Abstract: Particulate matter is removed from the exhaust gas of a gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine, by introducing a particulate-containing exhaust gas into an inlet end of a ceramic honeycomb containing multiple axially-extending cells that are defined by intersecting porous walls, passing the exhaust gas through at least one such porous wall to trap the particulate matter in the porous wall, and then discharging the exhaust gas from an outlet end of the ceramic honeycomb. The porous walls of the ceramic honeycomb have a wall thickness of 150 to 750 ?m, the honeycomb has an effective permeability of at least 0.8 10-12.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method of detecting leaks and blockages in a fuel system. The leaks are detected using a RAMPOFF mode and a TANK mode. The RAMPOFF mode modifies the evaporative diagnostic purge logic to increase the ramp down rates of the evaporative purge duty cycle to aggressively shut off the purge solenoid valve for tests used to detect leaks as small as 0.02 inches in diameter. The TANK mode modifies the evaporative diagnostic purge logic to support aggressive purging requirements for tests used to detect larger leaks of greater than 0.04 inches in diameter. The MASS FLOW mode modifies the evaporative diagnostic purge logic to hold a constant purge mass flow rate necessary to detect blockages across a vent solenoid valve. The RAMPOFF mode, TANK mode, and MASS FLOW modes support evaporative diagnostics that are run continuously within a fuel system when acceptable engine operating conditions are present.

Abstract: An improved method of determining and preserving soak-related time intervals of an internal combustion engine resets a continuous timer at the end of each engine run period, and reads the value of the continuous timer at specified events during an ignition key cycle. The method measures and preserves the engine soak time preceding the current and previous ignition key cycle, and determines an extended soak time that includes intervals of engine operation that are too short to significantly affect the engine thermal and fuel vapor purge conditions. The determined soak-related times are then utilized by various engine control and/or diagnostic algorithms, such as a hot re-start fuel control algorithm.

Abstract: An improved test method for an EGR system reliably detects debilitating EGR system restrictions without significantly degrading combustion stability and exhaust emissions. The EGR valve test opening for diagnostic purposes is initialized at a relatively low value, which is progressively increased if the resulting change in intake manifold pressure fails to exceed a threshold based on the minimum expected change in intake manifold pressure for an EGR system that is regarded as functioning within acceptable limits. As soon as the measured pressure change exceeds the threshold, the EGR system is deemed to pass the restriction test, and the test method is terminated. If the EGR valve opening reaches a maximum value without the measured pressure exceeding the threshold, the EGR system is deemed to fail the restriction test, and a fault indication is generated.

Abstract: An improved method of detecting evaporative emission system leaks, wherein first and second changes in closed-system fuel tank pressure due to vapor generation are measured respectively prior to and after the leak testing, and wherein the larger of the first and second pressure changes is used to adjust the pressure measurements taken during leak testing, or to invalidate the diagnostic if the vapor generation exceeds a threshold. The first vapor generation test occurs at the beginning of the driving cycle when there has been no significant disturbance of the vapor equilibrium in the fuel tank, and thereby provides an indication vapor generation due to volatility of the fuel. The second vapor generation test occurs well into the driving cycle, and provides an indication of vapor generation due to fuel heating and sloshing.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method of detecting leaks and blockages in a fuel system. The leaks are detected using a RAMPOFF mode and a TANK mode. The RAMPOFF mode modifies the evaporative diagnostic purge logic to increase the ramp down rates of the evaporative purge duty cycle to aggressively shut off the purge solenoid valve for tests used to detect leaks as small as 0.02 inches in diameter. The TANK mode modifies the evaporative diagnostic purge logic to support aggressive purging requirements for tests used to detect larger leaks of greater than 0.04 inches in diameter. The MASS FLOW mode modifies the evaporative diagnostic purge logic to hold a constant purge mass flow rate necessary to detect blockages across a vent solenoid valve. The RAMPOFF mode, TANK mode, and MASS FLOW modes support evaporative diagnostics that are run continuously within a fuel system when acceptable engine operating conditions are present.

Abstract: An improved method of determining and preserving soak-related time intervals of an internal combustion engine resets a continuous timer at the end of each engine run period, and reads the value of the continuous timer at specified events during an ignition key cycle. The method measures and preserves the engine soak time preceding the current and previous ignition key cycle, and determines an extended soak time that includes intervals of engine operation that are too short to significantly affect the engine thermal and fuel vapor purge conditions. The determined soak-related times are then utilized by various engine control and/or diagnostic algorithms, such as a hot re-start fuel control algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method of detecting leaks and blockages in a fuel system. The leaks are detected using a RAMPOFF mode and a TANK mode. The RAMPOFF mode modifies the evaporative diagnostic purge logic to increase the ramp down rates of the evaporative purge duty cycle to aggressively shut off the purge solenoid valve for tests used to detect leaks as small as 0.02 inches in diameter. The TANK mode modifies the evaporative diagnostic purge logic to support aggressive purging requirements for tests used to detect larger leaks of greater than 0.04 inches in diameter. The MASS FLOW mode modifies the evaporative diagnostic purge logic to hold a constant purge mass flow rate necessary to detect blockages across a vent solenoid valve. The RAMPOFF mode, TANK mode, and MASS FLOW modes support evaporative diagnostics that are run continuously within a fuel system when acceptable engine operating conditions are present.

Abstract: An improved method of diagnosing an engine cooling system through the use of a coolant temperature model based on existing sensor information. Proper operation of the engine thermostat and coolant temperature sensor is diagnosed based on an initial comparison of coolant temperature to ambient air temperature at key-on and a later comparison of coolant temperature to a predetermined regulated temperature. The coolant temperature model is used to trigger the initiation of the later comparison to ensure that the diagnostic is performed when the engine is fully warmed up. Advantageously, the modeled coolant temperature may be used for control purposes in the event that the diagnostic detects faulty operation of the coolant temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method of validating a leak detection test for a fuel tank in a vehicle includes the steps of determining a vacuum decay rate of a fuel vapor in the fuel tank and dividing the vacuum decay rate into a set of adjacent segments distributed over a series of consecutive time intervals. The method also includes the steps of determining a slope of the segments, determining if a difference between two consecutive slopes of the segments meets a predetermined criteria, and validating the leak detection test if the difference meets the predetermined criteria.

Abstract: An improved method of diagnosing evaporative emission system leaks at engine idle, wherein the system is closed and drawn down to a sub-atmospheric pressure early in a driving cycle prior to the achievement of an idle condition appropriate for leak testing. When the test enabling conditions other than engine idle are met, the system vent is closed, and the purge valve is modulated to regulate the fuel tank pressure at a sub-atmospheric value substantially equivalent to the leak test pressure to be used at engine idle. When engine idle is achieved, the purge valve is closed, and the leak test is conducted with little or no delay. The time required to conduct the leak test is improved because the system pressure is at or near the test pressure when the engine idle condition is achieved, and at the same time, the reliability of the leak test data is improved because vapor generation equilibrium in the fuel tank is more nearly achieved when the leak test is initiated.