Engine oil smells like gas

[Deleted member 40439]

Blame Covid for what you do or don’t smell and drive it till it throws a code.
[/Q

I'm with @ShadowsPapa on this one. Oil should smell like oil, not gas. I'm not with him on the break in front though. Rings still need to be set. The only way gas can get in the oil is during the compression stroke if it's scooting past the rings before ignition. Could be the rings aren't set, or could be an injector dribbling (which would wash down the cylinder and cause premature wear). At 3K miles, you're at the outer limits of what would be considered breaking in... Depending on your comfort, quality of your dealer, etc. you might consider taking it in to at least get it on record. See if you can get them to do a compression test and/or injector test. Whichever is easier/cheaper will rule out the cause from the other. If you have a crappy dealer though, the monkeys will look at the computer, it'll say there are no codes, and they'll send you on your way... Gotta have a good dealer, and make sure the guy who's been doing it for... 40 years or so is the one that does the looking.

Thank you!

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[Deleted member 40439]

If hes talking about only smelling gas on the oil cap, i think it pretty much normal. If hes smelling it on the dipstick or in the used oil when changing it, i think it may be an issue. But far as the oil cap goes, every car that ive opened an oil cap on has emitted a gas smell. Some faint, some strong. Obviously if hes running that rich to elevate oil levels, he will smell gas in the engine bay or have a misfire. I had a toyota with 200k miles on it and the cap smelled like gas from day one. Never had a check engine light until i had to change the ignition coils for a misfire. Thats the only check engine light i ever had on it before i sold it with 230k miles.

I noticed the smell on the paper towel I used to wipe the dipstick off. The paper towel had a strong odor of gas.

 

[Deleted member 40439]

Mine only smells like oil....... used oil, but oil.
If there's gas in it, you can light it with a match and it will continue to burn small flame. Oil will not.

Dealer already did that diagnostic test

 

[Deleted member 40439]

Blame Covid for what you do or don’t smell and drive it till it throws a code.

That will work

 

[KX L]

I noticed the smell on the paper towel I used to wipe the dipstick off. The paper towel had a strong odor of gas.

You should absolutely not have a strong smell of gas on the paper towel. Have you been able to replicate it?

 

[Deleted member 40439]

I'm with @ShadowsPapa on this one. Oil should smell like oil, not gas. I'm not with him on the break in front though. Rings still need to be set. The only way gas can get in the oil is during the compression stroke if it's scooting past the rings before ignition. Could be the rings aren't set, or could be an injector dribbling (which would wash down the cylinder and cause premature wear). At 3K miles, you're at the outer limits of what would be considered breaking in... Depending on your comfort, quality of your dealer, etc. you might consider taking it in to at least get it on record. See if you can get them to do a compression test and/or injector test. Whichever is easier/cheaper will rule out the cause from the other. If you have a crappy dealer though, the monkeys will look at the computer, it'll say there are no codes, and they'll send you on your way... Gotta have a good dealer, and make sure the guy who's been doing it for... 40 years or so is the one that does the looking.

Thanks man! I appreciate your responce and I will be taking it to a dealer next week.

 

[BRMoose]

Google Honda CR-V oil dilution, it does happen

 

[Deleted member 40439]

You should absolutely not have a strong smell of gas on the paper towel. Have you been able to replicate it?

I just checked it and the gas smell is still present but not as strong. My oil looks good and the level has been fine. The only difference between the last two times I checked was the odor was stronger when it sat for two days and today I ran it on the highway for 30 miles and the odor is not as noticeable.

 

[KX L]

I just checked it and the gas smell is still present but not as strong. My oil looks good and the level has been fine. The only difference between the last two times I checked was the odor was stronger when it sat for two days and today I ran it on the highway for 30 miles and the odor is not as noticeable.

Good on you taking it to a dealership---pray like hell they're decent. I would make sure I do the paper towel test with the service manager----and as soon as he says it's fine and not an issue I would have him write it on the paperwork.

Can't tell you how many times I've seen and heard about a service writer say no issue and send the wife [usually] away without doing any paperwork at all so it doesn't show up when the damn engine shits the bed 5 miles over the warranty mileage....

Please let us know what he said after your visit.

 

[hjdca]

I have a 2021 Gladiator Rubicon with just under 3000 miles. The other day when I was checking the oil I noticed that it smelled like gas. Is this the result of driving short trips or something more serious?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.

My observation is that these motors are tight, the 0-20w oil is slippery, and these motors take some miles to break in. Mine burned a little oil the first 6K miles (1/3 to 1/2 quart), and now at 30K miles burns no oil at all. I also remember smelling gas on my dipstick the few thousand miles, but, now, at 30K miles, no smell. Not sure when the smell went away.... My advice is to change the oil every 3K to 3.5K miles until you at least hit 10K miles. I change my oil every 3.5K miles anyway, and I have had fantastic performance with my motor. I am using the factory recommended 0-20w and the Mopar oil filter.

 

[cb4017]

I wouldn't be too concerned. The 3.6L is a port injected engine and not really susceptible to fuel in the oil unless there is a problem.

Fuel in the oil does seem to be an issue in direct injection engines. When I had my 2020 Ranger there was a huge discussion on the forum about fuel in the oil. Bad enough that oil level would actually increase because of the fuel being dumped into the crankcase. When I had my Ranger oil analyzed it was about 5% fuel. One of the reasons (among others) that I traded the Ranger in.

You may have a little fuel because of frequent short trips and not letting the oil warm up. If you're really concerned I would suggest getting a Blackstone Labs oil sample kit and sending off a sample next oil change.

 

[Deleted member 40439]

I wouldn't be too concerned. The 3.6L is a port injected engine and not really susceptible to fuel in the oil unless there is a problem.

Fuel in the oil does seem to be an issue in direct injection engines. When I had my 2020 Ranger there was a huge discussion on the forum about fuel in the oil. Bad enough that oil level would actually increase because of the fuel being dumped into the crankcase. When I had my Ranger oil analyzed it was about 5% fuel. One of the reasons (among others) that I traded the Ranger in.

You may have a little fuel because of frequent short trips and not letting the oil warm up. If you're really concerned I would suggest getting a Blackstone Labs oil sample kit and sending off a sample next oil change.

Thanks man, I appreciate the information.

 

[Deleted member 40439]

Good on you taking it to a dealership---pray like hell they're decent. I would make sure I do the paper towel test with the service manager----and as soon as he says it's fine and not an issue I would have him write it on the paperwork.

Can't tell you how many times I've seen and heard about a service writer say no issue and send the wife [usually] away without doing any paperwork at all so it doesn't show up when the damn engine shits the bed 5 miles over the warranty mileage....

Please let us know what he said after your visit.

Sure will and thanks again.

 

[Deleted member 40439]

My observation is that these motors are tight, the 0-20w oil is slippery, and these motors take some miles to break in. Mine burned a little oil the first 6K miles (1/3 to 1/2 quart), and now at 30K miles burns no oil at all. I also remember smelling gas on my dipstick the few thousand miles, but, now, at 30K miles, no smell. Not sure when the smell went away.... My advice is to change the oil every 3K to 3.5K miles until you at least hit 10K miles. I change my oil every 3.5K miles anyway, and I have had fantastic performance with my motor. I am using the factory recommended 0-20w and the Mopar oil filter.

Thank you and I will definitely take your advice on changing the oil.

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