Abstract: The performance of a compression ignition internal combustion engine is improved by optimizing a cylinder pressure-dependent parameter on a full time, full range basis using in-cylinder pressure measurements to determine the actual value of the parameter to be optimized. The basic procedure is to determine the desired or optimum value of the parameter, determine the actual value of the parameter or a related parameter, and then adjusting an engine operating characteristic such as air/fuel ratio to maintain the controlled parameter at its optimum value. The preferred parameter is a cylinder pressure ratio (CPR) obtained by dividing first and second values of cylinder pressure, and sensed at different points in a thermodynamic cycle, by one another. The sensed values are preferably a first value Po, obtained during the compression stroke, and a second value Pa, obtained after combustion is complete.