Some fuel odor in oil normal?

[tylerdurden801]

I've noticed a fuel odor in my oil for a few months (well, that's the first time I really ever smelled a dipstick), and I freaked out and change my oil every 500 miles now. I thought I had a leaky injector (and I'll still replace the suspect unit as I already have the new injector), but now I think it might be a normal odor that I thought was abnormal. I was checking my GF's oil on her 94 N/T with 80,000 miles (50K fewer than my TSi), and decided to take a quick whiff out of curiosity, and I could smell fuel. I then checked my parents cars (granted neither of which are low mileage maintenance queens), and I could smell fuel in both cars as well. Is there some amount of fuel that is bound to be present (and is not a cause of concern) in the oil of an otherwise strong running car? My compression checks out fine.

 

[98RedGs]

I honestly hope your joking around about changing your oil every 500 miles.
If your not could you please give me some money off that tree your pulling it off of?

 

[tylerdurden801]

Not joking, why would I want to risk ring damage by driving with oil that appears (smells, anyway) to be diluted with fuel? I don't change the filter, just the oil, it costs $8, takes 20 minutes and gives me some peace of mind till I can figure out the odor. But if it's normal and I'm freaking out over nothing, I'd like to know.

 

[Twizzle]

judging by the 8$ / ~5quart oil you are using, i'd say you should try a synthetic 10w-30. turbo cars should be running synthetic based on past readings. please change to synthetic, and see if the mixture/smell disappears.

 

[98RedGs]

Not joking, why would I want to risk ring damage by driving with oil that appears (smells, anyway) to be diluted with fuel? I don't change the filter, just the oil, it costs $8, takes 20 minutes and gives me some peace of mind till I can figure out the odor. But if it's normal and I'm freaking out over nothing, I'd like to know.

How strong is the odor.
I've smelt my oil before and it's had a slight fuel smell to mine but not heavy at all.


Take off the oil cap and tell me if you smell it heavily in there?
Have you pulled your plugs and checked those?
Any major loss of power at any spot in the powerband?

 

[tylerdurden801]

The only driveability issue is some minor hesitation before it's warmed up. I think my car kinda dies off past 5.5K, but other DSM guys say it feels normal for a bone stock car. I can't smell it unless I get my nose in it, I don't know how to tell you how strong the odor is. If I smell the dipstick or whatever I was wiping the dipstick with, there is an obvious gas odor. It seems like if it weren't normal my GF's relatively lower mileage N/T wouldn't exhibit the same odor. I dunno, maybe I need to have a mechanic give a sniff.

 

[tylerdurden801]

judging by the 8$ / ~5quart oil you are using, i'd say you should try a synthetic 10w-30. turbo cars should be running synthetic based on past readings. please change to synthetic, and see if the mixture/smell disappears.

I can't see how oil type would make a difference. I'll try it, but I'd like to hear some reasoning behind it.