Method for operating an internal combustion engine

A method for operating an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

• providing a crank casing pressure sensor in an internal combustion engine having a crank casing,
• measuring a crank casing pressure using the crank casing pressure sensor,
• evaluating the crank casing pressure measurement,
• using the crank casing pressure measurement to determine an approximate ambient pressure value, and
• controlling the internal combustion engine, a component thereof, or a device attached to the internal combustion engine using the crank casing pressure measurement or the approximate ambient pressure value or both,
• wherein the crank casing pressure is measured during the starting process of the internal combustion engine before the first combustion as the crankshaft is rotating,
• wherein the crank casing pressure sensor is exclusively supplied with energy generated by the movement of the crankshaft during while the crank casing pressure sensor takes the crank casing pressure measurement, and
• wherein the internal combustion engine comprises:
• a combustion chamber bounded on one side and around a circumference by a cylinder and bounded on the other side by a reciprocating piston,
• a crankshaft driven by the reciprocating piston which is rotatably mounted in the crank casing,
• an inlet opening in the crank casing which allows combustion air to enter into the crank casing,
• an outlet opening out of the combustion chamber, and
• one or more overflow ducts connecting the crank casing to the combustion chamber in the region of the bottom dead center of the piston.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

• providing a crank casing pressure sensor in an internal combustion engine having a crank casing,
• measuring a crank casing pressure using the crank casing pressure sensor,
• evaluating the crank casing pressure measurement,
• using the crank casing pressure measurement to determine an approximate ambient pressure value, and
• controlling the internal combustion engine, a component thereof, or a device attached to the internal combustion engine using the crank casing pressure measurement or the approximate ambient pressure value or both,
• wherein the internal combustion engine has an air filter through which the combustion air is sucked in, and a degree of contamination of the air filter is determined from the approximate ambient pressure value, and
• wherein the internal combustion engine comprises:
• a combustion chamber bounded on one side and around a circumference by a cylinder and bounded on the other side by a reciprocating piston,
• a crankshaft driven by the reciprocating piston which is rotatably mounted in the crank casing,
• an inlet opening in the crank casing which allows combustion air to enter into the crank casing,
• an outlet opening out of the combustion chamber, and
• one or more overflow ducts connecting the crank casing to the combustion chamber in the region of the bottom dead center of the piston.