Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a first lift control module and a second lift control module. The first lift control module increases lift of M valves of the engine to a predetermined valve lift during a period before disabling or re-enabling N valves of the engine. The second lift control module decreases the lift of the M valves to a desired valve lift during a period after enabling or re-enabling the N valves of the engine, wherein N and M are integers greater than or equal to one.

Abstract: A system for diagnosing a switchable roller finger follower (SRFF) and an oil control valve (OCV) includes a signal monitoring module and a fault detection module. The signal monitoring module receives at least one of an individual cylinder fuel correction (ICFC) signal and an air/fuel ratio imbalance (AFIM) signal when: an engine speed signal is within a predetermined range of speed; an engine load signal is within a predetermined range of load; and a charcoal canister vapor signal is within a predetermined range of flow rate. The fault detection module detects a fault of at least one of a SRFF and an OCV based on an exhaust gas recirculation value and at least one of the ICFC and AFIM signals. The ICFC and AFIM signals are generated based on: an engine position signal; and at least one of an oxygen signal and a wide range air fuel signal.

Abstract: A variable valve actuation (VVA) system comprises a spark control module and a phaser control module. The spark control module maintains a spark timing of a cylinder at a maximum braking torque (MBT) spark timing during engine idling. The phaser control module, during the engine idling, adjusts an intake valve timing of the cylinder away from a predetermined intake valve timing. The predetermined intake valve timing corresponds to a maximum air per cylinder (APC) for the cylinder at a current engine speed. The adjustment of the intake valve timing produces an APC that is less than the maximum APC.

Abstract: A method and control module includes a pressure sensor data comparison module that compares measured pressure volume signal segments to ideal pressure volume segments. A valve actuation hardware remedy module performs a hardware remedy in response to comparing the measured pressure volume signal segments to the ideal pressure volume segments when a valve actuation hardware failure is detected.

Abstract: Transitioning between combustion modes includes an intermediate combustion mode. Transitions are controlled in accordance with a preferred fuel mass and permissible fuel mass ranges corresponding to changing intake airflow.

Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes a spark ignited (SI) control module controlling the engine in a spark ignited mode, a pre-homogeneous charge compression (HCCI) module controlling the engine in an HCCI mode after the spark ignited mode, and an HCCI module controlling the engine in an HCCI mode after the pre-HCCI mode. The SI module controls the engine in the SI mode after the HCCI mode.

Abstract: A control system for an engine includes a first lift control module and a second lift control module. The first lift control module increases lift of M valves of the engine to a predetermined valve lift during a period before disabling or re-enabling N valves of the engine. The second lift control module decreases the lift of the M valves to a desired valve lift during a period after enabling or re-enabling the N valves of the engine, wherein N and M are integers greater than or equal to one.

Abstract: A method and control module includes a pressure sensor data comparison module that compares measured pressure volume signal segments to ideal pressure volume segments. A valve actuation hardware remedy module performs a hardware remedy in response to comparing the measured pressure volume signal segments to the ideal pressure volume segments when a valve actuation hardware failure is detected.

Abstract: A control system for an engine comprises an air per cylinder (APC) generating module that generates measured and desired APC values. A combustion transition module selectively transitions the engine from spark ignition (SI) combustion to homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion and from HCCI combustion to SI combustion. A spark control module selectively retards spark during the transitions based on a ratio of the measured APC value and the desired APC value. Alternately, spark retard can be based on measured and desired engine torque representing values (ETRVs).

Abstract: A system for diagnosing a switchable roller finger follower (SRFF) and an oil control valve (OCV) includes a signal monitoring module and a fault detection module. The signal monitoring module receives at least one of an individual cylinder fuel correction (ICFC) signal and an air/fuel ratio imbalance (AFIM) signal when: an engine speed signal is within a predetermined range of speed; an engine load signal is within a predetermined range of load; and a charcoal canister vapor signal is within a predetermined range of flow rate. The fault detection module detects a fault of at least one of a SRFF and an OCV based on an exhaust gas recirculation value and at least one of the ICFC and AFIM signals. The ICFC and AFIM signals are generated based on: an engine position signal; and at least one of an oxygen signal and a wide range air fuel signal.

Abstract: A variable valve actuation (VVA) system comprises a spark control module and a phaser control module. The spark control module maintains a spark timing of a cylinder at a maximum braking torque (MBT) spark timing during engine idling. The phaser control module, during the engine idling, adjusts an intake valve timing of the cylinder away from a predetermined intake valve timing. The predetermined intake valve timing corresponds to a maximum air per cylinder (APC) for the cylinder at a current engine speed. The adjustment of the intake valve timing produces an APC that is less than the maximum APC.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes a pressure monitoring module that determines a plurality of first average pressure values and a plurality of second average pressure values of a fluid supply provided to a camshaft phaser. A diagnostic module identifies one of a plurality of cylinders associated with a failed variable valve lift mechanism based on the first and the second average pressure values. Each of the first and the second average pressure values respectively correspond to each of the plurality of cylinders.

Abstract: A control system for an engine comprises an air per cylinder (APC) generating module that generates measured and desired APC values. A combustion transition module selectively transitions the engine from spark ignition (SI) combustion to homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion and from HCCI combustion to SI combustion. A spark control module selectively retards spark during the transitions based on a ratio of the measured APC value and the desired APC value. Alternately, spark retard can be based on measured and desired engine torque representing values (ETRVs).

Abstract: Transitioning between combustion modes includes an intermediate combustion mode. Transitions are controlled in accordance with a preferred fuel mass and permissible fuel mass ranges corresponding to changing intake airflow.

Abstract: An engine control system includes a fuel injector that injects a mixture of ethanol and gasoline directly into a combustion chamber of a spark-ignition direct-injection (SIDI) engine. A control module controls a start of injection of the fuel injector such that the start of injection occurs more than 335 crank angle degrees before a top dead center of a compression stroke of the engine (CAD bTDC).

Abstract: A control system and method for operating an engine includes a spark ignited (SI) control module controlling the engine in a spark ignited mode, a pre-homogeneous charge compression (HCCI) module controlling the engine in an HCCI mode after the spark ignited mode, and an HCCI module controlling the engine in an HCCI mode after the pre-HCCI mode. The SI module controls the engine in the SI mode after the HCCI mode.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for an engine includes a pressure monitoring module that determines a plurality of first average pressure values and a plurality of second average pressure values of a fluid supply provided to a camshaft phaser. A diagnostic module identifies one of a plurality of cylinders associated with a failed variable valve lift mechanism based on the first and said second average pressure values. Each of the first and the second average pressure values respectively correspond to each of the plurality of cylinders.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining an ethanol content of a fuel that is part of a fuel and air mixture combusted within an internal combustion engine. A pressure characteristic of a fuel rail is monitored during operation of the engine. At least one of an effective bulk modulus of the fuel and a pressure perturbation signature is determined based on the pressure characteristic. The ethanol content is determined based on the at least one of the effective bulk modulus and the pressure perturbation signature.

Abstract: A diagnostic control system for an internal combustion engine including a discrete variable valve lift (DVVL) system includes a first module that determines a knock threshold value based on engine operating parameters and an engine knock sensor that generates a knock signal. A second module monitors a portion of the knock signal that is associated with a particular cylinder of the engine, selectively identifies a fault of at least one valve of the DVVL system associated with the particular cylinder based on the portion and the knock threshold, and outputs a fault signal corresponding to the particular cylinder.