Patent ID: 9151211
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: F01P,F02D

Abstract:
1. A method of monitoring an engine coolant system of a vehicle, the method comprising: circulating an engine coolant through the engine coolant system, including an engine operable to generate heat that the engine coolant absorbs to cool the engine, a heat exchanger operable to remove heat from the engine coolant, a thermostat disposed within the coolant system between the heat exchanger and the engine and operable to control the flow of the engine coolant through the engine, and a temperature sensor operable for sensing a current temperature of the engine coolant; modeling a total amount of energy stored within the engine coolant of the engine coolant system; measuring an actual temperature of the engine coolant circulating through the engine coolant system with the temperature sensor; comparing an actual temperature of the engine coolant to a minimum target temperature, with an engine coolant diagnostic test algorithm executed by an engine controller to determine if the actual temperature of the engine coolant is greater than the target temperature, equal to the target temperature or less than the target temperature; reporting a system pass value, with the engine coolant diagnostic test algorithm executed by the engine controller when the actual temperature of the engine coolant is equal to or greater than the target temperature; comparing the modeled total amount of energy stored within the engine coolant to a maximum stored energy limit, with the engine coolant diagnostic test algorithm executed by the engine controller when the actual temperature of the engine coolant is less than the target temperature to determine if the modeled amount of energy stored within the engine coolant is greater than the maximum stored energy limit, equal to the maximum stored energy limit or less than the maximum stored energy limit; and reporting a system fail value, with the engine coolant diagnostic test algorithm executed by the engine controller when the modeled amount of energy stored within the engine coolant is equal to or greater than the maximum energy limit.