An internal combustion engine has cylinders within which combustion occurs and
an exhaust system through which products of combustion are exhausted from the cylinders.
A temperature sensor and an electric heater are disposed in temperature sensing
relation to the exhaust gas flow. A processor develops temperature data obtained
from the temperature sensor, and power data representing power required to heat
the electric heater to a temperature in excess of temperature of exhaust gas flow
past the heater. The processor processes the temperature data, the power data,
and data representing mass flow through the engine upstream of the temperature
sensor and heater according to an algorithm for yielding data representing difference
between mass flow of exhaust gas past the temperature sensor and heater and mass
flow upstream of the temperature sensor and heater. The measurement may then be
used to measure leakage from the exhaust system by subtracting it from flow measurement
in a different location.