Fuel injection control system having actuating fluid viscosity feedback

A method of detecting viscosity of actuating fluid in a engine system having a crankshaft and an engine starter motor adapted to rotate the crankshaft, comprising the steps of:

• rotating the crankshaft by applying a voltage to the engine starter motor;
• generating an angular speed indicative signal, including detecting an angular speed of rotation of the crankshaft rotated by the engine starter motor;
• generating a voltage indicative signal by detecting said voltage applied to the engine starter motor;
• and
• generating a viscosity indicative signal indicating the viscosity of the actuating fluid, using the voltage indicative signal and the angular speed indicative signal.

An apparatus for detecting the viscosity of actuating fluid in an engine system, said engine system having a crankshaft and an engine starter motor adapted to rotate the crankshaft, comprising:

• means for rotating said crankshaft when a voltage is applied to said engine starter motor;
• means responsive to rotation of said crankshaft for detecting an angular speed of rotation of said crankshaft and for generating an angular speed indicative signal related to said angular speed of rotation of said crankshaft;
• means responsive to said applied voltage for detecting said voltage applied to said engine starter motor and for generating a voltage indicative signal;
• and
• means responsive to said angular speed indicative signal and said voltage indicative signal for determining the viscosity of said actuating fluid and for generating a viscosity indicative signal.

A method of operating a hydraulically-actuated electronically-controlled fuel system adapted for an engine having a moveable component whose motion is indicative of engine speed and which moves through actuating fluid, comprising the steps of:

• moving the component through the actuating fluid by applying a voltage to an engine starter motor;
• detecting the angular speed of movement of the component to generate an angular speed indicative signal;
• detecting the voltage applied to the engine starter motor to generate a voltage indicative signal;
• determining the value of the viscosity of the actuating fluid using the angular speed indicative signal and the voltage indicative signal, and generating a first viscosity indicative signal;
• and
• varying at least one of a plurality of fuel injection parameters as a function of the first viscosity indicative signal.

A hydraulically-actuated electronically controlled fuel injection system adapted for an engine having a moveable component whose motion is indicative of engine speed and which moves through actuating fluid, said component being rotatable by an engine starter motor comprising:

• means for moving said moveable component through said actuating fluid when a voltage is applied to said engine starter motor;
• means responsive to the movement of said component for detecting an angular speed of rotation of said component and for generating an angular speed indicative signal;
• means responsive to said applied voltage for detecting said voltage applied to said engine starter motor and for generating a voltage indicative signal;
• and
• means responsive to said angular speed indicative signal and said voltage indicative signal for determining the viscosity of said actuating fluid and for generating a viscosity indicative signal.