Engine oil dilution control in automotive vehicles

A method for operating a vehicle, comprising:

• heating coolant by operating an exhaust gas heat recovery device and circulating the heated coolant via a first coolant loop between the exhaust gas heat recovery device and a heat exchanger;
• and
• heating coolant by operating an exhaust gas recirculation cooler and circulating the heated coolant via a second coolant loop between the exhaust gas recirculation cooler and the heat exchanger,
• wherein the heated coolant from both the exhaust gas heat recovery device and the exhaust gas recirculation cooler mix at the heat exchanger and allows heating of an engine oil via the heat exchanger, and wherein the engine oil is heated via the heated coolant from the exhaust gas recirculation cooler and the exhaust gas heat recovery device when a dilution level of the engine oil is greater than a first threshold.

A method for operating a vehicle, comprising:

• heating coolant by operating an exhaust gas heat recovery device and circulating the heated coolant via a first coolant loop between the exhaust gas heat recovery device and a heat exchanger;
• and
• heating coolant by operating an exhaust gas recirculation cooler and circulating the heated coolant via a second coolant loop between the exhaust gas recirculation cooler and the heat exchanger,
• wherein the heated coolant from both the exhaust gas heat recovery device and the exhaust gas recirculation cooler mix at the heat exchanger and allows heating of an engine oil via the heat exchanger, and wherein a flow of the coolant bypasses the heat exchanger when a temperature of the engine oil is greater than a threshold limit or a dilution level of the engine oil is less than a first threshold.

A method for operating a vehicle, comprising:

• heating coolant by operating an exhaust gas heat recovery device and circulating the heated coolant via a first coolant loop between the exhaust gas heat recovery device and a heat exchanger;
• and
• heating coolant by operating an exhaust gas recirculation cooler and circulating the heated coolant via a second coolant loop between the exhaust gas recirculation cooler and the heat exchanger,
• wherein the heated coolant from both the exhaust gas heat recovery device and the exhaust gas recirculation cooler mix at the heat exchanger and allows heating of an engine oil via the heat exchanger, and wherein a flow of the coolant into the heat exchanger is regulated by a regulatory valve.

A method for operating a vehicle, comprising:

• heating coolant by operating an exhaust gas heat recovery device and circulating the heated coolant via a first coolant loop between the exhaust gas heat recovery device and a heat exchanger;
• and
• heating coolant by operating an exhaust gas recirculation cooler and circulating the heated coolant via a second coolant loop between the exhaust gas recirculation cooler and the heat exchanger,
• wherein the heated coolant from both the exhaust gas heat recovery device and the exhaust gas recirculation cooler mix at the heat exchanger and allows heating of an engine oil via the heat exchanger, and wherein the exhaust gas heat recovery device further comprises a gas flow conduit and a gas-to-liquid heat exchanger.

A vehicle, comprising:

• an engine;
• and
• a controller programmed to,
• operate an exhaust component of the engine to heat coolant surrounding the exhaust component via a phase change material in thermal contact with the exhaust component and the coolant, in response to a dilution level of an engine oil or a temperature of the engine oil, and
• recirculate the heated coolant surrounding the exhaust component to a coolant to oil heat exchanger via a coolant circuit,
• where the coolant to oil heat exchanger, via the heated coolant, heats the engine oil flowing through the coolant to oil heat exchanger to increase the temperature of the engine oil.