Patent ID: 8447503

Claim:
Method for controlling a multi-cylinder spark-ignition direct-injection internal combustion engine, comprising: subsequent to a fuel cutoff event wherein fuel to all cylinders is cutoff, re-firing the engine comprising selectively firing individual cylinders during re-firing engine cycles exclusively at a predetermined fixed fuel mass until all cylinders have been fired together at least once, comprising: in a first complete re-firing engine cycle immediately subsequent to the fuel cutoff event, firing less than all cylinders individually at the predetermined fixed fuel mass; and in a second complete re-firing engine cycle subsequent to the first complete re-firing engine cycle, firing an increasing number of cylinders than in the first complete re-firing engine cycle, wherein said predetermined fixed fuel mass is delivered to respective cylinders using a dual injection during each complete re-firing engine cycle until all cylinders have been fired together at least once comprising a first injection early in a compression stroke of a majority of the fixed fuel mass and a second injection near top dead center of the compression stroke of the remaining minority of the fixed fuel mass, whereafter subsequent firing of individual cylinders is not limited to said predetermined fixed fuel mass.