Method to determine the remaining useful life of automatic transmission fluid

• US 5,777,211 A
• Filed: 11/25/1996
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV), Tippins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Binienda, Gary J., Drutis, Spyros E., Halawi, Samer H., Dourra, Hans, Issa, Nabil M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brock, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Politzer, Jay L.
• Application Number:
  US08/758,140
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 73/54.02, 73/53.01, 73/53.05, 73/117.2, 73/118.1, 364/431.061, 364/424.097, 364/424.098, 475/158
• US Class Current: 73/53.05
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/14 for indicating the necessity to change the oil
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0405 Monitoring quality of lubricant or hydraulic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

A method of determining the remaining useful life of automatic transmission fluid used in an automatic transmission or transaxle is provided. A multiplicity of vehicles having the same type of automatic transmission or transaxle are monitored and data on factors bearing on the useful life of automatic transmission fluid are collected. Weighted constants are derived for each factor. The automatic transmission controller is then programmed to monitor the operation of the automatic transmission or transaxle and collect data on the factors that bear on the useful life of the automatic transmission fluid. Based on the collected data and weighted constants, the remaining useful life of the automatic transmission fluid is determined.

Claims

1. A method of determining the remaining useful life of automatic transmission fluid used in an automatic transmission or automatic transaxle controlled by a programmable electronic controller, comprising the steps of:

a. monitoring in-vehicle operation of a multiplicity of the same type of automatic transmissions or automatic transaxles as the first recited automatic transmission or automatic transaxle and collecting data on factors that bear on the useful life of automatic transmission fluid wherein one factor is time during electronic modulation of converter clutch (EMCC);

b. deriving weighted constants for each factor based on the accumulated data;

c. programming the programmable electronic controller to monitor the operation of the first recited automatic transmission or automatic transaxle and collect data on the factors that bear on the useful life of automatic transmission fluid including time during EMCC; and

d. programming the programmable electronic controller to determine the remaining useful life of the automatic transmission fluid in the first recited automatic transmission or transaxle based on the collected data and weighted constants, including the collected data and weighted constant for time during EMCC factor.

2. The method of claim 1 and further including the step of programming the electronic controller to activate an indicator coupled to the programmable controller when the useful life of the automatic transmission fluid has been reached to alert an operator of the vehicle to change the automatic transmission fluid.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the factors bearing of the useful life of the automatic transmission fluid include, in addition to time during EMCC, accumulated mileage, the temperature of the automatic transmission or automatic transaxle, the ambient temperature, coolant temperature, number of shifts, shear during EMCC, and shear during shifts, and the step of programming the programmable electronic controller to determine the remaining useful life of the automatic transmission fluid comprises programming it to do so based on at least one of these factors and its weighted constant in addition to the factor of time during EMCC and its weighted constant.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the factors bearing on the useful life of the automatic transmission fluid include, in addition to time during EMCC, accumulated mileage, the operating temperature of the automatic transmission or automatic transaxle, the ambient temperature, coolant temperature, number of shifts, shear during EMCC, and shear during shifts, and the step of programming the programmable electronic controller to determine the remaining useful life of the automatic transmission fluid comprises programming it to do so based on these factors and their weighted constants in addition to the factor of time during EMCC and its weighted constant.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the factors bearing on the useful life of the automatic transmission fluid include, in addition to time during EMCC, the operating temperature of the automatic transmission or automatic transaxle, shear during EMCC, and shear during shifts, and the step of programming the programmable electronic controller to determine the remaining useful life of the automatic transmission fluid comprises programming it to do so based on these factors and their weighted constants in addition to the factor of time during EMCC and its weighted constant.