A compression ignition engine includes an air intake port, an intake air heater disposed upstream of the air intake port and an air blend valve in communication with the intake air heater and the air intake port, and a control unit is configured to perform the noted method. A method includes determining a target temperature for intake air at an air intake port of a compression ignition engine; determining a maximum port temperature for an air blend valve of the engine; designating an intake air heater or the air blend valve as a primary actuator for controlling temperature of the intake air, based on the maximum port temperature of the air blend valve; and controlling the temperature of the intake air based on the designated primary actuator. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium has instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the method.

A compression ignition engine includes an air intake port, an intake air heater disposed upstream of the air intake port and an air blend valve in communication with the intake air heater and the air intake port, and a control unit is configured to perform the noted method. A method includes determining a target temperature for intake air at an air intake port of a compression ignition engine; determining a maximum port temperature for an air blend valve of the engine; designating an intake air heater or the air blend valve as a primary actuator for controlling temperature of the intake air, based on the maximum port temperature of the air blend valve; and controlling the temperature of the intake air based on the designated primary actuator. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium has instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform the method.