Methods for indicating whether a crankcase of an engine is breeched are provided. One example method comprises restricting a communication of the crankcase with atmosphere, acting to increase or decrease a crankcase pressure, and indicating whether the crankcase is breeched based on the crankcase pressure. Another example method comprises sensing a crankcase pressure component, and indicating whether the crankcase is breeched based on the crankcase pressure component, the crankcase communicating with atmosphere via a conduit, a restrictedness of the conduit responsive to one or more of a crankcase pressure and a signal from an electronic control unit of the motor vehicle. Still other examples provide more particular methods for indicating whether the crankcase is breeched, and example configurations that enable the various methods.

An internal combustion engine includes on-off valves that configure a closed space by closing an internal space of a breather line, a pump that depressurizes or pressurizes the closed space, a pressure sensor that detects a pressure of the closed space, and an abnormality assessment element that assesses abnormality of the breather line. The abnormality assessment element assesses abnormality of the breather line based on a pressure change of the closed space in a case where the closed space is depressurized or pressurized by the pump.

An abnormality determination apparatus for an internal combustion engine in which an intake passage upstream of a supercharger and a crankcase are connected by a breather line includes: an intake flow rate detection unit that detects an intake flow rate in the intake passage; and an abnormality determination unit that determines abnormality of the breather line. The abnormality determination unit accumulates a time for which a rotation second-order component of a fluctuation waveform of the intake flow rate is equal to or more than a threshold over a predetermined period of time and determines the abnormality of the breather line when the accumulated value is less than a predetermined accumulation threshold.

An abnormality determination apparatus for an internal combustion engine in which an intake passage upstream of a supercharger and a crankcase are connected by a breather line includes: an intake flow rate detection unit that detects an intake flow rate in the intake passage; and an abnormality determination unit that determines abnormality of the breather line. The abnormality determination unit accumulates a value calculated from a rotation second-order component of a fluctuation waveform of the intake flow rate over a predetermined period of time and determines the abnormality of the breather line when the accumulated value is less than a predetermined threshold.

An abnormality determination device of an internal combustion engine in which a breather line connects an intake-air path positioned upstream from a forced-induction system and a crankcase includes an intake-air flow rate sensor that detects an intake air flow rate in the intake-air path, a pressure sensor that detects a pressure in the breather line, and an abnormality determination unit that determines abnormality of the breather line. The abnormality determination unit compares the pressure and a threshold for each flow rate, integrates a number of times the pressure becomes the threshold or greater, and determines abnormality of the breather line when an integrated value becomes a predetermined value or greater within a predetermined time. The abnormality determination unit calculates a weight coefficient for each flow rate and assigns weights to a number of times the pressure becomes the threshold or greater by using the weight coefficient.

A rotating crankcase ventilation system comprises a housing comprising an inlet and an outlet, a motor comprising a stator and a rotor, and a shaft. A first end of the shaft is coupled to the rotor and configured to rotate in response to rotation of the rotor. A filter element is coupled to the shaft. A sensor is configured to measure at least one operating parameter of the rotating crankcase ventilation system. A controller is operatively coupled to the sensor and the motor, the controller configured to receive the at least one operating parameter and selectively adjust operation of the motor to adjust rotation of the rotor, and thereby, the filter element based on the at least one operating parameter.

A crankcase ventilation system for a turbocharged engine has full bi-directional flow for an idle state and a boosted state. A PCV valve provides air flow from the crankcase to the intake manifold in the idle state. A restriction in a first vent line limits fresh air into the crankcase in the idle state. A PCV bypass permits a one-way flow into the crankcase via a second vent line bypassing the PCV valve in the boosted state. A pressure relief valve in communication with the first vent line is configured to bypass the restriction in the boosted state when a pressure in the crankcase exceeds a threshold pressure. In a preferred embodiment, the PCV bypass is configured to bypass both the PCV valve and a pull separator (i.e., oil separator at the second vent line) in the boosted state.

A PCV valve mounting structure includes a cylinder head of an engine, an intake manifold coupled with the cylinder head to form a blow-by gas passage. A PCV valve is disposed in the blow-by gas passage. The PCV valve includes a valve case and a plurality of seal members elastically supporting the valve case on the cylinder head and the intake manifold. The PCV valve is configured to control a flow rate of the blow-by gas depending on the negative intake pressure of the engine. The PCV valve has a measuring passage configured to adjust the flow rate of the blow-by gas and positioned upstream of the seal members. An annular space is formed between the cylinder head and the valve case. The annular space extends in the lengthwise longitudinal axial direction from an upstream end of the valve case.

Various embodiments include a method for monitoring the ventilation of a crankcase of an internal combustion engine with combustion chambers and a nitrogen oxide sensor arranged in an exhaust system, the sensor configured to detect an amount of nitrogen oxide in exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine. An example method includes: determining a predefined operating mode of the internal combustion engine defined by substantially no combustion of an air/fuel mixture taking place inside the combustion chambers; determining an amount of nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas during the predefined operating mode of the internal combustion engine using the exhaust gas sensor; and identifying functional ventilation of the crankcase if the detected nitrogen oxide level exceeds a predefined nitrogen oxide threshold or identifying a malfunction if the detected nitrogen oxide level is below the predefined nitrogen oxide threshold.

Methods for indicating whether a crankcase of an engine is breeched are provided. One example method comprises restricting a communication of the crankcase with atmosphere, acting to increase or decrease a crankcase pressure, and indicating whether the crankcase is breeched based on the crankcase pressure. Another example method comprises sensing a crankcase pressure component, and indicating whether the crankcase is breeched based on the crankcase pressure component, the crankcase communicating with atmosphere via a conduit, a restrictedness of the conduit responsive to one or more of a crankcase pressure and a signal from an electronic control unit of the motor vehicle. Still other examples provide more particular methods for indicating whether the crankcase is breeched, and example configurations that enable the various methods.