In a vehicle control device for stopping an internal combustion engine when a vehicle is traveling at a predetermined speed or higher and a stop condition of the internal combustion engine is satisfied, fuel is injected to the engine even when the stop condition is satisfied, when an EGR rate of the internal combustion engine is equal to or higher than a set value. Alternatively, when the EGR rate is equal to or higher than the set value, an EGR valve attached to an EGR pipe of the engine is controlled in a valve closing direction when the stop condition is satisfied. Alternatively, when the EGR rate is equal to or higher than the set value, clutch engagement is maintained for a clutch control device that disconnects torque transmission between an output shaft of the internal combustion engine and a vehicle drive shaft, even when the stop condition is satisfied.

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a compression ratio of a variable compression ratio (VCR) engine during engine shutdown. In one example, a method (or system) may include actuating a VCR mechanism from a higher compression ratio setting to a lower compression ratio setting after a last combustion event and before the engine spins down to rest. In this way, engine shake, for example, due to piston bounce-back, may be reduced.

A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a motor generator, wherein the internal combustion engine includes a variable compression ratio mechanism structured to vary in mechanical compression ratio depending on variation in position of a compression ratio control member structured to move due to driving of an electric actuator. A control method for the hybrid vehicle includes: measuring a state of charge of a battery connected to the motor generator; and in response to regenerative operation of the motor generator in a state that the state of charge of the battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, consuming generated electric power by driving the electric actuator of the variable compression ratio mechanism.

An internal combustion engine-based system includes an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine-based system includes an engine interrupt connected to the engine. The engine interrupt is configured to selectively stop the operation of the engine. The internal combustion engine-based system includes a controller in communication with the engine interrupt. The internal combustion engine-based system includes a carbon monoxide detector in communication with the controller. The controller uses the engine interrupt to stop the operation of the engine when the carbon monoxide detector provides the controller with signals that are representative of a carbon monoxide level proximate the internal combustion engine that together form a trend of building carbon monoxide amounts over a set time interval.

The disclosure relates to a method and a device for checking the functionality of a crankcase ventilation system of an internal combustion engine. The crankcase ventilation system includes two crankcase ventilation lines arranged between a crankcase outlet of a crankcase and an associated introduction point into an air path of the internal combustion engine, via which crankcase ventilation lines gas can be introduced from the crankcase into the air path. The method includes measuring a pressure in the crankcase, supplying the measured pressure values to a control unit, and calculating the gradient of the measured pressure. The method also includes performing a gradient check, checking whether the gradient satisfies a specified criterion, and returning to the measurement of the pressure if the gradient satisfies the specified criterion. The method also includes recording an entry in a fault memory if the gradient does not satisfy the specified criterion.

Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine that may be automatically stopped and started are described. In one example, inhibiting of automatic engine stopping and starting may be based on comparing an engine off opportunity and a plurality of auxiliary logic performances. The plurality of auxiliary logic performances may be based on a plurality of auxiliary control routine blocks.

The disclosure relates to a method and a device for operating a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a fuel tank, an activated carbon filter, an air filter, an intake tract, a purging line arranged between the activated carbon filter and the intake tract, a purge air pump arranged between the activated carbon filter and the intake tract, a tank purge valve arranged between the purge air pump and the intake tract, and a ventilation arranged between the fresh air filter and the activated carbon filter. The hybrid vehicle can be operated in an electric mode in which the electric motor is activated and the internal combustion engine is deactivated. In such a hybrid vehicle, in electric mode the purge air pump is activated and detection of the concentration of hydrocarbons present in the activated carbon filter is performed with the purge air pump activated.

Provided is a device for performing an automatic stop operation for an internal combustion engine when a predetermined automatic stop requirement is satisfied during an operation of the internal combustion engine and performing a restart operation for the internal combustion engine when a predetermined restart requirement is satisfied during an automatic stop time period of the internal combustion engine. In the device, restart control means (22) executes fuel injection control at the time of start of the restart operation by determining whether or not initial asynchronous injection of a fuel into a cylinder that is in an intake stroke is executable in accordance with an initially detected crank angle after the start of the restart operation and determining a next fuel injection cylinder and a fuel injection timing for the next fuel injection cylinder.

Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a knock sensor of an engine system by actively inducing knock in an engine cylinder. A laser ignition device is operated in an engine cylinder located closest to the knock sensor while the engine is at rest and with the cylinder parked with an intake valve and an exhaust valve closed to generate and trap heat in the cylinder. Spark timing is advanced in the cylinder on the subsequent restart, which in combination with the trapped heat induces knock, and elicits a response from a functional knock sensor.

Methods and systems are provided for cleaning an exhaust particulate filter by routing air via the exhaust particulate filter during a vehicle-off condition. In one example, during vehicle-off conditions, a turbocharger may be reverse rotated via an electric motor or an engine may be reverse rotated via an electric machine to route air via the exhaust particulate filter and the soot collected from the particulate filter may then be deposited on an air filter coupled to the intake manifold. During a subsequent engine start, the soot from the intake air filter may be routed to the engine cylinders for combustion.