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Stringent vehicle emissions limits, fuel economy and driveability requirements demand an accurate air-fuel ratio management system. A flex fuel (ethanol capable) engine system without an ethanol sensor requires a precisely tuned air fuel ratio control system. In flex fuel systems without an ethanol sensor, the ethanol content is estimated based on the closed loop adaptation values, therefore; it is important to have a very good open loop estimate of cylinder trapped air and consumed fuel since an error in either of these values will cause a shift in the closed loop adaptation values and ultimately, in the estimated fuel ethanol content. This paper analyzes the effect of volumetric efficiency and stoichiometric air-fuel ratio variation of OTTO port fuel injection (PFI) engines when operating on ethanol. Proposals for correction of these parameters are compared to experimental data.

A flex fuel engine which operates with high ethanol content fuel can show a significant level of oil sump contamination with ethanol depending on startup coolant temperature and driving behavior. In general, the lower the coolant and the more aggressive the driving pattern the higher the oil sump contamination. As the engine warms up and the oil temperature increases, the liquid ethanol mixed in oil sump evaporates (boil-off phenomenon) and returns into the induction system through the engine venting system. Oil contamination and boil-off phenomena have to be properly considered by the engine management controller so that closed loop fuel control, fuel trim diagnosis and ethanol learning are not fooled by the extra fuel coming by blow-by. This paper presents the results of an analysis conducted in a GMPT 1.4L Flex Fuel engine running with E85 and E100 fuels.