Fuel dilution from bad injector

[bluestream]

I recently had to fix my daugters 91 Chev Lumina 3.1. Car died on her and I towed it to my house. After much trouble shooting I found 2 faulty fuel injectors. Car now runs fine.

I later changed the oil for her, and found 7-8 quarts came out. Engine holds 4. Last place to change the oil was when I gave her a coupon for a free oil change at local (well respected) repair shop 3 months earlier. Either they put in too much oil, or the oil was diluted with fuel from the faulty injector(s) No way of proving anything now, but is it possible to have that much fuel leak down into the oil? I would think it would burn off when the concentration got too high?

 

[Seguino]

I would think the engine would seize from lack of lubrication with that much gasoline dilution.

 

[JHZR2]

how did it smell?

 

[bluestream]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
how did it smell?


It was a few months ago, but I did not notice any smell to speak of

 

[demarpaint]

With that much gas in the oil, it had to stink of gas. I had a carb go bad on a Honda power washer. I took out about an extra pint of fuel diluted oil, it stunk like gas. 3-4 qts of gas mixed in the oil is a lot of gas.

 

[Ed_T]

Sounds like the o/c grunt forgot to
drain the pan first.

 

[bluestream]

Originally Posted By: Ed_T

Sounds like the o/c grunt forgot to
drain the pan first.


That thought had entered my mind...

 

[Eddie]

+1 Ed T

 

[The_Jeff]

I had a floodingly bad stuck open injector on my silhouette 3.4 (same engine family) and drove it home 70 miles plus however long the PO was driving around on it. Only the regular amount of used oil came out... I bet the cat wasn't happy though.

 

[mechtech2]

That is probably why the engine died.
[Loaded with gas in the oil.] But be happy! More damage would have occurred if it kept running.
BTW, it is very odd that 2 injectors failed at the same time.

 

[bluestream]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
That is probably why the engine died.
[Loaded with gas in the oil.] But be happy! More damage would have occurred if it kept running.
BTW, it is very odd that 2 injectors failed at the same time.


Yes, I expect one failed earlier and she could'nt tell. When the 2nd went, car would start and idle, then stall out when put in gear. I took all 6 injectors to my buddies fuel injection shop and we put them on his test machine. Very cool as you can see the spray pattern of them at different simulated engine sppeds. They each fire into their own glass cylinder and you can check the volume of fuel sprayed out after the test to see if one is out. The two bad injectors would spray fine at idle, then just drip as speed was increased. He had a couple used ones in a box that he gave me for free. Said not much call for that old style, and they were trouble over the early years when they first came out.

 

[The_Jeff]

That sounds like an awesome shop!

 

[bluestream]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
That sounds like an awesome shop!


They do mostly diesel injection pumps and injectors. Next time I go I will take some pics of the test machine...

 

[sunfire]

Sounds like nobody bothered to check the dip stick.

 

[bluestream]

Not sure my 19 year old knows where the dipstick is. I would expect a higher level of service from a professional repair shop if they were the cause.

 

[sunfire]

The Valvoline quick lubes usually show you the level on the dip stick before they let you drive off.