A method for determining the efficiency of a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) having an inlet and an outlet for the flow of an exhaust gas stream in an exhaust system used in conjunction with an electronic controlled internal combustion engine equipped with an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) having memory, comprising:
determining temperature of the exhaust gas stream at the DOC inlet;
determining temperature of the exhaust gas stream at the DOC outlet;
determining the energy released from the DOC; and
comparing an actual change in temperature of the DOC out to a virtual temperature of the DOC out to determine whether the combustion efficiency of the DOC is below a predetermined value.