An apparatus for controlling an engine having a variable valve actuator include: an engine including a plurality of cylinders generating a driving torque by burning fuel, an intake valve selectively opened for supplying air and the fuel to the cylinders through an intake manifold, and an exhaust valve selectively opened for exhausting exhaust gas generated from the cylinders to an exhaust manifold; a variable valve actuator disposed in at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders and adjusting lift and duration of the intake valve or the exhaust valve; and a controller deactivating the at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders through the variable valve actuator according to a driving region of the engine, and recirculating the exhaust gas exhausted from the cylinders into the intake manifold through the deactivated cylinder.

An apparatus and methods are provided for a throttle body spacer that improves the performance of an internal combustion engine. The throttle body spacer comprises a body that includes an airflow opening for conducting airflow from a throttle body into an intake manifold. A spiral is disposed along a sidewall of the airflow opening and configured for swirling the airflow. The spiral comprises a helical shape disposed around a circumference of the sidewall and extends from an initial bore near a first contact surface of the body to a second contact surface. The helical shape includes a diameter that increases as the spiral extends toward the second contact surface, giving the body a sidewall taper angle that contributes to an increase in power output of the engine. A sawtooth cross-sectional shape of the spiral causes the airflow to swirl so as to improve atomization of an air-fuel mixture entering engine.

An apparatus and methods are provided for a throttle body spacer that improves the performance of an internal combustion engine. The throttle body spacer comprises a body that includes an airflow opening for conducting airflow from a throttle body into an intake manifold. A spiral is disposed along a sidewall of the airflow opening and configured for swirling the airflow. The spiral comprises a helical shape disposed around a circumference of the sidewall and extends from an initial bore near a first contact surface of the body to a second contact surface. The helical shape includes a diameter that increases as the spiral extends toward the second contact surface, giving the body a sidewall taper angle that contributes to an increase in power output of the engine. A sawtooth cross-sectional shape of the spiral causes the airflow to swirl so as to improve atomization of an air-fuel mixture entering engine.

An air intake system for a combustion engine includes an air intake duct in fluid communication with an engine intake manifold and a conduit component inserted into the air intake duct along a first assembly direction. The air intake system also includes a hydrocarbon (HC) trap secured to the conduit component within the air intake duct. The conduit component defines at least one retention feature to maintain a position of the HC trap such that removal of the HC trap from the air intake duct results in structural compromise of the at least one retention feature. The air intake duct is also configured to shield the at least one retention feature from user access to inhibit user removal of the HC trap.

An air intake system for a combustion engine includes an air intake duct in fluid communication with an engine intake manifold and a conduit component inserted into the air intake duct along a first assembly direction. The air intake system also includes a hydrocarbon (HC) trap secured to the conduit component within the air intake duct. The conduit component defines at least one retention feature to maintain a position of the HC trap such that removal of the HC trap from the air intake duct results in structural compromise of the at least one retention feature. The air intake duct is also configured to shield the at least one retention feature from user access to inhibit user removal of the HC trap.

A multi-chamber blowoff valve is provided for releasing excess air pressure from a duct system associated with a vehicle. The blowoff valve has a valve housing, an engine-air interface, and a multiple piston assembly. The valve housing is configured to secure to the duct system at a duct-air interface. The engine-air interface is configured to allow air in and out of the valve housing. The multiple piston assembly is disposed within the valve housing and includes an upper piston and a lower piston that move in unison. The multiple piston assembly is configured to be in a closed position while a pressure differential is above a certain threshold and to be in an open position while the pressure differential is below said certain threshold. While in the open position, a portion of the air in the duct system is released.

A multi-chamber blowoff valve is provided for releasing excess air pressure from a duct system associated with a vehicle. The blowoff valve has a valve housing, an engine-air interface, and a multiple piston assembly. The valve housing is configured to secure to the duct system at a duct-air interface. The engine-air interface is configured to allow air in and out of the valve housing. The multiple piston assembly is disposed within the valve housing and includes an upper piston and a lower piston that move in unison. The multiple piston assembly is configured to be in a closed position while a pressure differential is above a certain threshold and to be in an open position while the pressure differential is below said certain threshold. While in the open position, a portion of the air in the duct system is released.

This air intake apparatus includes an air intake apparatus body including an intake air passage and an external gas passage portion provided as a structure separate from the air intake apparatus body inside the air intake apparatus body, the external gas passage portion through which external gas can be introduced into the intake air passage.

This air intake apparatus includes an air intake apparatus body including an intake air passage and an external gas passage portion provided as a structure separate from the air intake apparatus body inside the air intake apparatus body, the external gas passage portion through which external gas can be introduced into the intake air passage.

An exemplary intake manifold may include an upper manifold configured to receive fresh air, an EGR tube configured to introduce exhaust gas into the upper manifold to be mixed with the fresh air, and a lower manifold configured to distribute the mixture of the fresh air and the exhaust gas cylinders of the internal combustion engine. The upper manifold may include an upper shell and a lower shell that may cooperate to define at least one channel in which at least a portion of the EGR tube may be secured.