A vehicle fan shroud de-icing assembly includes a vehicle radiator, a fan shroud installed to the radiator, a fan and a heat providing member. The fan is installed to the fan shroud adjacent to the radiator and is configured to selectively move air between heat transferring fins of the radiator. The heat providing member is attached to one of the radiator and the fan shroud. The heat providing member is positioned and configured to provide heat to the fan shroud and/or radiator in order to melt ice, show and shush retained within the fan shroud or on surfaces of the radiator.

In some embodiments, a vehicle includes a temperature monitoring controller. The temperature monitoring controller is a processor, control module, or other suitable hardware that is configured to receive temperature sensor values from an engine control module (ECM) when an ignition bus is in a powered on state, and to decide when the engine should be automatically started in order to maintain a temperature above a low temperature threshold. The temperature monitoring controller periodically causes an ignition bus of the vehicle to be placed in the powered on state when the engine is shut down in order to collect temperature sensor values. The temperature monitoring controller determines whether to automatically start the engine, and if not, determines how long to wait before collecting temperature sensor values again based on a rate of change of the temperature sensor values.

In some embodiments, a vehicle includes a temperature monitoring controller. The temperature monitoring controller is a processor, control module, or other suitable hardware that is configured to receive temperature sensor values from an engine control module (ECM) when an ignition bus is in a powered on state, and to decide when the engine should be automatically started in order to maintain a temperature above a low temperature threshold. The temperature monitoring controller periodically causes an ignition bus of the vehicle to be placed in the powered on state when the engine is shut down in order to collect temperature sensor values. The temperature monitoring controller determines whether to automatically start the engine, and if not, determines how long to wait before collecting temperature sensor values again based on a rate of change of the temperature sensor values.

A cooling system is disclosed for an internal combustion engine. The cooling system may include a first cooling circuit having a first coolant that flows through cooling channels of an engine, and a second cooling circuit having a second coolant that flows through a charge air cooling component. The cooling system may further include a drain line adapted for fluid communication with the first and second cooling circuits. A first temperature responsive valve disposed on the second cooling circuit may be included, the first temperature responsive valve configured to open to allow mixing of the first and second coolants when the temperature of the second coolant is at a preselected minimum temperature. Also included may be a second temperature responsive valve disposed on the drain line and configured to open to drain both cooling circuits when the temperature of the first and second coolants is at a preselected minimum temperature.

An engine and cabin thermal management system for use with a vehicle having an engine, a cabin heating system configured to thermally heat a cabin of the vehicle, a coolant system operably coupled to the engine and to the cabin heating system to thermally manage a temperature of the engine and a temperature of the cabin. The coolant system having one or more coolant thermal storage units fluidly coupled with a radiator and heater core of the coolant system forming a coolant loop. The system further having a control system configured to monitor and maintain at least a predetermined coolant temperature at the cabin heating system even during a coolant temperature decrease at the engine stops.

A vehicular coolant flow system includes: a main cooling circuit configured to circulate a coolant through a power electronic device mounted on a vehicle so as to cool the power electronic device; a heat-radiating device provided in the main cooling circuit so as to cool the coolant; a bypass circuit that branches off at a point between the power electronic device of the main cooling circuit and the heat-radiating device, bypasses the heat-radiating device, and merges with the main cooling circuit; a heating device connected to the bypass circuit and heated by the coolant that has cooled the power electronic device; a first adjustment valve positioned at a point at which the bypass circuit branches off from the main cooling circuit or merges with the main cooling circuit; and a controller that controls the first adjustment valve so as to adjust a flow rate of the coolant supplied to the bypass circuit.

A vehicular coolant flow system includes: a main cooling circuit configured to circulate a coolant through a power electronic device mounted on a vehicle so as to cool the power electronic device; a heat-radiating device provided in the main cooling circuit so as to cool the coolant; a bypass circuit that branches off at a point between the power electronic device of the main cooling circuit and the heat-radiating device, bypasses the heat-radiating device, and merges with the main cooling circuit; a heating device connected to the bypass circuit and heated by the coolant that has cooled the power electronic device; a first adjustment valve positioned at a point at which the bypass circuit branches off from the main cooling circuit or merges with the main cooling circuit; and a controller that controls the first adjustment valve so as to adjust a flow rate of the coolant supplied to the bypass circuit.

A cooling system is disclosed for an internal combustion engine. The cooling system may include a first cooling circuit having a first coolant that flows through cooling channels of an engine, and a second cooling circuit having a second coolant that flows through a charge air cooling component. The cooling system may further include a drain line adapted for fluid communication with the first and second cooling circuits. A first temperature responsive valve disposed on the second cooling circuit may be included, the first temperature responsive valve configured to open to allow mixing of the first and second coolants when the temperature of the second coolant is at a preselected minimum temperature. Also included may be a second temperature responsive valve disposed on the drain line and configured to open to drain both cooling circuits when the temperature of the first and second coolants is at a preselected minimum temperature.

A motor vehicle component assembly including an air door assembly having an air door frame, on which at least one air door is movably arranged for adjusting the area through which air can flow in an air flow opening; a heat source that can include a coolant heat exchanger and/or an internal combustion engine; a blower which in the rated operating mode generates an operating air flow from the air door assembly toward the heat source; a sensor device that detects at least one operating variable and/or one state variable of the motor vehicle component assembly, and/or one state variable of the area surrounding the motor vehicle component assembly, and on the basis of this detection, outputs at least one detection variable; and a control device, which is configured to control the operation of the blower, the control device being configured to operate the blower, based on the at least one detected variable, in a deicing mode that is different from the rated operating mode, in which the blower generates a deicing air flow from the heat source toward the air door assembly.

A motor vehicle component assembly including an air door assembly having an air door frame, on which at least one air door is movably arranged for adjusting the area through which air can flow in an air flow opening; a heat source that can include a coolant heat exchanger and/or an internal combustion engine; a blower which in the rated operating mode generates an operating air flow from the air door assembly toward the heat source; a sensor device that detects at least one operating variable and/or one state variable of the motor vehicle component assembly, and/or one state variable of the area surrounding the motor vehicle component assembly, and on the basis of this detection, outputs at least one detection variable; and a control device, which is configured to control the operation of the blower, the control device being configured to operate the blower, based on the at least one detected variable, in a deicing mode that is different from the rated operating mode, in which the blower generates a deicing air flow from the heat source toward the air door assembly.