Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for refueling a vehicle configured with an onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) system, such that a loading of a fuel vapor canister configured to capture and store fuel vapors, is reduced. In one example, during the refueling, a rate at which fuel vapors are routed to the fuel vapor canister is adjusted responsive to an indication that the vehicle is refueling at a gas station equipped with offboard fuel vapor recovery infrastructure. In this way, loading of the fuel vapor canister may be reduced which may prevent undesired bleedthrough emissions resulting from a canister loaded with fuel vapors, particularly in examples where the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle and where engine runtime is limited, thus limiting potential opportunities for purging of the fuel vapor canister.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an evaporative emissions system in a turbocharged engine. In one example, a method may include pulsing open a canister purge valve responsive to the turbocharged engine entering a boosted mode of operation. The canister purge valve may be opened for a duration long enough to close a check valve coupled between the canister purge valve and an intake of the engine.

Abstract: A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to identify a vehicle part to replace based on received vehicle data including a diagnostic status, a location, and a first route. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine a vehicle operating pattern based on the identified vehicle part and to generate a second route including a second destination based on the vehicle part, the vehicle operating pattern, the location, and a first destination and an expected time of arrival of the first route. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to navigate the vehicle based on the determined second route and the vehicle operating pattern.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for removing moisture from engine intake manifold and exhaust manifold. In one example, a method may include, during an engine non-combusting condition, while the ambient humidity is higher than a threshold humidity, operating an intake electric booster to route pressurized air via each of the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold, thereby removing accumulated moisture from the engine components. The electric booster may also be operated immediately prior to an anticipated vehicle key-on event to remove condensate from engine components prior to an actual engine start.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for mitigating spark plug wet-fouling in an engine system. In one example, a method may include, after spark plug wet-fouling has been detected prior to an engine start, selecting between drying one or more of the wet-fouled spark plugs by routing a heated gas through one or more engine cylinders and by routing a compressed gas through the one or more engine cylinders. In this way, on-demand airflow may be provided to expedite spark plug drying.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for preventing fuel tank overfilling during refueling events, wherein overfilling of the fuel tank is prevented by delivering a pressure pulse to the fuel tank responsive to a fuel fill level reaching a predetermined threshold, or responsive to an attempt to add additional fuel subsequent to the fuel fill threshold being reached. In one example, an onboard pressure vessel is actively pressurized via an onboard pump, where the pressure may be actively released and routed to the fuel tank to induce an automatic shutoff of a refueling dispenser pump under predetermined conditions. In this way, automatic shutoffs of refueling dispenser pumps may be rapidly and reliably induced, thus preventing fuel tank overfilling, prolonging the lifetime of fuel vapor storage canisters, and reducing undesired evaporative emissions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing carbon buildup in an exhaust gas recirculation system of an engine of a vehicle. In one example, a method comprises injecting a diesel exhaust fluid into an intake manifold of the engine, routing the diesel exhaust fluid into the exhaust gas recirculation system, and vaporizing the diesel exhaust fluid in the exhaust gas recirculation system. In this way, any carbon deposits associated with an exhaust gas recirculation valve and/or exhaust gas recirculation passage may be reduced, which may increase fuel economy and may reduce undesired emissions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for mitigating issues related to sluggish engine performance. In one example, a method comprises, responsive to an indication of degradation of one or more cylinders in the engine, reducing carbon buildup associated with the one or more cylinders via injecting a diesel exhaust fluid into an intake manifold of the engine while the engine is combusting air and fuel. In this way, a water content of the diesel exhaust fluid may be vaporized in the one or more engine cylinders, which may effectively reduce the carbon buildup.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for pinpointing a source of degradation in a vehicle engine system. In one example, a method includes spinning an engine of a vehicle unfueled in a forward and a reverse direction, in no particular order, and recording a first intake air flow and a second intake air flow, respectively, in an intake of the engine, and where the source of degradation is indicated as a function of both the first air flow and the second air flow. In this way, the degradation of the vehicle engine system may be pinpointed as to being located in the intake manifold, the exhaust system, or the engine.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for reducing carbon buildup in an exhaust gas recirculation system of an engine of a vehicle. In one example, a method comprises injecting a diesel exhaust fluid into an intake manifold of the engine, routing the diesel exhaust fluid into the exhaust gas recirculation system, and vaporizing the diesel exhaust fluid in the exhaust gas recirculation system. In this way, any carbon deposits associated with an exhaust gas recirculation valve and/or exhaust gas recirculation passage may be reduced, which may increase fuel economy and may reduce undesired emissions.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing a degraded fuel injector delivering undesired additional fuel in a variable displacement engine. In one example, a method includes, responsive to an indication of a cylinder air-fuel imbalance, deactivating a subset of cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine, performing a power balance test to determine an output of each cylinder after a duration of deactivation, and indicating that a deactivated cylinder has a degraded fuel injector responsive to the output being lower than a threshold output.

Abstract: A method is provided, comprising terminating a pressure rise portion of an engine-off natural vacuum test based on an initial rate of change of a fuel system pressure upon sealing a fuel system; and initiating a vacuum portion of the engine-off natural vacuum test responsive to suspending the pressure rise portion. The initial rate of change may indicate a likelihood of the pressure rise portion reaching a pressure rise threshold. In this way, the vacuum portion of the test may be initiated earlier, increasing the likelihood of a conclusive result being obtained during a test time limit.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for aging a new plastic fuel tank in a vehicle. In one example, during a plug-in event to recharge a battery of the vehicle, the fuel tank is isolated and the fuel pump is actuated to agitate fuel within the tank and increase fuel vapors until the plastic fuel tank becomes aged to a predetermined degree by fuel vapors generated therein. In this manner, the fuel tank is aged more rapidly, resulting in more accurate fuel level readings and less noise and vibration.

Abstract: A method of altering the temperature of an external surface of a seating assembly for a vehicle comprising: providing a seating assembly for a vehicle comprising an external surface and multiple temperature altering systems disposed beneath the external surface; presenting an object on the external surface; determining which of the multiple temperature altering systems to activate as a function of the size of the object and the position of the object on the seating assembly, such that, the larger the size, the more of the multiple temperature altering systems are activated, and such that, if the object is not positioned in thermal communication with one or more of the multiple temperature altering systems, then those temperature altering systems are not activated; and activating only the temperature altering systems that the method determined to activate as a function of the size and the position of the object on the seating assembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for indicating degradation of a variable displacement oil pump. In one example, an engine method comprises indicating degradation of the oil pump based on a fuel usage change of the engine, responsive to a commanded change in displacement of the variable oil pump. In response to an indicated degradation, engine wear may be avoided and fuel economy may be improved by adjusting engine operation.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cooling an engine by operating an electrically driven intake air compressor. In one example, in response to a determination, based on a measured or inferred engine temperature, that the engine temperature is greater than a threshold temperature, employing the vehicle's electrically driven intake air compressor to route air through a charge air cooler and engine cylinders, while engine spins unfueled. In this way the engine temperature may be reduced even under conditions not normally amenable to engine cooling, such as at idle-stops or when an engine coolant system is degraded.

Abstract: A reference vehicle is identified from data measuring changes in steering wheel angles of a plurality of vehicles. A target vehicle's steering wheel angle deviations is compared to steering wheel angle deviations of the reference vehicle A target vehicle component is actuated upon determining that a difference of the target vehicle's change of steering wheel angle and the reference vehicle's change of steering wheel angle exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for conducting a fuel tank diagnostic. In one example, a method comprises sealing a fuel tank of a vehicle, retrieving data related to fuel tank pressure from a crowd of vehicles, and indicating the fuel tank of the vehicle being diagnosed is degraded responsive to data related to fuel tank pressure from the crowd insufficiently correlating with a set of data related to fuel tank pressure from the vehicle. In this way, fuel tank degradation may be indicated without coupling the fuel tank of the vehicle to atmosphere, which may reduce a release of undesired evaporative emissions to atmosphere.