INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH AN ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FOR VARIABLE ACTUATION OF THE INTAKE VALVES, PROVIDED WITH A DEVICE FOR REFILLING THE SYSTEM WITH FLUID

In an engine having an electronically controlled hydraulic system for variable actuation of intake valves, an operating step of refilling, prior to ignition of the engine, is activated to refill a pressure chamber of the system with fluid when, after prolonged engine inactivity, the chamber has been emptied. In this refilling step, fuel supply to the engine is inhibited, and a camshaft is rotationally driven following upon activation of an engine-starting electrical machine. In this way, a pumping member associated to a tappet for actuating an intake valve is used as a pump for drawing fluid into the pressure chamber from an auxiliary fluid tank. During this step, a control valve is opened and closed in synchronism with movement of the pumping member so as to be open when the pumping member advances towards the pressure chamber and closed when the pumping member moves away from the pressure chamber.