Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting an engine from overheating. The apparatus comprises a cylinder head temperature sensor operably coupled to sense the temperature of the cylinder head and a control system operably coupled to the cylinders and the cylinder head temperature sensor such that when the temperature of the cylinder head exceeds a maximum level the control system deactivates one or more of the cylinders and rotates the deactivation of one or more engine cylinders such that no one cylinder is constantly fired thus providing engine cooling by drawing fresh air through the deactivated one or more cylinders.

Abstract: A method, for use with a vehicle including a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having exhaust valves, for controlling the temperature of the exhaust valves during fuel cutoff modes of engine operation utilizing a bit pattern representation of the engine cylinders. The method includes cutting off the fuel delivered to the cylinders in an indexed cylinder firing pattern to vary which cylinders receive fuel, so as to maintain acceptable exhaust valve temperature levels. The method may also include operating the engine with a lean air/fuel ratio, so as to maintain acceptable catalytic converter temperature levels.