Patent ID: 8136616

Claim:
A method for operating an oil control valve coupled to a cam phaser configured to adjust a position of at least one cam between hard stops, the oil control valve included in an internal combustion engine having an intake valve and/or an exhaust valve controlled via the cam phaser, the method comprising: operating the oil control valve responsive to cam position feedback information, the oil control valve adjusted in a first relationship based on the feedback information; and operating the oil control valve in a cleaning mode during select combustion conditions by abruptly switching the oil control valve between two states responsive to the cam position feedback information, the oil control valve adjusted in a second relationship based on the feedback information, the second relationship including more abrupt adjustment than the first relationship; operation in the cleaning mode including selecting two states based on cam position reaching either an upper threshold or reaching a lower threshold, and where the upper and lower thresholds are adjusted based on at least one of a commanded cam angle, an engine temperature, a valve position, and a measured cam angle.