SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING ENGINE OIL LEVELS

• US 20120259501A1
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Mc Donald, Mike M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,316,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.5
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/12 concerning lubricant level

Abstract

A system includes a user interface module, a level determination module, and a level storage module. The user interface module outputs an oil level request based on user input. The level determination module determines N oil levels of an engine. N is an integer greater than one. The level storage module stores the N oil levels and outputs one of the N oil levels in response to the oil level request.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a user interface module that outputs an oil level request based on user input;

a level determination module that determines N oil levels of an engine; and

a level storage module that stores the N oil levels and that outputs one of the N oil levels in response to the oil level request, wherein N is an integer greater than one.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an oil level sensor that measures the oil level and outputs an oil level signal indicating the N oil levels, wherein the level determination module determines the N oil levels based on the oil level signal.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature determination module that determines an oil temperature of the engine, wherein the level determination module determines the N oil levels based on the oil temperature.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a temperature sensor that measures the oil temperature and outputs an oil temperature signal indicating the oil temperature, wherein the temperature determination module determines the oil temperature based on the oil temperature signal.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the level determination module determines the N oil levels when the oil temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature.

6. The system of claim 3 further comprising a time determination module that determines a drain time during which oil is allowed to drain into an oil reservoir of the engine, wherein the level determination module determines the N oil levels when an engine-off time is greater than the drain time.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the time determination module determines the drain time based on at least one of the oil temperature, an engine type, and an oil viscosity grade.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a tilt determination module that determines a vehicle tilt with respect to gravity, wherein the level determination module determines the N oil levels when the vehicle tilt is less than a predetermined angle.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the level determination module determines the one of the N oil levels in response to the oil level request.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the oil level request and the oil level are communicated using a wireless signal.

11. A method comprising:

outputting an oil level request based on user input;

determining N oil levels of an engine; and

storing the N oil levels in non-volatile memory and that outputting one of the N oil levels in response to the oil level request, wherein N is an integer greater than one.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

measuring the oil level and outputs an oil level signal indicating the N oil levels; and

determining the N oil levels based on the oil level signal.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining an oil temperature of the engine; and

determining the N oil levels based on the oil temperature.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

outputting an oil temperature signal indicating the oil temperature; and

determining the oil temperature based on the oil temperature signal.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining the N oil levels when the oil temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining a drain time during which oil is allowed to drain into an oil reservoir of the engine; and

determining the N oil levels when an engine-off time is greater than the drain time.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining the drain time based on at least one of the oil temperature, an engine type, and an oil viscosity grade.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

determining a vehicle tilt with respect to gravity; and

determining the N oil levels when the vehicle tilt is less than a predetermined angle.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising determining the one of the N oil levels in response to the oil level request.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the oil level request and the oil level are communicated using a wireless signal.