Abstract: Electrified powertrain control techniques include, in response to a detected cold start request for an engine, controlling one or more electric motors to generate drive torque to physically power an engine for a period to increase a temperature within a primary combustion chamber of a cylinder of the engine, and after the period, starting the engine by combusting a primary charge of fuel/air within the primary combustion chamber using a turbulent jet ignition (TJI) system to combust a pre-charge of fuel/air in a respective pre-chamber of the cylinder using a respective first spark plug and expelling heat energy therefrom into the primary combustion chamber of the cylinder, thereby eliminating a need for a respective second park plug of the TJI system that is associated with the cylinder and configured to heat and promote combustion within the primary combustion chamber.

Abstract: Heat energy retainment systems and methods involve a set of devices configured to restrict or stop an upstream flow and release of heat energy from exhaust gas upstream from an exhaust burner upstream from a catalyst in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine and a controller configured to proximate to cold starts of the engine, control the exhaust burner to increase a temperature of the catalyst to a desired operating temperature and, during engine off periods, control the set of devices to retain the heat energy in the exhaust system proximate to the exhaust burner and the catalyst, wherein the retainment of the heat energy in the exhaust system during engine off periods decreases a duration of engine cold starts by decreasing catalyst light-off time.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust pipe having a central axis and configured to receive an exhaust gas flow from the engine, a catalytic converter disposed within the exhaust pipe, and an exhaust gas burner assembly having a burner unit configured to generate and supply a heated burner flow to a supply pipe. An outlet end of the supply pipe is disposed within the exhaust pipe and extends substantially parallel to the exhaust pipe central axis such that the exhaust gas flows around the supply pipe outlet end. A plurality of mixing apertures are formed in the supply pipe outlet end and configured to promote mixing of the heated burner flow and the exhaust gas flow to disperse heat over the catalytic converter for rapid heating thereof.

Abstract: A method is provided for testing a thermostat in a motor vehicle. The method includes an engine warm-up model and a thermostat diagnostic. The engine warm-up model predicts the temperature that the engine coolant temperature should be equal to at a given time after start-up. This is based on the engine coolant temperature at start-up, ambient air temperature, and how the vehicle is driven subsequent to start-up. This predicted engine coolant temperature is compared to the actual engine coolant temperature as read by an engine coolant temperature sensor. The error between the predicted engine coolant temperature and the actual engine coolant temperature is calculated and integrated over time. The thermostat diagnostic runs at a pre-selected temperature after start-up and compares the integrated error to a predetermined threshold value. Depending upon the results of the comparison, a pass, fail, or inconclusive condition is determined.

Abstract: An engine cooling system for an automotive vehicle including a liquid coolant deaeration and overflow bottle having plural cells constituting a degassing chamber assembly with the first cell having only an upper fluid inlet for initially receiving liquid coolant from the engine cooling system and a lower flow-through window which leads into an adjacent cell for receiving coolant from the first cell. The other cells are likewise connected together in series and the final cell has an outlet connected back into the engine cooling system. Coolant in the cells of the degassing chamber assembly creates a liquid trap arrangement to prevent any substantial back flow of accumulated air from the deaeration chamber assembly back into the engine's cooling system when engine operation is terminated. Most importantly, this prevents any formation of air bubbles in the heater core circuit which may restrict coolant flow and seriously degrade heater effectiveness, particularly at idle and low engine speed operation.

Abstract: A power steering load compensation system for an internal combustion engine which employs a pressure sensor to monitor the output pressure of the power steering pump. The pressure sensor provides an input signal to an engine controller, and the engine controller generates an automatic idle speed output signal for controlling the idle speed motor of the engine throttle body. By varying the air flow through the throttle body in accordance with output pressure of the power steering pump, which varies with the pump load placed upon the engine, dips and surges in engine revolutions per minute (RPM) at idle and low speeds may be substantially reduced.