Method and system for determining conditions of an air filter

摘要

A method for operating a turbocharger wastegate is disclosed. In one example, the wastegate is operated to provide a state of an engine air intake system air filter. The approach can provide a status the air intake filter via a sensor that has an alternative primary purpose thereby potentially reducing system cost.

主权项

1. A method for assessing an engine air intake filter, the engine including a turbocharger having a wastegate and an electronic engine controller, the method comprising:
providing a motive force from a vacuum reservoir; applying the motive force by adjusting an electric vacuum regulator; actuating a vacuum operated wastegate actuator with the motive force, the vacuum operated wastegate actuator being coupled to the turbocharger wastegate; repositioning the turbocharger wastegate via the coupled wastegate actuator; assessing a status of the engine intake air intake filter, with the electronic engine controller, in response to a state of a reservoir of the vacuum operated wastegate actuator; and providing an operator notification of the status of the air intake filter being degraded.