Noticed something on our '11 Fusion this winter. Last spring I installed a remote starter, which wasn't really used until this winter. Pretty much every day so far since mid November, the car gets remote started and runs for 10-15 minutes 5 days per week in the morning before driving off, and sometimes 5 or so minutes before my wife leaves work. The Ford IOLM, however it works, monitors things like RPMs, temperatures, etc and sometimes adjusts the IOLM from the 10,000 mile mark. Currenty, the car has 5,100 miles on this OCI and 49% remaining according to the ECU (in other words, it's sticking to the 10,000 mile OCI). Checked the oil today, and it is quite black and smells a little bit like fuel. I'm wondering if I should ignore the IOLM in the winter and change the oil a little bit early? I've also noticed that the oil level was maybe 1/3 the way down the hatch marks, and I don't recall it burning oil before. This could be because of excessive idling, but who knows. I've pretty much found, with the exception of one long highway trip, that the Ford IOLM system strictly goes by mileage, even when your driving style varies greatly. Anyone else noticed this?
Additionally, please don't school me on how idling cars is bad for the motor and wasteful. My vehicles work for me, not the other way around. Proceed...
Additionally, please don't school me on how idling cars is bad for the motor and wasteful. My vehicles work for me, not the other way around. Proceed...
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