Patent ID: 6463796
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: F01M,F16N

Abstract:
A lubrication system for an engine, said lubrication system comprising:a lubricant; and, a diagnostic cell which samples the lubricant for diagnostic testing thereof, said sell including; (a) a permittivity sensor which monitors the lubricant's permittivity; and, (b) a temperature sensor which monitors the lubricant's temperature; (c) a controller which interfaces with the diagnostic cell to carry out the diagnostic testing, said controller receiving permittivity data from the permittivity sensor and temperature data from the temperature sensor, wherein the controller determines a rate of change of the lubricant's permittivity for a first time period based on the received permittivity data, and the controller determines a rate of change of the lubricant's temperature for a second time period based on the received temperature data, such that the controller determines that the lubricant has been contaminated by a coolant if the rate of change of the lubricant's permittivity for the first time period is greater than a first threshold and an absolute value of the rate of change of the lubricant's temperature for the second time period is less than a second threshold; and (d) determining if the lubricant has been contaminated by a coolant.