Method and system to validate a fuel level indicator in a vehicle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMichael Stephen Sweppy, Robert Roy Jentz, Aed M. Dudar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle is provided with a controller and a fuel system having a fuel tank, a fuel level indicator (FLI), and a pressure sensor. The controller is configured to: pull a vacuum on the tank from an initial pressure to a reference pressure, and provide a diagnostic code in response to comparing a fuel level indicated by the FLI to a rate of pressure change in the tank. A method for performing a fuel level indicator (FLI) diagnostic for a vehicle is provided. A vacuum is pulled on the fuel tank from an initial pressure to a reference pressure. A diagnostic code is provided in response to comparing a fuel level indicated by an FLI to a rate of pressure change.
Claims16
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine;
- a fuel system for the engine having a fuel tank, a first fuel level indicator (FLI), a vent valve connecting the fuel tank to atmosphere, a purge valve connecting the fuel tank to an engine intake, and a pressure sensor;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- (i) pull a vacuum on the fuel tank from an initial pressure to a reference pressure to determine a rate of pressure change in the fuel tank, (ii) command the vent valve to a closed position, command the purge valve to an open position, and operate the engine to pull the vacuum on the fuel tank, (iii) inferring a fuel level using a correlation with the rate of pressure change in the tank, and (v) provide a diagnostic code based on a comparison of a fuel level indicated by the first FLI to the inferred fuel level.
A vehicle comprising:
- a fuel system having a saddle fuel tank having active and passive sides with first and second fuel level indicators (FLI), respectively, and a tank pressure sensor;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- pull a vacuum on the tank from an initial pressure to a reference pressure to determine a rate of tank pressure change, compare a fuel level indicated by the first FLI to the rate, and provide a diagnostic code.
A method for performing a fuel level indicator (FLI) diagnostic for a vehicle, comprising:
- pulling a vacuum on a fuel tank from an initial pressure to a reference pressure to determine a rate of tank pressure change;
- inferring a fuel level using a correlation with the rate;
- comparing a fuel level indicated by a first FLI to the inferred fuel level;
- comparing another fuel level indicated by a second FLI to the inferred fuel level;
- and
- providing a diagnostic code based on the comparisons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.