Patent ID: 6779737
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: B60H,F02D,F02N

Abstract:
A method of preheating a vehicle engine during non-use of the vehicle, the method comprising:initializing the preheating strategy; determining whether the engine is off; sensing an in-car temperature of the vehicle, if the engine is determined to be off; sensing an energy supply of the vehicle, if the in-car temperature is less than a required interior temperature; comparing the energy supply to a minimum energy level; sensing ambient temperature if the energy supply is greater than the minimum energy level; setting climate controls, if ambient temperature is less than the in-car temperature; sensing an actual engine coolant temperature at a first time period, if ambient temperature is less than the in-car temperature; activating an engine water pump of a vehicle, if the actual engine coolant temperature is determined to be less than a minimum engine coolant temperature; activating a fluid heater of the vehicle, if the actual engine coolant temperature is less than the minimum engine coolant temperature; activating an engine oil pump after fluid heater activation; receiving feedback indicative of actual engine coolant temperature at a subsequent time period; deactivating the preheating strategy, if the actual engine coolant temperature is greater than the maximum engine coolant temperature at the subsequent time period.