Method for determining the times when it will be necessary to change, or add to, the engine oil in a motor vehicle engine

US6266587A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Daimlerchrysler AG · US

Inventors

• Thomas Guertler · Stuttgart, DE
• Markus Harfmann · Tuttlingen, DE
• Klaus Land · Neckargemünd, DE
• Rudolf Thom · Stuttgart, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 8, 1999
• Grant date: Jul 24, 2001
• Expiry date: Jun 8, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F01M2011/1426
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining engine oil servicing dates for a motor vehicle engine as a function of recorded engine operating parameters. According to the invention, the number of engine revolutions and at least one engine other operating parameter relevant to engine oil ageing are continuously recorded and, on the basis of this, a fictitious distance is determined by associating the recorded engine revolutions with the evaluation factors dependent on recorded engine operating parameter(s) relevant to engine oil ageing in accordance with a predeterminable association relationship. From this, a remaining operating distance until the next engine oil servicing date is then calculated by subtracting the determined fictitious distance from a specified total distance potential.