A control device of an internal combustion engine includes an estimating means adapted to estimate an amount of a mixture of fuel and oil dispersing according to a movement of a piston within a cylinder; and a limiting means adapted to limit an upper limit torque (UT) of an internal combustion engine according to the estimated amount of the mixture.

A method of operating a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine having a reciprocating piston includes performing a multi after-injection pattern having at least one pair of consecutive injection pulses both starting after a top dead center of the piston and separated by a dwell time shorter than 200 as.

An estimation device is applicable to a combustion system in which relative movement of a piston to a cylinder is lubricated with a lubricating oil. An estimation device includes a mixing acquisition unit and a piercing force estimation unit. The mixing acquisition unit acquires a mixing ratio of various components contained in a fuel injected into the combustion chamber. The piercing force estimation unit estimates a piercing force of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber according to the mixing ratio acquired with the mixing acquisition unit to manage reach of the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, at least one of the cylinder and the piston.

A control device for an engine includes an electronic control unit configured to estimate a water content mixed in engine oil based on a history of a fuel injection amount during an operation of the engine and restrain freezing of water such that, when the water content thus estimated is a predetermined amount or more, the electronic control unit increases a mixing amount of the fuel into the engine oil as compared with a case where the water content thus estimated is less than the predetermined amount. The control device estimates the water content mixed in the engine oil as a function of an integrated value of water content while an oil temperature of the engine is less than a predetermined temperature.

A vehicle includes an engine and a controller programmed to, responsive to an estimated oil dilution level of the engine exceeding a first threshold, issue commands such that regenerative braking is inhibited to increase a temperature of the engine, and responsive to the estimated oil dilution level falling below the first threshold, discontinue issuing the commands.

An ECU is applied to a hybrid vehicle that is equipped with an internal combustion engine and a second motor-generator, which are configured to output a driving force for running. The hybrid vehicle is configured to run with the internal combustion engine in intermittent operation. Also, the ECU is configured to calculate an amount of dilution water that is mixed into oil in the internal combustion engine to dilute the oil. The ECU is configured to operate the internal combustion engine when the amount of the dilution water becomes larger than a first threshold.

A fuel injection amount control device controls a fuel injection amount of an injector in an internal combustion engine including a blow-by gas ventilation system. The fuel injection amount control device includes a reflection rate setting section, a dilution correction section, and a dilution learning section. The reflection rate setting section sets a reflection rate proportional to the amount of a blow-by gas discharged to an intake air. The dilution correction section corrects a fuel injection amount by using, as a correction value, the product obtained by multiplying a reflection rate by a dilution learning value. The dilution learning section updates the dilution learning value such that an air-fuel ratio F/B correction value approaches 0 on the condition that a fuel dilution amount of engine oil is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

A positive crankcase ventilation gas diversion and reclamation system comprises a positive crankcase ventilation gas diversion line to divert oil laden positive crankcase ventilation gases from the air intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. A positive crankcase ventilation gas diversion line directs oil laden positive crankcase ventilation gases into a vapor headspace of a fuel tank. A pressure sensor measures a vapor pressure in a vapor headspace of a fuel tank, and a fuel tank vent valve is operative with a fuel tank vent line. A controller actuates the fuel tank vent valve into an open position and discharges fuel enriched vapor to the air intake manifold of the internal combustion engine. A method permits diverting positive crankcase ventilation gasses from the air intake manifold of an engine, and reclaiming oil laden fuel components and/or particulates from positive crankcase ventilation gasses.

A control apparatus is applied to an internal combustion engine in which fuel used for operation is changed between liquid fuel containing alcohol and gas fuel. The control apparatus includes an electronic control unit configured to prohibit use of the gas fuel when a ratio of dilution of lubricating oil by the liquid fuel in a lubricating oil storage portion of the internal combustion engine is equal to or larger than a predetermined value or when an amount of the liquid fuel mixed in the lubricating oil in the lubricating oil storage portion is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount.

Methods and systems are provided for filtering an oil dilution amount based on a current value of the oil dilution amount. In one example, filtering the oil dilution amount may include decreasing a sensitivity of filtering at lower oil dilution below a threshold; otherwise, increasing the sensitivity of filtering. The sensitivity of the filtering may be decreased by implementing a larger time constant, while the sensitivity of the filtering may be increased by implementing a smaller time constant.