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US 6,580,366 B1Granted
System and method for evaluating automotive vehicle oil deterioration
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorJohn D. Engfehr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system is provided for evaluating the chemical deterioration of automotive engine oil over time. A change in oil quantity is detected and measured by an oil quantity sensor. Based on the change in quantity of oil, the level of chemical deterioration of the oil is inferred.
Claims7
In an automotive vehicle, a method for evaluating automotive oil deterioration, comprising the steps:
- determining an oil quantity in the vehicle;
- comparing said oil quantity to an oil quantity reference value;
- calculating a low oil detection interval comprising an elapsed time or elapsed distance since a previous detection of a low oil condition;
- and
- determining that the oil has deteriorated to a significant level when (i) said oil quantity is less than said oil quantity reference value, and (ii) a current low oil detection interval is less than a previous low oil detection interval.
2 more elements
In an automotive vehicle, a method of indicating automotive oil maintenance information, comprising the steps:
- measuring a plurality of oil quantities in the vehicle over time;
- comparing each of said oil quantities to an oil quantity reference value;
- calculating a first elapsed time between a previous oil change and a first instance when a first of said oil quantities is less than said oil quantity reference value;
- calculating a second elapsed time between said first instance and a subsequent instance when a second of said oil quantities is less than said oil quantity reference value;
- and
- indicating that the automotive oil should be changed if said second oil quantity is approximately less than said oil quantity reference value and said second elapsed time is approximately less than said first elapsed time.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.