A control device for an
internal combustion engine, comprising: a
piston injector for injecting lubricating oil onto the back of a
piston; and an
oil pump for varying the amount of lubricating oil dispensed per revolution, i.e., the unit dispensed quantity. The control device includes a
processing circuit. When the
oil temperature is below a predetermined temperature, the
processing circuit closes an electrically operated valve located in the lubricating
oil supply path to the
piston injector, thereby stopping the injection of lubricating oil from the piston
injector. During the period when the
oil temperature is below the predetermined temperature and the injection of lubricating oil from the piston injector is stopped, the
processing circuit maintains the unit dispensed quantity of lubricating oil from the
oil pump at or above a predetermined amount.