A controller puts an internal combustion engine in a first induction control state in which a lift amount of an inlet valve is equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount and an opening of a throttle valve is larger than a predetermined opening with respect to a predetermined running state. The controller puts the internal combustion engine in a second induction control state in which the lift amount of the inlet valve is larger than the predetermined amount and the opening of the throttle valve is equal to or smaller than the predetermined opening with respect to the predetermined running state. An automatic stopper automatically stops the internal combustion engine in when the lift amount of the inlet valve is equal to or smaller than the predetermined amount, when a stopping condition of the internal combustion engine is met under which a predetermined vehicle state is produced.

A control device, which is applied to an in-vehicle internal combustion engine equipped with an intake valve variable timing mechanism that varies the valve timing for an intake valve, and which intermittently operates the in-vehicle internal combustion engine by automatically stopping/restarting the engine, wherein the electronic control unit does not permit the engine operation to be automatically stopped when the intake valve variable timing mechanism malfunctions at an operating position closer to the advanced angle than the operating position for the most retarded angle of the variable range for the valve timing of intake valve, and thus preventing increased engine vibration and misfires when the engine automatically restarts, which are caused by a malfunction of the variable valve mechanism.

A controller of a hybrid vehicle is configured to operate the internal combustion engine with ignition timing of the internal combustion engine during the execution of the first warm-up control for operating the internal combustion engine at a first operating point further on a retard side than ignition timing of the internal combustion engine during the execution of the second warm-up control for operating the internal combustion engine at a second operating point, regardless of the driving force required for traveling after the execution of the first warm up control. The controller is configured to set the output of the internal combustion engine and the operation characteristic of the intake valve in accordance with a predetermined characteristic relationship in which the output of the internal combustion engine and the operation characteristic of the intake valve correspond to each other during the execution of the second warm-up control.

An oil control valve system according to one example of the present disclosure incorporates a common or interchangeable oil control valve at distinct locations of an engine to direct operation of switching mechanisms over sets of three cylinders. In another aspect of the present disclosure, four interchangeable oil control valves are used in a six-cylinder engine. Utilizing interchangeable oil control valves minimizes design costs, reduces assembly time, lessens repair or replacement burdens, and allows for enhanced engine performance.

A hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, an electrical storage device, an electric motor, an exhaust emission control device, and a controller. The internal combustion engine includes a variable valve actuating device. The variable valve actuating device is configured to change an operation characteristic (IN1a, IN2a, IN3a) of an intake valve. The electrical storage device is configured to store electric power. The electric power is generated by using the internal combustion engine. The electric motor is configured to generate a driving force of the hybrid vehicle by using the electric power stored in the electrical storage device. The exhaust emission control device is configured to purify exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine with the use of a catalyst. The controller is configured to execute catalyst warm-up control. The catalyst warm-up control is control for warming up the catalyst of the exhaust emission control device. The catalyst warm-up control includes first control (FIRST WARM-UP CONTROL) and second control (SECOND WARM-UP CONTROL). The first control is control for operating the internal combustion engine at a first operating point (P1). The second control is control for, after the first control is executed, operating the internal combustion engine at a second operating (P2) point irrespective of a driving force that is required to propel the hybrid vehicle. An output of the internal combustion engine at the second operating point (P2) is larger than an output of the internal combustion engine at the first operating

An oil control valve system according to one example of the present disclosure incorporates a common or interchangeable oil control valve at distinct locations of an engine to direct operation of switching mechanisms over sets of three cylinders. In another aspect of the present disclosure, four interchangeable oil control valves are used in a six-cylinder engine. Utilizing interchangeable oil control valves minimizes design costs, reduces assembly time, lessens repair or replacement burdens, and allows for enhanced engine performance.