Fuel in oil

[N. J. Jim]

Sorry if this has already been asked on here (I haven't read through the entire thread yet!) - but does anyone know if some of the more popular and well-regarded tuners for our application (e.g., Ford Performance, Livernois, 5-Star, etc.) have been able to address full delivery issues via their tune? Is there anyone on here with aftermarket tunes having the same issues with fuel in the oil? Seems I read a year or so ago than Honda was able to address oil dilution issues with the Civic through software tuning. Just curious ...

Back a ways in the thread someone was saying they had a tune don't remember which one and they were still having fuel in oil issues. They were worried about the dealership blaming it on the tune!

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[Zaph]

Sorry if this has already been asked on here (I haven't read through the entire thread yet!) - but does anyone know if some of the more popular and well-regarded tuners for our application (e.g., Ford Performance, Livernois, 5-Star, etc.) have been able to address full delivery issues via their tune? Is there anyone on here with aftermarket tunes having the same issues with fuel in the oil? Seems I read a year or so ago than Honda was able to address oil dilution issues with the Civic through software tuning. Just curious ...

More to the point, I wonder what that Honda tune did? The GDI system is such high pressure, the gas is going to blow by the rings no matter what. I see people getting new injectors, a new HPFP, but really at the core it's a design issue that can't be fixed. The people with more fuel dilution are probably those with lower compression that's just letting more leak by the rings. Would like to see compression numbers for some of us with varying dilution numbers.

Totally speculation here because I'm not expert, but if the Honda tune does anything it probably leans out the motor to make it run hotter and thus makes fuel in the oilpan more likely to evaporate out. If that's the case, I'm not counting a hotter running motor as a solution.

I would be willing to bet that Livernois or 5-Star tunes make the problem worse because they are pushing more fuel.

Comments welcome on this theory.

 

[Samsquanch]

More to the point, I wonder what that Honda tune did? The GDI system is such high pressure, the gas is going to blow by the rings no matter what. I see people getting new injectors, a new HPFP, but really at the core it's a design issue that can't be fixed. The people with more fuel dilution are probably those with lower compression that's just letting more leak by the rings. Would like to see compression numbers for some of us with varying dilution numbers.

Totally speculation here because I'm not expert, but if the Honda tune does anything it probably leans out the motor to make it run hotter and thus makes fuel in the oilpan more likely to evaporate out. If that's the case, I'm not counting a hotter running motor as a solution.

I would be willing to bet that Livernois or 5-Star tunes make the problem worse because they are pushing more fuel.

Comments welcome on this theory.

Not so sure it’s all in the design. There are many GDI engines in use today and most will have some level of fuel dilution. However some of the numbers being reported here are off the charts.

Dont forget the truck has a system in place that should be dealing with most of the blow by. The gasoline will mostly volatilize off at engine operating temperature as the boiling point of gas is between 95-400. Some of the higher boiling additives and compounds might be left behind but at normal operating temperature the vast majority of the gas will boil off during a normal commute or trip.

The boiled off gas should exit the crank case and be fed back into the intake to be burned again.

Look at the genesis of this thread. User installs a catch can and still has gasoline in his oil although he is catching at least SOME of the gas in the can.

That tells us the PCV system is working at least to a point. In my mind that leaves a few possibilities:

1) The PCV system is somehow underperforming and not venting enough of the gasses back into the combustion cycle. This somewhat falls in line with the observations that the level rises to a certain point and stops. Chemistry nerds feel free to correct me here but as the volume decreases the pressure will increase. This could mean that as the level of fluids in the crank cases rises, the volume aka available “space” for gas decreases so the pressure goes UP. Is the PCV valve adjustable here? Maybe it’s just venting at too high of a pressure to maintain the contaminants in the oil.

2) Either the injectors or HPFP has an inherent design or supply chain related flaw. Very telling is that several people have had the injectors replaced with different results. This could mean that the supplier is giving a certain percentage of faulty injectors to Ford. Vehicles with a bad issue may have more than one faulty injector. Replacing them with another set is like Russian roulette. Will you get four good ones or just be replacing with more faulty ones.

3) There is an issue with the programming and the constant fuel pump priming is causing some fuel to leak down into the cylinders and past the rings while the car sits. This would have to be happening at a rate too fast for the PCV system to deal with.

4) worst case it’s several issues combined. We might not figure it out easily without someone doing some experimenting. There is someone who SHOULD be doing that experimenting though... FORD!

 

[createaneutron]

Make sure the dealer gives you paperwork on the visit. Some have had trouble getting the documentation!

I took mine in for the third time and they refused to give me paperwork!!

 

[N. J. Jim]

I took mine in for the third time and they refused to give me paperwork!!

Sounds like a cover up going on, doesn't sound like things are on the up and up. No reason to refuse to give a customer paperwork!

 

[createaneutron]

Sounds like a cover up going on, doesn't sound like things are on the up and up. No reason to refuse to give a customer paperwork!

I got sick of the fight and sold my truck to Carvana for the same price I paid for it. I love my truck, but got sick of trying to make Ford do the right thing!

 

[nealw]

I resolved my Fuel in Oil problem - I traded my Ranger for a Tacoma. I feel if and when Ford acknowledges this or there is a class action suit filed, the value of these vehicles will drop like a rock.
Good luck to all dealing with Ford

 

[D Fresh]

I resolved my Fuel in Oil problem - I traded my Ranger for a Tacoma. I feel if and when Ford acknowledges this or there is a class action suit filed, the value of these vehicles will drop like a rock.
Good luck to all dealing with Ford

Resolved a fuel in oil issue, that nobody knows IF it is a problem. Gained a power problem and ergonomic problem. Good luck with that.

 

[N. J. Jim]

Resolved a fuel in oil issue, that nobody knows IF it is a problem. Gained a power problem and ergonomic problem. Good luck with that.

Did you read this thread??

 

[D Fresh]

Did you read this thread??

Yes, did you?

 

[N. J. Jim]

Yes, did you?

Yeah and If you were experiencing the problem you have a different view of the situation!!

 

[D Fresh]

Yeah and If you were experiencing the problem you have a different view of the situation!!

Pretty sure that could be said about any situation ever.

 

[Samsquanch]

Just got my truck back from the dealership and here’s what they did....

Drumroll please!

The smelled the dipstick and “couldn’t smell the fuel.” Aka nothing. They performed no tests and made no attempts at repair.

When they first called to have me pick it up they said they checked the oil and there was no fuel. I said oh great what kind of analysis did you perform, was it flashpoint testing or gas chromatograph? I also let them know I know for certain they don’t have the equipment to test that in the dealership so I would like to see the analysis report. I found out quickly they didn’t actually test or check anything they pulled the dipstick and smelled it and didn’t smell fuel. I said no thank you to picking it up and at minimum I would like the oil changed and dipstick marked and I will report back. Lastly I let them know I took a sample before dropping the truck off and the analysis lab would tell the whole story.

On the plus side after they noticed I was firm on getting this resolved they let me know they would stick with me through the issue and if the oil does start to rise above their mark they would take it to the next level up to getting Ford involved if needed. They were also friendly throughout. I have a feeling they deal with a decent amount of phantom issues so at first they weren’t too sure about my complaint. They also asked me to report the analysis results back and said they would be willing to pay for future analysis if necessary.

 

[GregsFX2Ranger]

Wash, rinse, repeat . . .

 

[the5Gmartian]

This thread has turned into just a cesspool of people hypothesizing about a fuel in oil “problem” that nobody even has proof is a widespread issue. You have one, maybe two people on here who had freak scenarios with actual proof, but because of this, people are actually trading in their trucks. All of these people freaking out about “fuel in oil” because either it “smells like fuel” or their $100 catch can that was engineered in a garage caught a tiny amount of oil and a bunch of water, but guess what… their trucks keep on running just fine. You don’t think Ford engineers have absolutely tortured and tested this engine before deciding to put it in all of their new and upcoming vehicles? The Bronco, Ranger, Mustang, Explorer, Lincoln Corsair, etc.. Oh and might want to go read some Tacoma forums about what they think of the 3rd gens before you go trade your Ranger for one lol. This thread is ridiculous.

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