Method and device for cooling a motor vehicle engine

Device for cooling a motor vehicle engine, of the type comprising a hydraulic circuit (2) of a cooling fluid, associated with a pump (3) for circulating the fluid through the engine (1) of the vehicle and different branches (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 44, 45) of the circuit, in which are arranged thermal equipment (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 140, 150, 160) of the vehicle, at least some of the branches (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 44) of the circuit (2) being equipped with electronically controlled actuators (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 29) to regulate the circulation of the fluid in these branches, the device comprising means (22) for collecting information relating to the operation conditions of the vehicle, connected to means (19) for controlling the operation of the actuators (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 29), in order to regulate the volume and the flow rate of the fluid circulating in the hydraulic circuit (2) so as to optimize the operation of the engine, characterized in that the circuit (2) comprises a first branch (8) equipped with a first actuator (18) and in which is arranged an oil/water exchanger (13), the control means (19) cooperating with the information collection means (22), in order to control the opening or closing of the first actuator (18), so as, on the one hand, to accelerate the speed of the increase in the temperature of the oil and, on the other hand, to regulate the temperature of the oil around a reference temperature (Tr).