AUTOMATIC ENGINE OIL LIFE DETERMINATION ADJUSTED FOR VOLUME OF OIL EXPOSED TO A COMBUSTION EVENT

• US 20120046823A1
• Filed: 08/17/2010
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Schneider, Eric W., Snider, Matthew J., Olree, Robert M., Staley, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.5
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/18 Indicating or safety devices concerning lubricant level F01M11/06, F01M11/12
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/10 Indicating devices; Other safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/1453 by considering oil quantity
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/1486 by considering duration of operation

Abstract

A method is provided for determining remaining oil life prior to an oil change in an internal combustion engine that uses a body of oil. The method includes transferring the body of oil to the engine and determining a volume of the transferred body of oil. The method also includes determining a factor representative of a volume of oil from the transferred body of oil that is exposed to a combustion event in the engine. Additionally, the method includes determining the remaining oil life based on the determined volume of the body of oil and the determined factor representative of a volume of oil that is exposed to a combustion event. Moreover, the method includes activating an oil change indicator when the remaining oil life reaches a predetermined level. A system for determining a number of engine revolutions permitted on a volume of oil is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for determining remaining oil life prior to an oil change in an internal combustion engine that uses a body of oil, the method comprising:

transferring the body of oil to the engine;

determining a volume of the transferred body of oil;

determining a factor representative of a volume of oil from the transferred body of oil that is exposed to a combustion event in the engine;

determining the remaining oil life based on the determined volume of the body of oil and the determined factor representative of a volume of oil that is exposed to a combustion event; and

activating an oil change indicator when the remaining oil life reaches a predetermined level.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising resetting the oil change indicator to represent 100% of oil life remaining following the oil change.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of said determining a volume of the transferred body of oil, said determining the remaining oil life, and said activating and said resetting the oil change indicator is accomplished via a controller operatively connected to the engine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine includes an oil sump arranged to accept the transferred body of oil, and said determining a volume of the transferred body of oil includes determining a level of the transferred body of oil in the sump.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the remaining oil life includes determining a number of revolutions for each combustion event of the engine, and further includes determining a number of combustion events permitted using the determined volume of oil.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine includes a combustion chamber characterized by a bore diameter, and the factor representative of a volume of oil from the transferred body of oil that is exposed to a combustion event is based on the bore diameter.

7. A system for determining remaining oil life permitted prior to an oil change in an internal combustion engine that uses a body of oil, the system comprising:

an oil sump arranged on the engine to accept the body of oil;

a sensor arranged on the engine and configured to provide a signal indicative of a volume of the body of oil in the sump; and

a controller operatively connected to the sensor and programmed to determine the permitted remaining oil life based on the determined volume of the body of oil and a determined factor representative of a volume of oil that is exposed to a combustion event.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising an oil change indicator, wherein the controller is configured to activate the oil change indicator when the remaining oil life reaches a predetermined level.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the oil change indicator is reset to represent 100% of oil life remaining following the oil change.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is programmed with a number of revolutions for each combustion event of the engine, and the controller additionally determines the remaining oil life based on the number of revolutions for each combustion event of the engine.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the signal indicative of a volume of the body of oil is indicative of a level of the body of oil in the sump, and the controller determines the volume based on the level.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is programmed with a number of combustion events permitted per the volume of the body of oil in the sump, and the controller additionally determines the remaining oil life based on the number of combustion events.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the engine includes a combustion chamber characterized by a bore diameter, and the factor representative of a volume of oil from the transferred body of oil that is exposed to a combustion event is based on the bore diameter.

14. A method for determining a number of engine revolutions permitted prior to an oil change in an internal combustion engine that uses a body of oil, the method comprising:

transferring the body of oil to the engine;

determining a volume of the transferred body of oil;

determining a factor representative of a volume of oil from the transferred body of oil that is exposed to a combustion event in the engine;

determining the remaining oil life based on the determined volume of the body of oil and the determined factor representative of a volume of oil that is exposed to a combustion event; and

activating an oil change indicator when the number of engine revolutions reaches a predetermined level.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising resetting the oil change indicator to represent 100% of oil life remaining following the oil change.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of said determining a volume of the transferred body of oil, said determining a number of engine revolutions, and said activating and said resetting the oil change indicator is accomplished via a controller operatively connected to the engine.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the engine includes an oil sump arranged to accept the transferred body of oil, and said determining a volume of the transferred body of oil includes determining a level of the transferred body of oil in the sump.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said determining a number of engine revolutions includes determining a number of revolutions for each combustion event of the engine, and further includes determining a number of combustion events permitted using the determined volume of oil.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the engine includes a combustion chamber characterized by a bore diameter, and the factor representative of a volume of oil from the transferred body of oil that is exposed to a combustion event is based on the bore diameter.