Engine oils smells of Gas
06-02-2016 | 02:39 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 267
Likes: 3
From: Estonia
Engine oils smells of Gas
Hi guys
Before I had my last oil change done (around 7k miles since last change), I noticed that the oil on the dipstick had a smell of gas/petrol to it. After the oil change and driving for around 300 miles I checked the oil level and noticed that even the freshly changed oil(!) had a slight smell of gas/petrol. (Just to check I smelled a can of Mobil 1 and it did not smell like gas).
My daily commute to work is around 7.5 miles x2. Would this be something which is normal for the V8 Cayenne, or how is it for you guys?
-08 957CTT
Before I had my last oil change done (around 7k miles since last change), I noticed that the oil on the dipstick had a smell of gas/petrol to it. After the oil change and driving for around 300 miles I checked the oil level and noticed that even the freshly changed oil(!) had a slight smell of gas/petrol. (Just to check I smelled a can of Mobil 1 and it did not smell like gas).
My daily commute to work is around 7.5 miles x2. Would this be something which is normal for the V8 Cayenne, or how is it for you guys?
-08 957CTT
06-02-2016 | 10:12 AM
#2
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,475
Likes: 7
From: Denver, CO
My oil smells of sweet esters - definitely not fuel.
Are you idling the car at all? Fuel dilution is typically a symptom of habit than it is an issue, at least with a Porsche and all the sensors and monitoring. You'd likely get a rich code if you had an issue.
If you idle to warm up, have a lot of short trips, or don't drive far enough to cook off the fuel, it's possible to get fuel dilution. To be sure you're nose isn't playing games with you, it's probably best to get an oil analysis done. Blackstone will send you a kit for free, and you can get a hose to stick down the dipstick hole to extract the oil. It's good insurance, and I get an analysis on every oil change. Or, go for a longer drive and then smell the oil again.
If you are getting fuel dilution, and you're running M1 0W40 - this is going to be critical that you sort out why. Fuel dilution has the net effect of thinning an oil, and M1 0W40 is already too thin.
Are you idling the car at all? Fuel dilution is typically a symptom of habit than it is an issue, at least with a Porsche and all the sensors and monitoring. You'd likely get a rich code if you had an issue.
If you idle to warm up, have a lot of short trips, or don't drive far enough to cook off the fuel, it's possible to get fuel dilution. To be sure you're nose isn't playing games with you, it's probably best to get an oil analysis done. Blackstone will send you a kit for free, and you can get a hose to stick down the dipstick hole to extract the oil. It's good insurance, and I get an analysis on every oil change. Or, go for a longer drive and then smell the oil again.
If you are getting fuel dilution, and you're running M1 0W40 - this is going to be critical that you sort out why. Fuel dilution has the net effect of thinning an oil, and M1 0W40 is already too thin.
06-02-2016 | 01:19 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 267
Likes: 3
From: Estonia
Well no I don't idle to warm, I drive off once the RPM settles, but my driving is basically just inner city stoplight to stoplight, first one being less than 20 seconds from my apartment. My car sees a highway maybe once a month tops. So I guess I do a lot of "un-volunteer" idling.
My oil (atleast the new one) does not smell like raw petrol, but there is defintaly a "two-stroke" smell to it. During the initial cold startup my butt-dyno does sense a small misfire occasionally while the rpms are dropping, but nothing more strange than that.
I asked my indy about oil, he had no complaints on Mobil and they use it in all Cayennes (I live in a cold climate), but for 911 & Cayxsters they use Motul - probably gonna go for a Motul 0w-40 next time. Probably gonna cut the oil change to 3k miles this time as well. I'd like to analyze my oil but I'm not in the US.
My oil (atleast the new one) does not smell like raw petrol, but there is defintaly a "two-stroke" smell to it. During the initial cold startup my butt-dyno does sense a small misfire occasionally while the rpms are dropping, but nothing more strange than that.
I asked my indy about oil, he had no complaints on Mobil and they use it in all Cayennes (I live in a cold climate), but for 911 & Cayxsters they use Motul - probably gonna go for a Motul 0w-40 next time. Probably gonna cut the oil change to 3k miles this time as well. I'd like to analyze my oil but I'm not in the US.