Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing functionality of a vehicle fuel system and a vehicle evaporative emissions system, and one or more components thereof, subsequent to refueling a vehicle fuel tank, and wherein the refueling event may comprise a remote refueling event. In one example, after completion of the refueling event, the fuel system and evaporative emissions system are sealed from atmosphere and from each other, and pressure is monitored in both the fuel system and evaporative emissions system in order to indicate the presence or absence of undesired evaporative emissions in both the fuel system and evaporative emissions system, and to indicate whether the fuel system is effectively sealed from the evaporative emissions system. In this way, costs associated with vehicle repair may be decreased, and undesired evaporative emissions to the atmosphere may be reduced.

A computer for a vehicle is programmed to receive fuel level data over a period of time during a refueling operation. Based on the fuel level data, the computer determines that fuel flow rate during one portion of the refueling operation is materially reduced relative to other portions of the refueling operation. The computer is programmed to output a failure mode based on the determination.

A method of monitoring a vehicle includes monitoring a precollision fuel level, detecting a collision event, and detecting a vehicle orientation based at least on the precollision fuel level and a postcollision fuel level. The method can be executed by a controller having a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instructions where the processor is programmed to monitor the precollision fuel level, detect the collision event, and detect the vehicle orientation based on at least a precollision fuel level and a postcollision fuel level.

Methods and systems are provided for estimating fuel levels in a fuel tank. In one example, a method may comprise adjusting estimates of a fuel level in a fuel tank based on an amount of fuel added to the fuel tank during a refueling event. The amount of fuel added to the fuel tank may be provided by a vehicle operator via one or more of a dashboard user interface, a wireless device user interface, and a digital camera included within a user device.

A fuel supply arrangement (1) for a fuel monitoring system (3). It comprises a fuel distribution arrangement (31) and a fuel monitoring outlet line (29) which, in use, is connected to a source of fuel (7). The fuel distribution arrangement (31) comprises a fuel monitoring supply line (57), to which is connected an inline fuel pump (53). A first fuel sensor supply circuit (67) and a second fuel sensor supply circuit (71) are each connected to the fuel monitoring supply circuit (57) downstream of the inline fuel pump (53). The first fuel sensor supply circuit (67) is provided with a sensor inlet connection and a sensor outlet connection for inline connection of a sensor. The second fuel sensor supply circuit (71) comprises a sensor manifold (91) with ports for connection of a plurality of sensors (97,99) in series with each other. The fuel distribution arrangement (31) comprises a fuel outlet line (43) to which the first fuel sensor supply circuit (67) and the second fuel sensor supply circuit (71) are fluidly connected.

The present invention generally relates to a system for creating a consumer market for gasoline enabled by a computerized (smart) fuel gauge that will communicate via an Internet connection with participating near-by gasoline stations to purchase specific amounts of gasoline using pre-loaded funds. Gasoline stations can broadcast their rate (price) for gasoline and/or provide individual vehicles with a custom rate depending on the amount and quality of gasoline requested. Vehicles will also be able to request a custom rate and the gasoline station has the option to accept it. Vehicles can set their interest in accepting offers based on the level of their current gasoline supply.

A control method comprises: receiving from a first vehicle, first information including a first required amount of the energy source; receiving from a second vehicle, second information including a second required amount of the energy source; and determining, when a total sum of required amounts of the energy source received from two or more vehicles including the first vehicle and the second vehicle is larger than a remaining amount in a storage reservoir, i) a first reserved supply amount of the energy source for the first vehicle, wherein the first reserved supply amount is smaller than the first required amount, and ii) a second reserved supply amount of the energy source for the second vehicle. The second reserved supply amount is determined within a range where a total sum of the first reserved supply amount and the second reserved supply amount does not exceed the remaining amount.

In a fuel supply device for separating raw fuel into high-octane fuel and low-octane fuel and supplying the fuel, to arrange the structural components compactly and to facilitate sealing against fuel vapor, the fuel supply device (1) includes: a raw fuel tank (2) for storing raw fuel; a separator (6) provided inside the raw fuel tank to separate the raw fuel into high-octane fuel that contains a greater amount of components with high octane numbers than the raw fuel and low-octane fuel that contains a greater amount of components with low octane numbers than the raw fuel; and a high-octane fuel tank (5) provided inside the raw fuel tank to store the high-octane fuel separated from the raw fuel by the separator.

A method is provided for operating a first motor vehicle, at least one characteristic relevant to the operation of the first motor vehicle being ascertained and at least one component of the first motor vehicle being actuated on the basis of the at least one characteristic. The at least one characteristic is ascertained in at least one second motor vehicle. An arrangement for implementing such a method is also provided.

Fuel anti-theft systems, apparatus, and methods. Embodiments provide fuel anti-theft systems including a circuit and sensors which define nominal (secure) and tampered-with states. The tampered-with states are indicative of the sensor(s) being absent. Controllers of the current embodiment, moreover, senses a combined state of (all of a pre-selected number of) the sensors and determines therefrom whether all of the sensors are present and secure. In some embodiments, the controller senses the sensors (which can be wired in parallel) via a vehicle chassis ground. If desired, a resistor (which is about electrically equivalent to one of the sensors) and/or a geo-positioning system can be connected to the controller. The sensors can include normally open switches and clamps, cable ties, adhesives, etc. which close the switches. Some sensors include grounding straps while others include ground return leads. In some embodiments, sensors are positioned at vehicle fuel caps and/or fuel filters.