Control device for engine

A control device for an engine including a variable valve timing mechanism capable of changing an open and close timing for at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve to adjust an intake and exhaust overlap amount, the control device comprising:

• a detector for detecting an atmospheric pressure;
• a first calculator for calculating a target torque of the engine;
• an increasing device for calculating the intake and exhaust overlap amount based on the target torque calculated by the first calculator and increasing the overlap amount under a low pressure environment compared to the overlap amount under a normal pressure environment based on the atmospheric pressure detected by the detector;
• a second calculator for calculating an increase limitation amount for limiting an increase in the overlap amount under the low pressure environment based on the atmospheric pressure detected by the detector;
• a limiter for limiting an increase in the overlap amount increased by the increasing device, based on the increase limitation amount calculated by the second calculator;
• and
• a drive controller for controllably driving the variable valve timing mechanism to achieve the overlap amount resulting from the limitation by the limiter.