Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle including an engine is provided The engine may include at least one cylinder, a boosting device to boost intake air to the at least one cylinder, a fuel tank, a fuel vapor canister to store fuel vapors vented from the fuel tank, and an emission control device to treat exhaust gas from the engine. The boosting device includes a compressor at least partially driven by an electric motor. The method includes during an engine cold start condition, operating the electric motor of the boost device to boost intake air, directing the boosted intake air through the fuel vapor canister to release a fuel vapor stored in the fuel vapor canister, directing the fuel vapor from the fuel vapor canister to the engine, and performing combustion in the at least one cylinder using the fuel vapor during the engine starting.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle engine including an intake and an exhaust, the engine further including a boosting device configured to provide a boosted air charge to the engine intake. One example method comprises, during an engine cold start, operating the engine with positive intake to exhaust valve overlap, driving a compressor of the boosting device at least partially via a motor to generate blow-through air flow into the engine exhaust through cylinders of the engine, and exothermically reacting a reductant with the blow-through air flow in the exhaust.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating an engine having a hydrocarbon retaining system and an emission control device coupled to an engine exhaust, the engine exhaust comprising a venturi. One example method comprises, during a storing condition, routing exhaust gas through the venturi without generating a venturi action, and then to the hydrocarbon retaining system, while bypassing the emission control device, to store hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon retaining system, and during a purging condition, routing exhaust gas through the venturi while generating venturi action, then to the emission control device, and then to the hydrocarbon retaining system, to purge stored hydrocarbons, wherein a flow of purged hydrocarbons is drawn back to the venturi via venturi action.

Abstract: Method and systems are provided for operating an engine having a hydrocarbon retaining system coupled to an engine exhaust and an engine intake. One example method comprises, during an engine cold start, routing exhaust gas to the hydrocarbon retaining system to store hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon retaining system. The method further comprises, during a first purging condition where the exhaust gas is at a first temperature, purging the hydrocarbon retaining system with at least exhaust gas, and during a second purging condition where the exhaust gas is at a second temperature, said second temperature being higher than said first temperature, mixing the exhaust gas with an amount of fresh air to form a purging gas mixture, and purging the hydrocarbon retaining system with said purging gas mixture.

Abstract: A system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle includes an emission control device in an exhaust stream of the engine; an exhaust gas oxygen sensor coupled upstream of the emission control device; a temperature sensor coupled adjacent the emission control device; and a controller coupled to the exhaust gas oxygen sensor and the temperature sensor, the controller identifying degradation of the temperature sensor responsive to the exhaust gas oxygen sensor during lean operation, where the controller operates the exhaust gas oxygen sensor in a temperature sensing mode to identify the degradation of the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described.

Abstract: A system for determining a temperature of exhaust gases from an engine is provided. The system includes an exhaust gas sensor having an electric heating coil. The sensor communicates with exhaust gases from the engine. The system further includes an electrical circuit for generating a signal indicative of the resistance of the heating coil when the coil is not energized. Finally, the system includes a controller receiving the signal and calculating the temperature of the exhaust gases based on the signal.

Abstract: A system and method for engine control and diagnostics are described. The engine system may include an engine having a catalyst in the exhaust system, the exhaust system further having an exhaust gas oxygen sensor upstream of the catalyst and downstream of the catalyst. In one example, the method may include during a first operating mode in which catalyst diagnostics are not carried out, adjusting air-fuel ratio based on both the upstream and downstream exhaust gas oxygen sensors, where air-fuel ratio adjustment responsiveness to the downstream sensor is reduced as the catalyst performance degrades; and during a second operating mode that includes catalyst diagnostics, adjusting air-fuel ratio based on at least the downstream exhaust gas oxygen sensor, where said air-fuel ratio adjustment responsiveness to the downstream sensor is temporarily increased from said reduction generated during the first operating mode.

Abstract: A system for determining a temperature of exhaust gases from an engine is provided. The system includes an exhaust gas sensor having an electric heating coil. The sensor communicates with exhaust gases from the engine. The system further includes an electrical circuit for generating a signal indicative of the resistance of the heating coil when the coil is not energized. Finally, the system includes a controller receiving the signal and calculating the temperature of the exhaust gases based on the signal.

Abstract: A method for determining a condition of a catalyst disposed in an exhaust of an engine. The method includes sensing a common property of both the exhaust upstream and downstream of the catalyst; taking samples of such upstream and downstream sensed property over a period of time; accumulating the samples over the period of time; determining statistical characteristics of the sensed common property of the upstream and downstream common property; comparing the determined statistical characteristics of the sensed upstream property with the determined statistical characteristics of the downstream property to determine whether catalyst was in a proper operating condition during such period of time. With such method statistical characteristics are determined from samples as they are obtained and then once obtained, processed to determine the condition of the catalyst. Such method thereby reduces memory or data storage requirements and also reduces computational requirements.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a conditioning catalyst positioned upstream of an oxygen sensor used for feedback control of an internal combustion engine include comparing shapes of an upstream oxygen sensor signal and of the signal from the oxygen sensor used for feedback control of the engine while ignoring the signal amplitudes and mean values. Operational efficiency of the conditioning catalyst is determined based on a measure of the relative similarity or difference between the two signals.

Abstract: A method for determining the effectiveness of a catalyst having both first, relatively high oxidizable material provided to remove emissions from the exhaust of an internal combustion engine and a second, relatively low oxidizable material provided to remove emissions from such exhaust. The method includes measure a difference in oxygen content upstream and downstream of the catalyst while the engine is producing the exhaust to determine the effectiveness of the first material and determining the effectiveness of the second material by comparing time delay in a property of the exhaust as such exhaust passes through the catalyst. In one embodiment, the property of the exhaust is the oxygen content in such exhaust. In one embodiment, the effectiveness of the second material is measured after the first material is determined to be ineffective.