METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIMITING TOTAL LOAD OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

The invention is directed to a method for determining the full-load limit of an internal combustion engine wherein a limit surface of a predeterminative full-load characteristic field is shifted to thereby compensate for the manufacturing tolerances occurring in the production of the internal combustion engine. The embodiment described relates to a diesel engine equipped with an electronic control unit. The full-load characteristic field of this internal combustion engine includes a smoke limit surface, an exhaust gas temperature limit surface and a combustion pressure limit surface. A further limit surface of constant torque is added to these limit surfaces. In order to provide for compensation of the manufacturing tolerances occurring in the production of internal combustion engines, the constant torque limit surface is shifted so as to possess a specific predeterminative value. In the subsequent operation of the internal combustion engine, a minimum value selection takes place so that at a specific air quantity always the smallest fuel quantity defined by one of the limit surfaces is injected into the internal combustion engine. An apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention is also disclosed.