Methods and systems are provided for estimating engine oil temperature during conditions when sensors used for engine oil temperature measurement are not functional or not reliable. A null duty cycle of a solenoid spool valve of a variable cam timing mechanism is estimated. Then, a calibrated relationship between the duty cycle, an angular velocity of the associated cam, and the engine oil temperature is used to estimate an engine oil temperature when existing sensors used in the calculation of engine oil temperature calculation become unreliable.

A component for a motor vehicle, with at least one receiving space for structural elements of the drive component, with at least one first wall that delimits the receiving space at least partially, by way of which at least one collecting region for collecting a lubricant for lubricating the structural elements is delimited at least partially, and with at least one second wall, which is arranged on a side of the first wall that faces away from the collecting region, and which is spaced apart from the first wall at least in a partial region, so that, between the walls, an intermediate space that is delimited at least partially by the walls is formed. For setting a heat transfer coefficient between the walls, a liquid can be introduced into the intermediate space and discharged out of the intermediate space.

An oil sump, an internal combustion engine, a vehicle and a method are disclosed. The oil sump comprises a container defining a volume for containing oil in which the volume comprises a primary volume for containing an oil outlet, a secondary volume and an intermediate volume. A first wall divides the primary volume from the intermediate volume. The first wall comprises a first restricted flow means configured to enable a restricted flow of oil from the intermediate volume to the primary volume. A second wall comprising a second restricted flow means is arranged to divide the secondary volume from the intermediate volume. A top-up arrangement is configured to direct returned oil to the secondary volume and enable excess returned oil to overflow into the intermediate volume. A first weir means is positioned to enable an overflow of returned oil into the primary volume.

The oil circulation system of an internal combustion engine comprises: a high temperature side oil circulation path provided with a high temperature side oil pan, a high temperature side part supplied with oil, and a heating part, and circulating oil among these; a low temperature side oil circulation path provided with a low temperature side oil pan and a low temperature side part supplied with oil, and circulating oil between the low temperature side oil pan and the low temperature side part supplied with oil; an oil transport mechanism transporting oil between the low temperature side oil circulation path and the high temperature side oil circulation path; and a control device configured to control transport of oil by the oil transport mechanism while the internal combustion engine is operating.

An oil circulation system of an internal combustion engine comprises a first oil pan and second oil pan, first oil supplied parts supplied with oil stored in the first oil pan, second oil supplied parts supplied with oil stored in the second oil pan, and a heating part. The heating part has oil paths through which oil flows and heats the oil flowing through the oil paths. The oil circulation system comprises a first circulation path circulating oil through the first oil pan, heating part, and first oil supplied parts, and a second circulation path circulating oil between the second oil pan and the second oil supplied parts.

Provided are oil reservoirs and engine oil circulation systems including an upper sump capable of receiving oil from an engine, a lower sump disposed vertically below the upper sump, a valve-controlled orifice (VCO) penetrating the upper sum bottom, an oil chimney capable of receiving oil and communicating oil to the lower sump, and an oil conduit capable of extracting oil from the lower sump. Methods for operating systems include maintaining the VCO in an open position for a draw down duration temporally proximate an engine cold start, subsequently circulating oil between the engine and the oil reservoir, actuating the VCO to a closed position subsequent to the draw down duration for a warmup duration, and actuating the VCO to an open position subsequent to the warmup duration. Methods can further include actuating the VCO to an open position during the warmup duration in response to an increased oil demand event.

A device for the thermal management of a power train includes a main housing accommodating an electric motor and its cooling circuit and a speed reducer including a lubrication circuit. The main housing includes an oil sump arranged in the lower part of the main housing and a partition separating same into two parts, wherein there are arranged respectively, on the one hand, the motor and its cooling circuit, and on the other hand, the speed reducer and its lubrication circuit, while an oil channel extends in the oil sump through the partition in order to bring the two parts into communication and includes one end on the speed reducer side provided with a valve for regulating the oil flow, controlled by the oil temperature, so as to close the oil passage in the oil channel when the oil temperature on the speed reducer side reaches a predetermined temperature threshold.

A drive unit, method, and control system are provided that warm drive unit fluid in a drive unit having a main pump, a scavenge pump, and an electric motor for powering an axle of a vehicle. The control system and method are configured to fill a main sump of the drive unit with drive unit fluid to a predetermined fill level. In a warm-up mode, the method and control system operate the electric motor to heat the drive unit fluid within the main sump while the vehicle is stationary and the electric motor is at least partially disposed in the drive unit fluid within the main sump. Further in the warm-up mode, the method and control system are configured to operate the scavenge pump to pump the drive unit fluid from the main sump into an auxiliary reservoir after the drive unit fluid has been heated by the electric motor.

A drive unit, method, and control system are provided that warm drive unit fluid in a drive unit having a main pump, a scavenge pump, and an electric motor for powering an axle of a vehicle. The control system and method are configured to fill a main sump of the drive unit with drive unit fluid to a predetermined fill level. In a warm-up mode, the method and control system operate the electric motor to heat the drive unit fluid within the main sump while the vehicle is stationary and the electric motor is at least partially disposed in the drive unit fluid within the main sump. Further in the warm-up mode, the method and control system are configured to operate the scavenge pump to pump the drive unit fluid from the main sump into an auxiliary reservoir after the drive unit fluid has been heated by the electric motor.

An engine assembly includes an oil pan including an oil pan body defining a cavity. The oil pan body includes a dividing wall separating the cavity into a first compartment and a second compartment. The engine assembly further includes a drip tray coupled to the oil pan body. The drip tray is disposed over the second compartment and can direct oil to the first compartment where the oil is warmed up initially in order to minimize the time it takes to heat the oil when the internal combustion engine is warming up. The engine assembly further includes an oil scraper coupled to the oil pan body. The oil scraper is disposed over the drip tray and can scrape oil from a crankshaft.