smell of gas in oil

[James408]

I have a smell of gas in my Pontiac 400 which I check the dip stick. I was told by some drag racers and dirt track racers in my area that in a modified engine for racing or hard use with big cam/rich carb you will smell some gas in oil. Does anybody else ever have this problem with carburated engines?

I am running the carb a little on the rich side. However not enough for the exhaust fumes to burn your eyes. I do have .005 extra clearance on my cylinders for the forged pistons. fuel pump in in good shape. I was using 20w50 Valvoline and am now using Royal Purple 15w40.

Also if this engine is going to run on the rich side, should I go back to the 20w50 to compensate for fuel dilution. What do you think?

 

[James408]

I also wanted to add that my motor does not smoke unless you count the tires.

 

[TheFuror]

quote:

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Originally posted by James408:
I have a smell of gas in my Pontiac 400 which I check the dip stick...also if this engine is going to run on the rich side, should I go back to the 20w50 to compensate for fuel dilution. What do you think?

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I would seriously consider doing an UOA, as that would likely tell you if the fuel problem exists and, if so, how bad it really is.

Best of luck.

Bob W.

 

[Tones]

Every car I have owned has had the oil smell of gas. This by itself does not mean you have a problem.

 

[pscholte]

One time I thought I smelled gas in my oil and then I remembered I had had a burrito for lunch.

 

[Ler]

I ran this analysis partly because the oil smelled like gas. Butler Labs says fuel is negative. I guess the sniff test can be misleading.

http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=002407#000000

 

[racuda]

My fuel injected Toyota Celica (56,000 miles, average trip: 40 miles @ 70 mph) also smells like gasoline on the dipstick.

Everything I've read says that this is not the scenario for fuel dilution. No UOA yet, but I'll bet that Ler is right. The sniff test can be misleading.

 

[satterfi]

My nose says there's petrol in my oil.

My nose is wrong.

 

[Big Jim]

Yes, there is more fuel dilution on carburated engines. That is one of the advantages of fuel injection. The better fuel control not only improved fuel economy, it also improved oil life and engine life.

 

[Patman]

I'm moving this to the mechanical tips section.