[oldE]

Thanks guys! I seldom get a surprise that I like. (Especially a check engine light) I did a bit of poking around and it seems: a/ the engine oil level is high. Not enough to trigger a warning light, but too high on the dipstick. b/ at high rpm, the pcv valve may not be able to do its job if the oil level is too high, resulting in a misfire. My current plan is to extract the excess oil and have the code reset. The car worked well on the was home, but I was careful not to exceed 3000 rpm.
I haven't seen any sign of coolant or gasoline getting into the crankcase, so am guessing it was a "mechanic's error".

Best
Les