Engine On Due To Low Use

[Canadian_Energi]

Hi All,

 

It has been relatively cold here in Edmonton, Alberta in the last couple weeks, between -20C and -30C (-4F and -20F). During this time I have had the engine come on with a notification that says "Engine On Due To Low Use". The engine will turn on immediately and run at a high RPM until I shut it off. The EV Now and EV Later are X'd out as well.

 

Has anyone run into this notification? I've had "Engine on due to Normal Operation" or due to my HVAC setting, but never this one.

[murphy]

It must be the cold.  I don't use my engine at all from late spring through early fall and I have never seen that message.  It has been years since I have seen a temperature below 0° F.  The only two forced engine modes I am aware of are Oil Maintenance and old gasoline (more than 18 months) in the tank.  I've never seen either one of those either.  I think oil maintenance is to get rid of condensation in the oil.  The old gasoline will run the engine until the tank is down to 1/8 of a tank.  It can be stopped by putting some new gasoline into the tank.

[Canadian_Energi]

I was able to find the Low Engine Use in the Manual (below). Looks like it is due to the cold temps, or hopefully it is as I'm almost out of my warranty period.

 

Low Engine Use

The low engine use mode is equipped on Fusion Energi models only. The low engine use mode will activate automatically when you drive your vehicle with limited engine use. The mode will maintain proper engine lubrication at sufficient temperature. If your vehicle is in low engine use mode when you start the vehicle, a message will appear in the information display. When your vehicle is in low engine use mode, your vehicle will automatically run the engine as necessary. If you select the EV Now mode while the vehicle is in the low engine use mode, EV Now mode will be suspended for as long as you are in low engine use mode. The low engine use mode will resume the next time you start your vehicle and will automatically stop when no longer needed.

Note:  Cold temperatures will affect the engine warm up time and the low engine use mode may operate more frequently.

Note:  An oil change is not required but gives you the option of not running a low engine use cycle. Resetting the oil life monitoring system will suspend the low engine use mode.

[murphy]

That paragraph is called "Oil Maintenance Mode" in my 2013 manual.

[Canadian_Energi]

That's interesting. My oil life is still at about 60%. It's a little disappointing because I like not having to change the oil as much (or fill up gas as much), so it's frustrating when it runs. More reasons to go for a full EV eventually eh?

[cr08]

The point of oil maintenance mode is that in conditions where the engine runs for short spurts (especially in the winter when heat is called for), the oil doesn't get real hot and due to normal ICE operations condensation will settle in the oil which is bad for it. This is for any car with an ICE. They don't like short runs where the engine doesn't get fully up to temp. The C-Max and Fusion Energi's are programmed for this and after so much time of accumulated short ICE operations it forces it to run full time until it is happy it has gotten hot enough for long enough to boil off the condensation. Has nothing to do with oil life. The only relation is if you do an oil change while the oil maintenance mode is active and reset the oil life monitor it will reset the oil maintenance parameters as well.

[4cylinder]

I've gotten it twice this year due to the harsh winters of SE Michigan. Perfectly normal - just drive around or idle for 30-35 min and it should go away on its own.