Fuel smell on oil dip stick.

I'm not sure if it has always been like this but there is a noticeable fuel smell on the dip stick when checking oil. Oil level is stable and the oil looks fine. Oil smells less strong than the dip stick. (I'll check the oil fill area next for fuel smell) It was changed early summer so it's only a few hundred miles and four months old. Good hard driving when up to temps and driven several times a week.

Most likely (we hope) culprit could be a leaking fuel injector. Mine are probably original and I recently had them cleaned and reinstalled with new seals and no leaks. Car runs better than ever since the cleaning. The spray pattern is improved but they may be sticking. (Lots of sitting before I got it) So, I plan to replace them all with new injectors and seals and replaced the oil and filter and monitor the oil level and smell.

Other plans will be to do dry and wet compression tests, snap compression and leak down and any other diagnosis I can pull off. (all while rebuilding the suspension and improving interior)

I am told the sticking injectors are the usual suspect, especially when the car has sat for a while, putting a varnish on the injectors. What other things will cause this fuel smell in the oil. I hear about rings and other problems that require a rebuild. Let's hope it's the injectors!

Can't find this subject on the forums via a search. Anyone else experience this? Is this common on these cars?

Cheers
David Govett

 

Oh yeah, I'm going to change the oil as soon as possible along with all new injectors to be safe and another set of spark plugs too. The service on the existing injectors worked for getting a better even spray. However I couldn't get them bench tested for sticking and other problems. It was a very inexpensive service that improved things allot so no loss. Also, the car starts perfectly every time with no problems. It never sits more than 3 or 4 days so no info on how it would start after sitting too long. Even after sitting weeks during a repair, it starts right up but needs a moment to get the idle smoothed out. It's running great.

Just checked the oil fill cap and there is a mild fuel smell in the oil. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks
Dave

 

Pulled one bank of plugs and they have no hint of fuel smell at all. The car had been off a while so perhaps I need to run the car briefly and then immediately pull the plugs perhaps to catch it?

Dave

 

Oh yeah, I'll do many things before rebuilding. I want to work my way up to being able to rebuild it myself with some help but that is a couple years off as I work through the classes and save up the money for the parts. I do want to do an overhaul at some point for peace of mind when the time comes though.

Cheers
Dave

 

Well, I pulled every spark plug with engine cold and warm and none of them have any fuel smell or signs of fuel spray on them. Unless it is the proverbial 9nth injector, it seems the injectors may not be to blame at this point. Do the rings wear out at 45,000 miles?

Anyway, next step is all the compression and leak down tests which I have needed to do for some time anyway. I'll hold off on replacing injectors or anything else until I trace it down. If all else fails, I'll pay a couple hours for a diagnosis with my tech. Feel free to share other ideas or tests or checks. I'll do all the checking and oil change during my suspension rebuild (bushings and rebuild steering rack)
Thanks!


Cheers
Dave

 

Interesting and reassuring. I'll try all that but still plan to do some tests just so I know where it is on compression. It won't cost a thing and I'll get training and practice on all the testing procedures to boot. It is mostly short trips but I usually get it up to temp and do some high rev accelerations on most trips. I usually get it on the highway for a few miles. I'll try something longer. Thanks for the input and reassurance.

Dave