Patent ID: 7111506
Filing Date: 2006-09-26
Classification: F01P,G01M

Abstract:
1. A system for detecting malfunction of an engine cooling apparatus constituted as a radiator having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe each connected to an internal combustion engine in such a manner that coolant flows in the radiator through the inlet pipe to be cooled and is then recirculated back to the engine through the outlet pipe, and a thermostat opening/closing the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe, comprising: a temperature sensor installed at the radiator and detecting a temperature of the coolant flowing through at least one of the inlet pipe and outlet pipe; malfunction discrimination area determining means for determining whether operation of the engine since starting is within an area that enables malfunction discrimination of the cooling apparatus; and malfunction discriminating means for discriminating whether the cooling apparatus has malfunctioned based on change of the temperature of the coolant measured by said temperature sensor since the engine starting, when the operation of the engine is discriminated to be within the malfunction discrimination area, wherein the malfunction discrimination area determining means includes: time measuring means for measuring a period of time since the engine starting; and time comparing means for comparing the measured period of time with a predetermined period of tune calculated based on at least the temperature of the coolant at engine starting, a load of the engine, and a speed of a vehicle on which the engine is mounted; and determines that the operation of the engine is within the malfunction discrimination area when the measured period of time exceeds the predetermined period of time.