Patent ID: 8392093

Claim:
A method of operating an internal combustion engine, comprising determining a first value of a camshaft misalignment of a camshaft of the internal combustion engine as a function of a measured variable, wherein the measured variable is associated with an air path of the internal combustion engine, determining a second value of the camshaft misalignment of the camshaft as a function of a value of a first operating variable of the internal combustion engine outside of the air path, identifying trouble-free operation of the internal combustion engine if both values of the camshaft misalignment are lower than a defined first threshold value, confirming the camshaft misalignment if at least one of the two values of the camshaft misalignment is greater than the defined first threshold value and if a difference between the two values of the camshaft misalignment is lower than a defined second threshold value, identifying a fault in the air path of the internal combustion engine if the first value of the camshaft misalignment is greater and the second value of the camshaft misalignment is lower than the defined first threshold value and if the difference between the two values of the camshaft misalignment is greater than the defined second threshold value, and identifying a fault outside of the air path of the internal combustion engine if the second value of the camshaft misalignment is greater and the first value of the camshaft misalignment is lower than the defined first threshold value and if the difference between the two values of the camshaft misalignment is greater than the defined second threshold value.