Why does oil smell like gasoline? (4 common causes)
Vehicles need many fluids, but two of the most important are gasoline and oil. Internal combustion engines need a mixture of fuel and air to generate power for the wheels below.
Engines have many internal components that move and rub against each other, so they need oil to keep the components cool and running smoothly. There is no situation where gasoline and oil mix. They are two different fluids that serve two different purposes, but both work together with your engine in some way. However, gasoline can accidentally mix with oil or vice versa. When this happens, you will notice that your oil smells like gasoline.
Why does oil smell like gasoline? Aside from the bad smell of gasoline in oil, it also creates problems with the functioning of your engine. Therefore, you need to fix this problem as soon as possible once you notice it.
First, you need to address the cause of the problem by repairing any damaged or defective components. Then, you need to change the oil and replace it with completely new oil that doesn’t smell like gasoline. To help you diagnose the problem, here is a list of reasons why your oil might smell like gasoline:
1) Piston Ring Trouble
Your engine’s cylinder walls rely on piston rings to act as a seal. These seals are meant to create a barrier between the oil and the gasoline. Unfortunately, piston rings are far from perfect when it comes to sealing the gasoline from the oil.
Because of this, if the seals are even slightly damaged or worn out, it’s possible for small amounts of gasoline to get into the oil. The leak won’t be large enough to damage the engine, but it will definitely make the interior of your car smell like gasoline.
2) Stuck Fuel Injectors
Fuel injectors should close automatically. However, if the fuel injector gets stuck in the open position, fuel will leak out and mix with the engine oil. It can also cause problems with the carburetor if gasoline gets into the intake manifold.
3) Refilling with gasoline instead of oil
This is rare, but it can happen if you have a type of car that refills gasoline or oil with its own canister.
For example, if you use a canister to fill your gas tank, clean it carefully when you use the same canister to refill your engine oil. If there are traces of gasoline in the canister, it can mix with the oil.
4) No Oil Changes
Are you getting your oil changed when it should be? The average car manufacturer recommends changing your vehicle’s oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.
In some cases, you may not even realize that your oil has gasoline in it, especially if someone else is maintaining your car. So, make sure you change your oil often to make sure it doesn’t contain gasoline.
If you’re the DIY type, changing your oil is easy. All you need is an access light, a socket set, an oil pan, an oil filter, a few liters of engine oil, and a service manual (or YouTube).
Bottom line
Most of the time, your oil only contains a small amount of gasoline. If the smell of gasoline fills the interior of your car, you’ll notice a problem right away. Don’t let this problem go unchecked, as too much gasoline mixed with the oil can cause engine damage.