Method of informing dealer service operation and customer of vehicle misfueling in non-flex fuel vehicles

• US 8,744,723 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Jones, Marie-Christine G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): PECHE, JORGE O
• Application Number:
  US12/470,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20100299022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• Field of Search: 701/103, 701/104, 137/299, 137/571, 602/77, 602/75, 602/15, 602/87, 608/00, 123/445, 123/406.31, 123/406.32
• US Class Current: 701/103
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0623 Failure diagnosis or prevention; Safety measures; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/084 Blends of gasoline and alcohols, e.g. E85
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0406 Intake manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0414 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0612 determined by estimation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1441 Plural sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/187 using a hot wire flow sensor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An engine control system comprises a fuel composition module, a comparison module, and a memory module. The fuel composition module determines a fuel composition and an amount of undesired fuel in the fuel composition. The comparison module compares the amount of undesired fuel to a misfueling threshold. The memory module records a misfueling event based on the comparison.

Claims

1. An engine control system comprising:

a fuel composition module that determines a fuel composition and an amount of undesired fuel in said fuel composition;

a comparison module that compares said amount of undesired fuel to a misfueling threshold; and

a memory module that records a misfueling event in response to said amount of undesired fuel being greater than or equal to said misfueling threshold.

2. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said memory module records said misfueling event by storing at least one of said amount of undesired fuel, a date, a time of day, and a location.

3. The engine control system of claim 1 further comprising a driver information center that provides at least one of a visual and audio alert based on said comparison.

4. The engine control system of claim 3 wherein said driver information center provides said at least one of a visual and audio alert when said amount of undesired fuel is greater than said misfueling threshold.

5. The engine control system of claim 4 wherein said at least one of a visual and audio alert indicates that said amount of undesired fuel is greater than said misfueling threshold.

6. The engine control system of claim 1 further comprising a diagnostic module that communicates with said memory module and receives said recording.

7. The engine control system of claim 6 wherein said diagnostic module displays said recording.

8. The engine control system of claim 1 wherein said memory module records said misfueling event by storing said amount of undesired fuel and at least one of a date, a time of day, and a location of said misfueling event.

9. A misfueling notification method comprising:

determining a fuel composition;

determining an amount of undesired fuel in said fuel composition;

comparing said amount of undesired fuel to a misfueling threshold; and

recording a misfueling event in non-volatile memory in response to said amount of undesired fuel being greater than or equal to said misfueling threshold.

10. The misfueling notification method of claim 9 further comprising recording said misfueling event by storing at least one of said amount of undesired fuel, a date, a time of day, and a location.

11. The misfueling notification method of claim 9 further comprising providing at least one of a visual and audio alert based on said comparison.

12. The misfueling notification method of claim 11 further comprising providing said at least one of a visual and audio alert when said amount of undesired fuel is greater than said misfueling threshold.

13. The misfueling notification method of claim 12 wherein said at least one of a visual and audio alert indicates that said amount of undesired fuel is greater than said misfueling threshold.

14. The misfueling notification method of claim 9 further comprising communicating with a diagnostic module that receives said recording.

15. The misfueling notification method of claim 14 further comprising displaying said recording with said diagnostic module.

16. The misfueling notification method of claim 9 further comprising recording said misfueling event by storing said amount of undesired fuel and at least one of a date, a time of day, and a location of said misfueling event.