Patent ID: 6240774
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: F01P

Abstract:
A system for detecting malfunction of a radiator connected to an internal combustion engine through a communicating passage for cooling a coolant of the engine, the radiator having a thermostat which closes or opens the communicating passage, comprising:engine operating condition detecting means for detecting operating conditions of the engine including at least a coolant temperature;engine-start-time coolant temperature determining means for determining an engine-start-time coolant temperature at starting of the engine based on at least the detected coolant temperature;thermal load parameter determining means for determining a parameter indicative of thermal load contributing to a rise of the coolant temperature based on the detected engine operating conditions;estimated coolant temperature calculating means for calculating an estimated coolant temperature based on at least the determined engine-start-time coolant temperature and the determined parameter indicative of thermal load; andradiator malfunction discriminating means for comparing the detected coolant temperature and the calculated estimated coolant temperature with predetermined values respectively and for discriminating whether the radiator malfunctions based results of comparison.