Abstract: A method for heating fuel upon start-up of a hybrid vehicle combustion engine, in which method temperature of fuel and temperature outside the vehicle are compared against a first threshold below which starting of the vehicle is forbidden, and against a second threshold higher than the first threshold and above which the engine will start without the fuel being heated. The fuel is heated by exchange of heat with a cooling circuit for the vehicle battery when the external temperature is between the two thresholds.

Abstract: A method for heating fuel upon start-up of a hybrid vehicle combustion engine, in which method temperature of fuel and temperature outside the vehicle are compared against a first threshold below which starting of the vehicle is forbidden, and against a second threshold higher than the first threshold and above which the engine will start without the fuel being heated. The fuel is heated by exchange of heat with a cooling circuit for the vehicle battery when the external temperature is between the two thresholds.

Abstract: A method for controlling an automotive internal combustion engine having direct fuel injection is described, with the method comprising a fuel adaption part in which a fuel quality parameter (F) is determined using a first fuel quality parameter determination procedure when the engine exhibits predetermined operation conditions and a control part which uses the value of the fuel quality parameter (F) or of a fuel combustion characteristics parameter derived from the fuel quality parameter (F) as a target value (?T) in a closed-loop control of the start of injection (SOI) at the engine, with the closed-loop control using a second fuel quality parameter determination procedure being different from the first fuel quality parameter determination procedure to determine an actual value (?A) of the fuel quality parameter (F) or of the fuel combustion characteristics parameter derived from the fuel quality parameter (F).

Abstract: A method for controlling an automotive internal combustion engine (1) having direct fuel injection is described, with the method comprising a fuel adaption part in which a fuel quality parameter (F) is determined using a first fuel quality parameter determination procedure when the engine exhibits predetermined operation conditions and a control part which uses the value of the fuel quality parameter (F) or of a fuel combustion characteristics parameter derived from the fuel quality parameter (F) as a target value (?T) in a closed-loop control of the start of injection (SOI) at the engine (1), with the closed-loop control using a second fuel quality parameter determination procedure being different from the first fuel quality parameter determination procedure to determine an actual value (?A) of the fuel quality parameter (F) or of the fuel combustion characteristics parameter derived from the fuel quality parameter (F).

Abstract: A method for estimating a level of ethanol in a fuel injected into an internal combustion engine over a number (n) of cycles (n being an integer greater than or equal to 1). The method includes: determining start of combustion of an injected fuel for each of the cycles; calculating the average combustion start angle from combustion start angles recorded for all of the n cycles; determining the end of combustion of an injected fuel for each of the cycles; calculating the average combustion end angle from the combustion end angles recorded for all of the n cycles; calculating the combustion time between the combustion start time and the combustion end time; and deducting the level of ethanol from the combustion time on the basis of a pre-determined model or a list of combustion times and associated ethanol levels.

Abstract: A method for estimating exhaust temperature on an output of an internal combustion engine cylinder, the cylinder including a crankshaft transforming into a rotation a translational movement of a piston mounted sliding in the cylinder, the piston closing a combustion chamber of the cylinder. The exhaust temperature is estimated based on the temperature inside the cylinder at a time of opening of the valve, the temperature inside the cylinder being itself estimated from an angle of rotation of the crankshaft, cylinder pressure, volume of air injected into the cylinder, and flow rate of recycled gases. A method diagnoses a cylinder pressure sensor based on an estimate of the exhaust temperature.

Abstract: A method for estimating exhaust temperature on an output of an internal combustion engine cylinder, the cylinder including a crankshaft transforming into a rotation a translational movement of a piston mounted sliding in the cylinder, the piston closing a combustion chamber of the cylinder. The exhaust temperature is estimated based on the temperature inside the cylinder at a time of opening of the valve, the temperature inside the cylinder being itself estimated from an angle of rotation of the crankshaft, cylinder pressure, volume of air injected into the cylinder, and flow rate of recycled gases. A method diagnoses a cylinder pressure sensor based on an estimate of the exhaust temperature.