Methods and systems are provided for improving the performance of a variable displacement engine. Split injection and spark retard may be used in active cylinder during a VDE mode to heat an exhaust catalyst and extend the duration of VDE mode operation. Split injection and spark retard may also be used in reactivated cylinders at a time of cylinder reactivation to improve restart combustion stability.

The present invention suppresses the worsening of stability due to a variation in EGR amounts between cylinders in a spark ignition engine. An engine control device for controlling a spark ignition engine equipped with an EGR means for recirculating exhaust gas in a combustion chamber and an air-fuel-ratio detection means for detecting the air-fuel ratio in each cylinder, the engine control device being characterized by being equipped with a means for changing the parameters for ignition control of a rich cylinder, when the air-fuel ratio of cylinders varies and there are richer cylinders and leaner cylinders relative to a prescribed air-fuel ratio during the execution of exhaust gas recirculation by the EGR means.

Provided is a diesel engine capable of regenerating a DPF even during no-load and/or light-load operation. In a DPF regeneration process, opening-degree reduction control S2 for an exhaust-air throttle valve is performed after a start condition S1 of the regeneration process of the DPF in which PM is deposited is satisfied. When exhaust air reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined after-injection permissible temperature TA, after-injection control is subsequently started S5. Post-injection control is started S7 after the exhaust air reaches a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined post-injection permissible temperature TP by combustion of after-injection fuel. The PM deposited in the DPF is incinerated by the exhaust air increased in temperature by catalytic combustion of post-injection fuel in a valve downstream-side DOC.

Various methods and arrangements for controlling catalytic converter temperature are described. In one aspect, an engine controller includes a catalytic monitor and a firing timing determination unit. The catalytic monitor obtains data relating to a temperature of a catalytic converter. Based at least partly on this data, the firing timing determination unit generates a firing sequence for operating the engine in a skip fire manner. Another aspect of the invention relates to an engine exhaust system that can help expedite the heating of a catalytic converter.

Methods and systems are provided for reducing hot fuel vapor formation in a port injection fuel rail. In one example, a method may include operating a dual fuel injection system with at least a calibrated minimum amount of port fuel injection over a wide range of engine operating conditions, even as conditions change. A direct fuel injection amount is adjusted in accordance.

Set a lower limit for an engine revolution speed when an accelerator is off while a temperature of the gasoline particulate filter is equal to or lower than a predetermined first temperature or equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature, the predetermined second temperature being higher than the predetermined first temperature, and continue the lower limit setting for the engine revolution speed until the accelerator becomes on when the temperature of the gasoline particulate filter increases over the predetermined first temperature from the predetermined first temperature or lower or decreases below the predetermined second temperature from the predetermined second temperature or higher after the lower limit for the engine revolution speed is set.

Set a lower limit for an engine revolution speed when an accelerator is off while a temperature of the gasoline particulate filter is equal to or lower than a predetermined first temperature or equal to or higher than a predetermined second temperature, the predetermined second temperature being higher than the predetermined first temperature, and continue the lower limit setting for the engine revolution speed until the accelerator becomes on when the temperature of the gasoline particulate filter increases over the predetermined first temperature from the predetermined first temperature or lower or decreases below the predetermined second temperature from the predetermined second temperature or higher after the lower limit for the engine revolution speed is set.

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a storage capability module and at least one of an engine speed control module and a spark control module. The storage capability module determines a capability of a catalytic converter to store oxygen. The engine speed control module controls a speed of an engine based on the oxygen storage capability of the catalytic converter. The spark control module controls a spark timing of the engine based on the oxygen storage capability of the catalytic converter.

A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a storage capability module and at least one of an engine speed control module and a spark control module. The storage capability module determines a capability of a catalytic converter to store oxygen. The engine speed control module controls a speed of an engine based on the oxygen storage capability of the catalytic converter. The spark control module controls a spark timing of the engine based on the oxygen storage capability of the catalytic converter.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a control device for an internal combustion engine that is able to provide a more stable combustion state by suitably setting the amount of recirculated exhaust gas. The present invention is an internal combustion engine control device equipped with air cylinders and an EGR mechanism that returns exhaust gas emitted from the air cylinders to the intake side of the air cylinders, and is characterized by being equipped with an EGR control unit that controls the EGR flow volume of the EGR mechanism, and a humidity detection means that directly or indirectly detects the humidity of outside air supplied to the air cylinders, with the EGR control unit calculating the moisture amount in the outside air and the moisture amount in the recirculated exhaust gas, and controlling the EGR mechanism on the basis of: a stable combustion limit air cylinder mass, which is set in accordance with the combustion state in the air cylinders; the mass of the air introduced into the air cylinders; the mass of the fuel; and the moisture amounts.