System and method for heating vehicle fluids

A system for heating and cooling fluids within a vehicle of the type including an engine having a coolant, said system comprising:

• at least one fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger which is fluidly coupled to at least one vehicle system and which receives fluid from said at least one vehicle system;
• a controller which is operable under stored program control;
• a solenoid valve which is communicatively coupled to said controller, effective to electronically control said solenoid valve, said solenoid valve further being fluidly coupled to said at least one fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger and to said engine, said solenoid valve being effective to selectively channel heated coolant from said engine through said at least one fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger based on at least one parameter, thereby selectively heating said fluid received from said at least one vehicle system, wherein said at least one vehicle system comprises at least one of a transmission system, a steering system, an axle assembly, a transfer case and an engine;
• at least one sensor which is communicatively coupled to said controller and which is effective to measure said at least one parameter and to generate signals to said controller representing said measured at least one parameter, wherein said at least one parameter comprises a temperature of said transmission oil.

A method for heating fluids within a vehicle of the type including an engine and a coolant which cools said engine, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger;
• passing coolant which has been heated by said engine through said fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger;
• selectively passing fluid from a vehicle system through said fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, effective to cause fluid to be heated by said heated coolant, thereby improving vehicle fuel economy;
• providing a valve;
• fluidly coupling said valve to said fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger and to said vehicle system;
• selectively actuating said valve, effective to selectively pass fluid from said vehicle system to said fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, thereby heating said fluid;
• measuring at least one vehicle parameter;
• and
• selectively actuating said valve based upon said at least one vehicle parameter, wherein said at least one vehicle parameter comprises a temperature of said fluid.