Method for detecting fuel in oil of an internal combustion engine

• US 20060107734A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lin, Yingjie, Han, Taeyoung, Wang, Su-Chee Simon, Wu, Ming-Cheng, Krage, Mark K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,201,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/114.380
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/18 Indicating or safety devices concerning lubricant level F01M11/06, F01M11/12

Abstract

A method for detecting fuel leaking into an oil pan containing oil which is used to lubricate an internal combustion engine utilizes a plurality of sensors. The method includes the step of measuring a plurality of parameters of the oil using each of the plurality of sensors to create measured values. A fuel leakage value is calculated incorporating each of the measured values. The method then determines when the fuel leakage value exceeds a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A method for detecting fuel leaking into an oil pan containing oil used to lubricate an internal combustion engine wherein the method utilizes a plurality of sensors, the method including the steps of:

measuring a plurality of parameters of the oil using each of the plurality of sensors to create measured values;

calculating a fuel leakage value incorporating each of the measured values; and

determining when the fuel leakage value exceeds a warning threshold.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of indicating when the method determines the fuel leakage value exceeds the warning threshold.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the step of measuring a plurality of parameters includes the step of measuring electrical resistance of the oil to create a resistance value.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of measuring a plurality of parameters includes the step of measuring viscosity of the oil to create a viscosity value.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein the step of measuring a plurality of parameters includes the step of measuring a level of oil in the oil pan to create a level value.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 including the step of cross correlating the resistance value and the level value.

7. A method asset forth is claim 6 including the step of measuring temperature of the oil when the internal combustion engine is started.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 including the step of storing the resistance, viscosity and level values as references.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 including the step of repeating the step of measuring the plurality of parameters at a temperature difference elevated from the measurement taken when the internal combustion engine is started.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 including the step of normalizing the measurements of the plurality of parameters.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 including the step of measuring the plurality of parameters a subsequent time when the internal combustion engine is started the subsequent time to create a subsequent value.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of storing the subsequent values as references if a subsequent value for oil level is less than the level value.

13. A method as set forth in claim 11 including the step of repeating a plurality of times the step of measuring the plurality of parameters a subsequent time to create several sets of subsequent values.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 including the step of storing a last set of the several set of subsequent values when a half of the several sets of subsequent values for oil level is less than the level value.

15. A method for detecting fuel leaking into an oil pan containing oil used to lubricate an internal combustion engine wherein the method utilizes a plurality of sensors, the method including the steps of:

measuring a resistance value of the oil to create a first measured value;

measuring a level value of the oil to create a second measured value;

cross correlating the resistance value and the level value;

calculating a fuel leakage value incorporating each of the first and second measured values; and

determining when the fuel leakage value exceeds a warning threshold.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 including the step of indicating when the method determines the fuel leakage value exceeds the warning threshold.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 including the step of measuring electrical resistance of the oil to create a resistance value.

18. A method for detecting a massive amount of fuel leaking into an oil pan containing oil used to lubricate an internal combustion engine, wherein the method utilizes a temperature sensor and an electrical resistance sensor, the method including the steps of:

measuring the temperature of the oil when the internal combustion engine is running to create a temperature value;

measuring the electrical resistance of the oil when the internal combustion engine is running to create a resistance value;

compensating the resistance value based on the temperature value to create a compensated resistance value; and

identifying a massive fuel leak when the compensated resistance value exceeds a predetermined threshold.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 including the step of repeating the steps of measuring the temperature and measuring the electrical resistance when the internal combustion engine is running.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19 including the step of normalizing the compensated resistance value each time the step of repeating is completed.