Abstract: An internal combustion engine and a method of operating said engine, the engine having a plurality of cylinders (3,4,5) each respectively supporting a piston (6) therein, a fuel injection system (2) including a plurality of selectively operable delivery injector nozzles (10), and a gas supply system (7) for supplying gas to the delivery injector nozzles (10), each delivery injector nozzle (10) arranged to respectively deliver fuel by way of said gas directly into a said engine cylinder (3,4,5), the method including opening the delivery injector nozzles (10) of a first said cylinder and a second said cylinder such that gas within the first said cylinder is transferred through the delivery injector nozzle (10) thereof and into the gas supply system (7) resulting in gas being supplied to the delivery injector nozzle (10) of the second said cylinder to thereby effect the delivery of fuel by way of the gas to the second said cylinder.

Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine during a warm-up period thereof including controlling at least one operational parameter of the engine as a function of at least a certain measure of the energy delivered to the engine since the start of the warm-up period of the engine to thereby provide improved combustion stability during said warm-up period. Preferably, the measure of the energy delivered to the engine is based on the amount of fuel delivered to the engine during the warm-up period.

Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine during a warm-up period thereof including controlling at least one operational parameter of the engine as a function of at least a certain measure of the energy delivered to the engine since the start of the warm-up period of the engine to thereby provide improved combustion stability during said warm-up period. Preferably, the measure of the energy delivered to the engine is based on the amount of fuel delivered to the engine during the warm-up period.

Abstract: A method of regulating gas pressure in a dual fluid fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine having at least one delivery injector, including; determining when the gas pressure supplied to the fuel injection system is above a desired level; and opening the at least one delivery injector of the dual fluid fuel injection system for a determined duration when the gas pressure is above the desired level to allow gas to be passed through the delivery injector and thereby regulate the gas pressure of the supplied gas.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is controlled during a warm-up period as a function of a cumulative measure of energy supplied to the engine. For example, the total amount of fuel delivered to the engine since start-up or an accumulated value of a load level of each combustion event during the warm-up period may be measured. A degree of offset or modification of individual engine operating parameters during the warm-up period may be based upon the cumulative measure of energy supplied to the engine.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the speed of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle wherein the control system provides open loop control of the fueling rate of the engine whereby the engine fuelling rate is controlled as a function of the engine speed when the engine is free of any operator demand thereon and when the motor vehicle is moving above a predetermined vehicle speed.

Abstract: A method for controlling fuel supply to an engine, having idle and off-idle operating modes, including determining the total fuel per cycle at idle (FPC.sub.TOTAL-IDLE); determining the total fuel per cycle off-idle (FPC.sub.TOTAL OFF-IDLE); comparing (FPC.sub.TOTAL OFF-IDLE) with (FPC.sub.TOTAL OFF-IDLE); wherein if (FPC.sub.TOTAL OFF-IDLE) is less than (FPC.sub.TOTAL-IDLE), a control means determines a fueling level to the engine at least greater than (FPC.sub.TOTAL OFF-IDLE).

Abstract: A method of controlling the idle speed of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle from a first idle speed to a second idle speed that is higher than the first idle speed in response to a driver originating indication that is independent of the acceleration control of the vehicle. The higher second idle speed is set to achieve a desired level of vehicle creep. When the driver originating indication indicates that vehicle motion is no longer desired, the engine idle speed is returned to the first lower idle speed. The change between the first lower idle speed and the second higher idle speed can be accomplished in a stepping or ramping fashion. In addition, the first and second idle speeds are adjusted in response to changes in engine operating parameters such as engine coolant temperature, changes in engine load, and vehicle speed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling the air supply to an internal combustion engine having a means to throttle the air flow to the engine comprising determining the air demand in response to a driver initiated signal; determining an initial position of the throttle means in response to the driver initiated signal; determining the actual rate of air supply and comparing the actual rate of air supply with the determined air demand; moving the throttle means to the initial position, the position of the throttle means being adjusted to bring the actual air supply within acceptable operating limits of the determined air demand.

Abstract: The existence of an unacceptable vapor leak can be determined by monitoring the pressure within a fuel system of an internal combustion engine. Once the engine is switched off, a period is timed to allow pressure variations due to movement of the fuel to subside to an acceptable level. The fuel system is closed and a first rate of pressure increase is determined by measuring a first time taken for the pressure to rise by a predetermined amount. A leak of a predetermined size is then introduced and a second rate of pressure increase is determined by measuring a second time taken for the pressure to rise by a predetermined amount. The first and second times are then compared to detect whether or not an unacceptable leak exists.