A method of controlling temperature of an engine aftertreatment system includes directing an exhaust heating device in an engine aftertreatment system to apply heat to the engine aftertreatment system; opening at least one of one or more intake valves and one or more exhaust valves of an engine coupled to the engine aftertreatment system; and pulsing, by an engine starter of the engine, the engine to generate airflow from the engine that moves the applied heat from the exhaust heating device downstream the engine aftertreatment system.

A system includes an exhaust aftertreatment system including a particulate filter and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive information comprising a temperature regarding a filter of the aftertreatment system; and responsive to determining that the temperature regarding the filter is below a temperature threshold, command the engine to operate according to a first firing fraction. The first firing fraction may define a number of active cylinders of the engine relative to a total number of cylinders of the engine, and correspond to a predetermined temperature value of the filter.