Monitoring deviations occurring in the valve drive of an internal combustion engine, and electronic engine control units for executing such methods

An electronic, programmable engine control unit for controlling an internal combustion engine, the engine control unit comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• an electronic memory unit storing a set of instructions, the instructions, when loaded and executed by the processor, causing the processor to:
• measure dynamic pressure oscillations of intake air in an air intake tract of the internal combustion engine during operation;
• calculate an inlet valve stroke phase difference and/or an outlet valve stroke phase difference based on the measured dynamic pressure oscillation;
• calculate a valve stroke phase deviation value with respect to a valve stroke phase reference value based on the calculated inlet valve stroke phase difference and/or the calculated outlet valve stroke difference;
• note a first valve drive deviation value equivalent to the valve stroke phase deviation value;
• and
• based on the first valve drive deviation value, implementing one or more correction measures chosen from the group consisting of:
• adjusting an inlet camshaft adjustment angle, adjusting an outlet camshaft adjustment angle, adjusting an ignition timing, adjusting an injection quantity and starting an emergency operating mode and initiating an emergency stop of the internal combustion engine.