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US 11,261,766 B1Granted
Oil dilution diagnostic test
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorAed Dudar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for diagnosis of oil dilution in an engine. In one example, a method may include sealing a crankcase and spinning an engine unfueled to heat and vaporize the oil in response to detection of rich engine operation. Pressure measurements at the sealed crankcase may be collected and compared to a baseline to diagnose a presence of fuel in the oil.
Claims20
A method for an engine, comprising:
- responsive to detection of rich engine operation;
- sealing a crankcase and spinning an engine unfueled to heat an engine lubricant;
- and
- collecting pressure measurements at the crankcase and comparing the pressure measurements to a baseline to diagnose a presence of fuel in the engine lubricant.
1 more element
A method for diagnosing oil dilution in a vehicle, comprising:
- during a first condition, including the vehicle being in an engine-off mode and operating within a threshold mileage or duration of time subsequent to an oil change;
- spinning an engine unfueled and collecting a first set of pressure measurements at a sealed crankcase;
- and
- during a second condition, including detection of rich engine operation and the vehicle being in the engine-off mode;
- spinning the engine unfueled and collecting a second set of pressure measurements at the sealed crankcase;
- comparing the second set of pressure measurements to the first set of pressure measurements to identify an oil dilution by fuel in the engine;
- and
- indicating the oil dilution by setting a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) and activating an oil change alert.
5 more elements
An engine system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an engine lubricated by oil and configured with a positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system;
- and
- a controller configured with executable instructions stored in non-transitory memory to conduct an oil dilution diagnostic test that, when executed, causes the controller to:
- upon detection of rich engine operation and confirmation of an engine-off mode of the vehicle,
- seal a crankcase of the engine;
- spin the engine unfueled;
- collect pressure measurements at the crankcase;
- compare the pressure measurements to a baseline to determine a presence of fuel in the oil;
- and
- indicate the presence of fuel in the oil by setting a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) and activating an oil change alert.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.