Methods and systems are provided for indicating degradation of a VCR mechanism that mechanically alters a cylinder compression ratio. Degradation is detected based on an elevated knock incidence and increased spark retard usage. If the VCR mechanism is stuck, knock and pre-ignition that could be induced by continued operation in a higher than intended compression ratio is mitigated by limiting the engine load.

A method of controlling an engine includes setting a target torque of the engine, controlling an engine torque based on the target torque, setting an allowable torque that is greater than the target torque, detecting a plurality of differing operating state parameters as indicators indicating an actual operating state of the engine, individually calculating actual torques that are actual engine torques based on the plurality of detected operating state parameters, selecting a largest value among the calculated actual torques as a final actual torque, comparing the selected actual torque to the allowable torque, and generating a control signal according to a result of comparison between the actual torque and the allowable torque.

Various embodiments may include a method for checking the plausibility of the functionality of a crankcase ventilation system of an internal combustion engine, wherein crankcase ventilation system has a crankcase, an intake tract equipped with an intake manifold, and a connecting line arranged between the crankcase and the intake manifold, the method comprising: detecting an occurrence of a negative load change; in response, comparing a measured intake manifold pressure with a modelled intake manifold pressure using acquired operating variables of the internal combustion engine and of a crankcase model; and determining on the basis of the comparison result whether the connecting line arranged between the crankcase and the intake manifold becomes blocked or drops out.

An outboard motor includes an engine, a fuel tank, a fuel pathway, a fuel pump, and a controller. The engine includes a fuel injector. The fuel tank includes an internal space in which fuel is stored. The fuel pathway is connected to the fuel injector and the fuel tank. The fuel pump is disposed in the fuel pathway, and supplies the fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel injector. The controller controls the fuel pump. The controller determines whether or not a start condition, indicating that air has entered the fuel pathway, is satisfied. The controller is configured or programmed to execute an air releasing control to open the fuel injector and drive the fuel pump when the start condition is satisfied.

A first vehicle includes a hydrocarbon sensor and a controller in communication with the hydrocarbon sensor. The controller is programmed to receive data from the hydrocarbon sensor indicating hydrocarbon emissions and determine that the hydrocarbon emissions originated in a second vehicle and are exceed a predetermined threshold. The controller may further be programmed to transmit a message reporting the hydrocarbon emission to a remote server.

A method of detecting a defeat device includes: determining turbo operation when a turbocharger of a vehicle is operated; determining flow rate of the air to be applied to an intake manifold wherein it is determined whether which flow rate out of a first flow rate of the air passing through a throttle valve and a second flow rate of the air measured by a hot-film air mass flow (HFM) sensor is used as the flow rate of the intake manifold; determining whether pressure in the intake manifold is in a normal range based on the flow rate of the intake manifold; and determining that the defeat device is installed if it is determined that the pressure in the intake manifold is not in the normal range and storing information of the defeat device.

A control device of a general-purpose engine which can continue operation of a working machine even when an operation management unit of the working machine has failed. The control device includes an engine control unit that controls the general-purpose engine based on a command from the operation management unit managing an operating state of the working machine, a communication interface for communicating with an external device; a management program acquisition unit that acquires a management program that is used by the operation management unit to manage the operating state, from the external device through the communication interface and stores the acquired management program in a storage medium, and an operation management substitute unit that manages the operating state of the working machine in place of the operation management unit in accordance with the management program when a failure of operation management unit is detected.

A fuel vapor control system for a vehicle includes a fuel vapor canister that traps fuel vapor from a fuel tank of the vehicle. A purge valve opens to allow fuel vapor flow to an intake system of an engine and closes to prevent fuel vapor flow to the intake system of the engine. An electrical pump pumps fuel vapor from the fuel vapor canister to the purge valve. A pressure sensor measures a pressure within a conduit at a location between the electrical pump and the purge valve. A purge control module, based on the pressure measured using the pressure sensor at the location between the electrical pump and the purge valve, controls at least one of a speed of the electrical pump and opening of the purge valve.

A method for diagnosing a no-start fault of a vehicle push-button start system including a push-button switch, where the system starts a vehicle engine if the switch is pressed and a vehicle brake is applied. The method includes detecting that a no engine crank condition has occurred if the switch is pressed and the brake is applied, and if so, performs a no crank diagnosis. The method also includes determining that a starter control relay has not been enabled after the system is in a crank power mode, and if so, performs a starter not-enabled diagnosis. The method also includes determining that the starter control relay has been disabled before the engine is running, and if so, performs a start disable diagnosis. The method also includes determining that the engine has stalled within some minimum time after it has successfully been started, and if so, performs an engine stall diagnosis.

A carbon monoxide detection, warning, and mitigation assembly for a vehicle includes a control module, a plurality of bulbs, and a plurality of sensors. The control module is configured to couple to a vehicle and is operationally couplable to an electronic controller of the vehicle. The bulbs and the sensors are configured to couple to an interior surface of the vehicle and are operationally coupled to the control module. The sensors are configured to measure a carbon monoxide level in a passenger compartment of the vehicle and to communicate the carbon monoxide level to the control module. The control module is positioned to compel the bulbs to illuminate and the audio system to emit an audible alert to notify the occupants, and to lower the windows of the vehicle to ventilate the passenger compartment. The control module also is configured to compel the electronic controller to turn off the ignition.