Apparatus and method for controlling maximum cylinder pressure in an internal combustion engine

An Engine Control Module (18) includes an electronic controller (16) for controlling the position of an EGR valve, the timing of opening and closing of the engine combustion valves, and the timing of the individual cylinder fuel injectors of an engine (10). Each engine cylinder includes a pressure sensor (12a-h). Peak cylinder pressure is sent to the ECM during each firing cycle. The ECM is programmed with required maximum percentages of EGR and optimal combustion valve timing for each engine operating condition, and sets the EGR valve and/or the camshaft phaser accordingly to adjust combustion in all the engine cylinders. The ECM also compares the measured peak pressure for each cylinder and adjusts the timing of fuel injection for the next firing cycle to trim the measured peak pressure in each cylinder to a predetermined level at or below the maximum allowable peak firing pressure for the engine.