Engine control for a common rail fuel system using fuel spill determination

A method for controlling a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having a common rail fuel distribution system, the method comprising:

• determining injector energizing time;
• determining rail pressure;
• determining a leaked fuel quantity based on the rail pressure;
• determining a control fuel quantity based on the rail pressure and the injector energizing time;
• and
• controlling pressure within the common rail fuel distribution system using the leaked fuel quantity and the control fuel quantity.

A computer readable storage medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a computer to control a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having a common rail fuel distribution system, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

• instructions for determining rail pressure;
• instructions for determining a spilled fuel quantity based on at least the rail pressure;
• and
• instructions for controlling pressure within the common rail fuel distribution system using the spilled fuel quantity.

A system for controlling a common rail fuel distribution system of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a fuel injector associated with each cylinder and coupled to a common fuel rail, the system comprising:

• a pump coupled to the common fuel rail;
• a pressure sensor coupled to the common fuel rail for providing a signal indicative of pressure within the rail;
• and
• a controller in communication with the pressure sensor, the pump, and the injectors, the controller determining a quantity of spilled fuel based at least in part on the signal indicative of pressure within the rail and controlling the pump based on the spilled fuel to control pressure within the common fuel rail.