An engine idle reduction control apparatus includes a first data acquiring unit, a detecting unit, a first determining unit, a control unit, and a second determining unit. The detecting unit is configured to detect a traffic circle, on the basis of traveling environment data acquired by the first data acquiring unit. The control unit is configured to execute an idle reduction, in a case where the first determining unit determines that a control condition for a pre-stop idle reduction control is satisfied. The second determining unit is configured to determine whether a prohibition condition for the pre-stop idle reduction control is satisfied, in a case where the traffic circle is detected. The control unit is configured to prohibit the idle reduction even in a case where the control condition is determined to be satisfied, on a condition that the prohibition condition is determined to be satisfied.

A method in a combustion engine 100 for determining a desired fuel setting λ+. The method comprises configuring a fuel setting λ, determining a combustion engine parameter β in dependence of the configured fuel setting λ, wherein the combustion engine parameter is related to the fuel setting by a convex function relationship, and updating the fuel setting λ towards the desired fuel setting λ+, based on the determined combustion engine parameter β and on the convex function relationship between the fuel setting λ and the combustion engine parameter β.

A method for operating an idling control device for a motor vehicle. The idling control device specifies a total setpoint torque including a setpoint torque of an electric motor and a setpoint torque of an internal combustion engine which interacts with the electric motor, and sets the setpoint torques by respective control paths. In a first operating mode the idling control device sets a requested total setpoint torque only via the control path of the internal combustion engine by at least one control intervention, and in a second operating mode the idling control device sets the requested total setpoint torque by at least one control intervention via the control path of the internal combustion engine and by at least one control intervention via the control path of the electric motor. The control interventions via the control path of the internal combustion engine consist of at least one predetermined slow control intervention, and the control interventions in the control path of the electric motor consist of at least one predetermined fast control intervention, which intervenes with a higher rate of change over time than the at least one predetermined slow control intervention.

A method in a combustion engine 100 for determining a desired fuel setting λ+. The method comprises configuring a fuel setting λ, determining a combustion engine parameter β in dependence of the configured fuel setting λ, wherein the combustion engine parameter is related to the fuel setting by a convex function relationship, and updating the fuel setting λ towards the desired fuel setting λ+, based on the determined combustion engine parameter β and on the convex function relationship between the fuel setting λ and the combustion engine parameter β.

A method and a system for adjusting a base idle speed of an engine are described. In one example, the method reduces engine speed according to output of a sensor that senses mechanical vibrations. Once a vibration level exceeds a threshold, engine speed reduction ceases and the base engine idle speed is adjusted according to a present engine speed.

Methods for determining an irregular fuel request (IFR) for vehicle engines coupled to driveshafts via clutched transmissions are provided and include: determining an idle condition of the engine, generating one or more fuel requests during the idle condition, and determining an IFR based on a clutch control parameter and a fuel request generated during the idle condition. The idle condition of the engine is determined based on a vehicle speed and an engine speed if the vehicle speed and engine speed are below respective thresholds. An IFR is determined if a fuel request falls outside a range, and/or if the clutch control parameter is such that the clutch does not substantially impart load to the engine. The idle fuel request range is determined based on a combustion mode of the engine and/or a gear state of the transmission. The method further includes implementing a control action after determining an IFR.

An apparatus, method, and system for controlling an idle speed of an internal combustion engine during certain vehicle component operations to minimize unwanted motion and vibration. A transmission neutral engagement, a transmission forward or reverse gear engagement, and a vehicle speed are detected. An engine target idle speed is set to a first speed during the neutral engagement. An engine target idle speed is set to a second idle speed when a vehicle speed is less than a threshold speed and the forward or reverse gear is activated. The vehicle target idle speed is set to a third idle speed when the vehicle speed is greater than a threshold speed while the forward or reverse gear is activated, wherein the first target idle speed, second target idle speed and third target idle speed are different engine speeds.

A vehicular breather device through which an inside space of a casing accommodating a power transmitting system of a vehicle is open to an outside atmosphere outside the casing, the vehicular breather device including: a second shaft rotated with a rotary motion of a first shaft of the power transmitting system transmitted thereto through a power transmitting member, the second shaft being accommodated within the casing, having a breather chamber formed therethrough, and being disposed so as not to contribute to transmission of a vehicle drive force through the power transmitting system; and a breather disposed so as to extend through a communication hole formed through the casing, for communication between the breather chamber and the outside atmosphere outside the casing.

An apparatus, method, and system for controlling an idle speed of an internal combustion engine during certain vehicle component operations to minimize unwanted motion and vibration. A transmission neutral engagement, a transmission forward or reverse gear engagement, and a vehicle speed are detected. An engine target idle speed is set to a first speed during the neutral engagement. An engine target idle speed is set to a second idle speed when a vehicle speed is less than a threshold speed and the forward or reverse gear is activated. The vehicle target idle speed is set a third idle speed when the vehicle speed is greater than a threshold speed while the forward or reverse gear is activated, wherein the first target idle speed, second target idle speed and third target idle speed are different engine speeds.

A test kit is disclosed for testing an internal combustion engine with the engine kept at a fixed load condition. The test kit includes a test module programmed to execute a sequence of individual cylinder tests by measuring, in each cylinder test, a first engine performance value and providing an amount of fuel to one cylinder under test to differ from an amount of fuel provided to the rest of the plurality of cylinders. A further test module is programmed to measure, in an idle period between subsequent individual cylinder tests of the sequence of individual cylinder tests, a second engine performance value. This further test module is programmed to discard at least some of the individual cylinder tests if the second engine performance value measured by the further test module passes a threshold.