Method and device for operating an internal combustion engine

• Main Author: Rosenberger, Marcus
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.10.2012

A method for operating an internal combustion engine having multiple cylinders; fuel may be injected into the multiple cylinders via corresponding injectors, and air may be let in via corresponding intake valves in order to form an air-fuel mixture in the cylinders for providing a drive torque, and combustion exhaust gas may be discharged from the cylinders via a catalytic converter; having the following steps: operating the internal combustion engine in a first engine operating mode in which no fuel is injected into at least one first cylinder, so that the at least one first cylinder does not contribute to the drive torque, and fuel is only injected into at least one second cylinder in order to provide the drive torque; and switching to a second engine operating mode in which fuel is injected into the at least one first cylinder and into the at least one second cylinder, so that the at least one first cylinder and the at least one second cylinder contribute to providing the drive torque; wherein in switching to the second engine operating mode the combustion is carried out using excess air in the at least one second cylinder, so that a portion of the air let into the at least one second cylinder, together with the combustion exhaust gas, passes into the catalytic converter.