Method for determining the amount of an operating medium in a motor vehicle

A method for determining the fill quantity of an operating medium in a motor vehicle having a reservoir container for the operating medium, a fill level sensor for sensing the fill level in the reservoir container, and a data processor for determining the fill quantity of the operating medium, said method comprising:

• sensing the fill level of the operating medium and operating states of the vehicle;
• and
• the data processor determining the fill quantity of the operating medium from the sensed data;
• wherein,
• a characteristic variable indicative of engine load is sensed;
• the sensed characteristic variable is used in determining the fill quantity of the operating medium;
• and
• a quantity selected from the group consisting of a force applied to a drive train of the vehicle, a torque applied to the drive train, and a power level applied to the drive train, is sensed as the characteristic variable indicative of the engine load, and is used to determine the fill quantity of the operating medium.

A method for determining the fill quantity of an operating medium in a motor vehicle having a reservoir container for the operating medium, a fill level sensor for sensing the fill level in the reservoir container, and a data processor for determining the fill quantity of the operating medium, said method comprising:

• sensing fill level data indicative of the fill level of the operating medium, and operating state data indicative of operating states of the vehicle;
• determining an instantaneous engine load status for said vehicle;
• using said engine load status to determine an inclination of said vehicle;
• correcting said sensed fill level data based on said determined inclination;
• and
• the data processor determining the fill quantity of the operating medium based on the sensed operating state and the corrected fill level data.