Too much gasoline in the oil is bad for both fuel economy and the vehicle. You don’t want them to mix because the gas in the oil doesn’t burn. Means waste of expensive gasoline
Oil and gasoline are two of the most important fluids in cars. These two greatly help the entire vehicle to function, however, at no time do they mix and if it happens it is in small quantities.
Although oil and gasoline should not be mixed, there are faults that cause these two to mix.
If your car’s oil smells like gasoline, that’s not a good sign because it means a lot of gas has been mixed into the oil and it could be a serious problem. If this happens, you should check your car and find out how serious the problem is and why this is happening in order to avoid a bigger problem.
Therefore, here we tell you four reasons why the oil in your car smells like gasoline.
1.- Worn piston rings
The engine has several cylinders and pistons. The latter seals the crankcase combustion chamber with the help of piston rings. But a small amount of fuel seeps into the engine oil through that seal, which is completely normal.
A large amount of fuel can flow into the oil pan when the piston rings are worn or the cylinder chamber does not fire properly. It can also occur when the carburetor goes through an interrupted fuel supply without depressing the accelerator pedal or when the fuel injector is stuck in an open position.
2.- Fuel mixture too rich
A problem with various types of sensors can also cause the fuel mixture to become too rich. Damaged or broken Coolant Temperature Sensor, MAP Sensor, Intake Air Temperature Sensor, Mass Air Flow Sensor and O2 Sensor can be the cause of problems.
A rich fuel mixture means that the combustion chamber cannot ignite all the fuel it contains. So a certain amount of gas will end up in the oil pan through the piston rings.
3.- Frequent driving of short distances
A small amount of gasoline will always end up in the oil pan. Vapor is supposed to come out of the engine oil when the oil temperature is high, and it increases when the vehicle is driven for a long distance.
To drive a short distance, the engine oil does not get hot enough to expel the mixed gasoline. The result is an oil pan filled with gasoline. If you drive a lot for shorter distances, you should change your engine oil and filter sooner than recommended by the manufacturer.
4.- A faulty fuel injector
Newer cars have fuel injectors that supply the engine with the necessary amount of fuel. A solenoid controls the injectors and the entire system is regulated by the vehicle’s computer, which accurately calculates and allows the correct amount of gas into the cylinders.
Extra fuel can seep into the oil if the solenoid is broken or defective. If it stays in an open position, gas will seep in and mix with the oil. When it happens in an excessive amount, an amount of gas will flow into the oil pan and produce a gas smell.