce the engine temperature, while maintaining power to the one or more external loads, in response to the engine temperature reaching a first threshold temperature;
• and
• differentially control a speed of a cooling fan as a function of whether the mitigating action was taken to reduce the engine temperature, where the mitigating action includes opening a hood of the vehicle.

A method comprising:

• responsive to a request by an operator of a vehicle to operate an engine to power one or more loads external to the vehicle, monitoring an engine temperature and issuing a first alert requesting the operator to take mitigating action to reduce the engine temperature when the engine temperature reaches a first threshold temperature;
• controlling a cooling fan as a function of whether or not the mitigating action is taken;
• and
• responsive to an indication that the engine temperature has reached a second threshold temperature that is greater than the first threshold temperature, maintaining power to a first set of outlets powering the one or more loads external to the vehicle;
• and
• discontinuing power supply to a second set of outlets powering the one or more loads external to the vehicle.