Abstract: In a method for determining the charge of an activated carbon container of a tank venting system of a gasoline engine on the basis of the thermal influence of the tank venting system on the exhaust gas of the engine, an exhaust gas temperature measured downstream of a catalytic converter of the engine with the tank venting system activated is compared with a calculated or measured exhaust gas temperature obtained for the same location with the tank venting system inactivated and divided by the exhaust gas temperature measured with the tank venting system activated so as to obtain a temperature quotient on the basis of which the charge of the carbon container is determined.

Abstract: In a method for determining the charge of an activated carbon container of a tank venting system of a gasoline engine on the basis of the thermal influence of the tank venting system on the exhaust gas of the engine, an exhaust gas temperature measured downstream of a catalytic converter of the engine with the tank venting system activated is compared with a calculated or measured exhaust gas temperature obtained for the same location with the tank venting system inactivated and divided by the exhaust gas temperature measured with the tank venting system activated so as to obtain a temperature quotient on the basis of which the charge of the carbon container is determined.

Abstract: A four-stroke reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection device, which is arranged centrally in a combustion space and which introduces the fuel in the form of an injection cone into the combustion space, and includes at least one spark plug for each combustion space, the electrodes of which spark plug are arranged at the edge of the injection cone. At least two spark plugs are provided, of which the second spark plug has a markedly higher spark gap than the first spark plug.

Abstract: A four-stroke reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine includes a fuel injection device, which is arranged centrally in a combustion space and which introduces the fuel in the form of an injection cone into the combustion space, and includes at least one spark plug for each combustion space, the electrodes of which spark plug are arranged at the edge of the injection cone. At least two spark plugs are provided, of which the second spark plug has a markedly higher spark gap than the first spark plug.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine system includes operating the internal combustion engine system in a desulfurization mode each time following a cold-start of the engine prior to the transition to a normal operating mode. The internal combustion engine system includes (1) an exhaust line; (2) a sulfur-rich exhaust purification component comprising at least two exhaust purification units connected in series in the exhaust line; and (3) a secondary air supply having separate branches for the sulfur-rich exhaust purification units.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for shutting down and restarting individual cylinders of a multicylinder internal combustion engine by deactivating the charge change valves and the fuel injection. According to the invention, in shutting down a selected cylinder, the exhaust valve is disconnected first in all cases. Thereafter, the intake valve and fuel injection for the selected cylinder are controlled such that the last fuel injection into that cylinder takes place immediately before the last intake cycle. When a cylinder is restarted, the exhaust valve is always operated first, and only thereafter is the intake valve opened, with the first fuel injection always taking place immediately before the first intake cycle.