Patent ID: 6889133

Claim:
A system for detecting conditions indicative of substandard performance of an engine cylinder of a fuel injected, multi-cylinder internal combustion engine while the engine is operating at steady state and at a predetermined operational condition, the system comprising: an engine control unit disposed in operable communication with the engine to independently control the fuel delivery for each cylinder, while the engine is operating; a first computer disposed in informational communication with said engine control unit, the computer having the ability to communicate with the engine control unit while the engine is in operation; wherein said informational communication with said engine control unit comprises a dynamic signal controlling which cylinders receive fuel so that the engine operates with all cylinders operating or with selective cylinders arrested, the dynamic signal transmitted from said computer and received by said engine control unit; and, a second computer disposed in informational communication with said engine control unit, the second computer being able to communicate with the engine control unit while the engine is in operation, the second computer receiving a feedback signal providing a quantitative determination of an amount of fuel dispensed to the engine in maintaining substantially constant operational condition until data gathering has been performed with all cylinders having been arrested, the feedback signal transmitted from said engine control unit and received by said second computer for analyzing the data so as to identify the cylinders generating substandard performance.