Systems and methods described herein relate to managing the freshness of the fuel in a vehicle. One embodiment tracks a freshness level of the fuel in the vehicle as time passes; determines a fuel consumption plan based, at least in part, on a predetermined refueling schedule for the vehicle and the freshness level of the fuel in the vehicle; and activates an internal combustion engine of the vehicle automatically on one or more occasions in accordance with the fuel consumption plan to consume at least a portion of the fuel.

Systems and methods for operating a spark ignition engine that includes a particulate filter in the engine's exhaust system are described. In one example, a threshold temperature at which the spark ignition engine may be automatically stopped is adjusted according to an amount of soot that is stored in the particulate filter.

A controller performs hydrolock prevention control when an engine is started. The controller determines whether a crankshaft rotates a predetermined number of times upon starting the engine without ignition of the engine. The controller performs the ignition of the engine after the crankshaft rotates a predetermined number of times.

In response to a restarting request generated during a stopping period, in which fuel injection is stopped to automatically stop engine operation, either starter starting or combustion starting is selected. In the starter starting, the engine is restarted using a starter motor. In the combustion starting, the engine is restarted through fuel injection and ignition without using the starter motor. If the rotational resistance acting on the crankshaft is determined to be of such a magnitude that the combustion starting is impossible, the starter starting is carried out in response to the restarting request generated during the stopping period.

Systems and methods for operating a spark ignition engine that includes a particulate filter in the engine's exhaust system are described. In one example, a threshold temperature at which the spark ignition engine may be automatically stopped is adjusted according to an amount of soot that is stored in the particulate filter.

Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine that may be automatically stopped and started are described. In one example, thresholds for allowing or inhibiting of automatic engine stopping and starting may be adjusted in response to an automatic engine cranking time. Additionally, automatic engine stopping may be inhibited during some conditions.

Systems and methods for operating a spark ignition engine that includes a particulate filter in the engine's exhaust system are described. In one example, a threshold temperature at which the spark ignition engine may be automatically stopped is adjusted according to an amount of soot that is stored in the particulate filter.

The invention relates to a method for starting an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, said internal combustion engine having at least two cylinders, a valve drive with at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve for each of the cylinders, wherein at least the closing times of the inlet valves can be variably adjusted, and a direct injection system, in particular a gasoline direct injection system, the starting process being initiated by a direct injection and ignition in one of the cylinders. During a starting process, the closing time of at least one inlet valve differs from at least one of the other cylinders dependent on at least one current state value.

A control device is provided for controlling a vehicle that includes: an internal combustion engine having a fuel injection valve, an ignition device and an in-cylinder pressure sensor; and an electric motor configured to rotate to drive a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. The control device is configured, when an assist torque is applied to the crankshaft by means of the electric motor, to perform an ignition start-up operation that starts fuel injection and ignition from an expansion stroke cylinder to start up the internal combustion engine. The assist torque is a torque by which the crankshaft is not caused to rotate, and is greater when an in-cylinder pressure in a compression stroke cylinder is higher.

Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine that may be automatically stopped and started are described. In one example, thresholds for allowing or inhibiting of automatic engine stopping and starting may be adjusted in response to an automatic engine cranking time. Additionally, automatic engine stopping may be inhibited during some conditions.