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Vehicle diagnostic tool—utilizing rated horsepower vs. calculated horsepower

  • US 8,160,769 B1
  • Filed: 11/23/2009
  • Issued: 04/17/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of determining with the aid of instrumentation including a microprocessor whether an engine'"'"'s rated horsepower has changed;

  • the engine having a rated horsepower;

    the engine having an associated powertrain control module and an air induction system;

    the air induction system including at least one sensor used to determine air flow through the engine;

    the microprocessor being programmed to extract parameter identification data (hereinafter “

    PID data”

    ), including fuel trim PID data, from the powertrain control module;

    the microprocessor also being programmed with an algorithm which permits the calculation of the engine'"'"'s horsepower;

    the method including the steps of;

    a. acquiring PID data from the powertrain control module with the instrumentation, the PID data including fuel trim PID data and PID data from the at least one sensor;

    b. determining the actual air flow through the engine (weight/unit of time) with PID data from the at least one sensor;

    c. determining the calculated horsepower of the engine with the algorithm, the actual air flow and the fuel trim PID data; and

    d. comparing the calculated horsepower to the rated horsepower of the engine.

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