In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of controlling an internal combustion engine system having an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block defining a plurality of combustion chambers, an intake air system in fluid communication with the combustion chambers and providing intake air thereto, an exhaust gas system in fluid communication with the combustion chambers and carrying exhaust gas therefrom, a cooling system having a cooling fluid circulated therein and a recirculated gas system in fluid communication with the exhaust gas system and intake air system wherein a portion of the exhaust gas is routed from the exhaust gas system to the intake air system. The method includes sensing at least two internal combustion engine system operating parameters, inputting sensed operating parameters into a controller, storing at least one predetermined constant in the controller, determining a cooling fluid heat threshold using predetermined logic with the controller in response to the at least two internal combustion engine operating parameters and the at least one predetermined constant, and controlling the internal combustion engine system in a predetermined manner in response to reaching the cooling fluid heat threshold.