A test method for a vehicle powertrain includes, during a first test in which dynamic engine torque from a powertrain drives a vehicle on a road, recording throttle position or accelerator pedal position to define a throttle schedule, and recording engine speed to define an engine speed schedule. The test method further includes, during a second test of a vehicle engine, controlling a dynamometer and the vehicle engine according to the engine speed schedule and throttle schedule to reproduce the dynamic engine torque.

An internal combustion engine has at least one cylinder wall forming a cylinder, and at least one knock sensor held on a housing element. The knock sensor is fixed to a fastening point of the housing element. An intermediate chamber is provided in the radial direction of the cylinder between at least one section of the cylinder wall and the fastening point of the housing element arranged on a side of the cylinder wall facing away from the cylinder, a distance extending at least in the radial direction of the cylinder being provided as a result. At least one sound transmission bridge extends in the intermediate chamber, bridging the distance from the cylinder wall continuously to the fastening point, via which vibrations, on the basis of which knocking combustion can be detected by the knock sensor, are transferrable from the cylinder wall to the fastening point.

A method for adjusting a valve lash in an internal combustion engine includes receiving a first signal generated by a sensor secured to the internal combustion engine, the first signal being indicative of a closing of a valve, receiving a second signal indicative of at least one of an engine speed of the internal combustion engine or a position of a camshaft of the internal combustion engine, and automatically determining an adjusted amount of lash associated with the valve based on the received first signal and the received second signal. The method also includes comparing the adjusted amount of lash to at least one predetermined threshold, and providing, in response to determining that the adjusted amount of lash is greater than the at least one predetermined threshold, a valve lash re-adjustment notification.

The invention relates to the technology of gasoline direct injection (GDI) in automotive engines. In this context, the invention provides a method for maximizing the formation of deposits in injector nozzles of GDI engines, said method including at least one test cycle, each test cycle including at least one testing step in which a predetermined condition of speed and load of the GDI engine is maintained for a specified period of time, wherein, in said cycle, in at least one testing step, the engine speed is maintained between 1300 and 3700 rpm, the engine load is maintained between 10 and 80% and the specified period of time is from 10 to 200 minutes. Thus, the method of the invention is able to reproduce severe conditions of deposition of material in a few days, so that, in a short period of time, the test fuel can be assessed for tendency to form deposits.

The invention relates to the technology of gasoline direct injection (GDI) in automotive engines. In this context, the invention provides a method for maximizing the formation of deposits in injector nozzles of GDI engines, said method including at least one test cycle, each test cycle including at least one testing step in which a predetermined condition of speed and load of the GDI engine is maintained for a specified period of time, wherein, in said cycle, in at least one testing step, the engine speed is maintained between 1300 and 3700 rpm, the engine load is maintained between 10 and 80% and the specified period of time is from 10 to 200 minutes. Thus, the method of the invention is able to reproduce severe conditions of deposition of material in a few days, so that, in a short period of time, the test fuel can be assessed for tendency to form deposits.

The invention relates to a reciprocating piston machine, in particular with a variable compression ratio, of at least one cylinder with a piston and a connecting rod which is connected to the piston and to a crankshaft of the reciprocating piston machine. The reciprocating piston machine also has a first sensor which is arranged in a cylinder wall of the at least one cylinder and is configured to detect relative movement between a piston skirt of the piston and the cylinder wall. The invention further relates to a method (100) for diagnosing and/or controlling such a reciprocating piston machine (1), in particular with a variable compression ratio, and a system which is suitable therefor.

An internal combustion engine includes a crankcase that defines a crank chamber, a crankshaft that has a crank housed in the crank chamber and is rotatably supported on the crankcase, a cylinder block that is joined to the crankcase and defines a plurality of cylinders in a horizontally-opposed arrangement, a to-be-detected body that rotates integrally with the crankshaft, and a detection sensor that extends through the crankcase from an upper face of the crankcase, is made to face a trajectory of the to-be-detected body, and generates a pulse signal in response to movement of the to-be-detected body. Thus, in a so-called horizontally-opposed internal combustion engine, a structure for disposing a detection sensor that can detect the angular velocity of a crankshaft with high precision is provided.

A work machine determines, when a request to restart an engine is made, whether or not a reason indicated by stop information stored in a memory is a reason related to locking of the work portion. The machine sets an operation mode of the engine and a work portion to a safe mode if it determines that the reason indicated by the stop information is a reason related to locking of the work portion. The safe mode is an operation mode for lessening damage resulting from causing the engine and the work portion to work during the work portion locked or damage resulting from an object coming into contact with the work portion during the engine and the work portion working.

A work machine determines, when a request to restart an engine is made, whether or not a reason indicated by stop information stored in a memory is a reason related to locking of the work portion. The machine sets an operation mode of the engine and a work portion to a safe mode if it determines that the reason indicated by the stop information is a reason related to locking of the work portion. The safe mode is an operation mode for lessening damage resulting from causing the engine and the work portion to work during the work portion locked or damage resulting from an object coming into contact with the work portion during the engine and the work portion working.

Improvements in a mechanism that determines top dead center of an internal combustion engine where detecting the top of the stroke can be difficult to determine as the crank is being rotated. The gauge set mounts into a spark plug or fuel injector hole. These holes are usually a tapped hole where the piston position gauge can be threaded into, to provide a stable and concentric mount where the measurement pin passes through the exterior threaded shaft of the mount. A pin extends into the cylinder to determine when the piston is approaching and at the top of the cylinder. The mount is an elongated stalk that allows for additional cam gauges where the cam gauges can be mounted and linearly adjustable on the single stalk. The measurement is with dial indicators so a user can measure three varying engine parts to determine the top-dead-center.