MY01 only has 56K on it and I checked my oil before an evening drive one night and it was about 1qt low, so I got the level right, let it idle for a while and checked it again. After I got back from my trip I noticed little black dots all over my rear bumper. I let my car set for about 3 weeks prior to this drive, strictly because I have another work truck. I'm thinking it's oil, what else could it be and what could be wrong?

 

My '00 does that too. I think it is blow-by getting past the rings under hard driving. Do you use synthetic oil? Mobil1 by any chance?

I am considering switching to Amsoil, or even adding the krank vents. Anything to reduce my oil consumption.

-Hockey

 

How is the oil level now, after your trip?
If that is still the same..
You say that you think the dots are oil... why not make sure and wipe them off and have a smell / feel?

Letting a car warm up by idling is not a very good thing.
The engine will run rich for much longer then when you drive it and all the other parts of the drivetrain will not warm up.
This running rich will result in unburned fuel, that may have passed through the exhaust and picked up soot and ended up on your bumper.

And... idling an engine to operating temp is bad for the enviroment too

Start the engine.
Let it idle for 10 seconds or so.
Drive, stay away from high revs until you have 3 bars (or equivalent)
That is the best way (IMO) to warm up a car.
(expept for starting in real cold conditions... but that is another story)