Fuel in oil

[N. J. Jim]

Well after three lab reports from blackstone it appears the problem is mostly due to short drives. Here is a report the shows three checks. The first of and the the second showed to be high of the dipstick and strong smell of fuel. However the fuel was only at 1.3%. Certainly nothing to be alarmed about. The third report was after a long highway drive and the dipstick level dropped down to normal and the fuel dropped down to <.5%. So it appears to me the the dipstick is going to show high with just a little fuel dilution. And as long as the engine is driven occasionally on longer highway drives the fuel should burn off. A problem for me as my daily drive is only a few miles and don't get it out on the highway but 2 or 3 times a year at most. Will continue to keep an eye of the dipstick and try to do a longer highway drive every month or so or change the oil a little more frequently.

I don't understand how the dipstick reading can be at the top hole and only having a 1.3% dilution. Mine did the same thing up to the top hole with only a 1% dilution. I drained the oil from the top hole down to the fill line and had about 14 ozs. of oil. What does this excess amount on the stick consist of, if not all fuel just doesn't make sense. ???

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[txquailguy]

What does the dip stick smell like, I doubt if you will have problems due to your driving habits. Break in is important...

I do 100-120 mph push daily...motor loves it ..
Regards
Doc

Edit: I have a 10 mile stretch of highway between here and Town With good visibility, No other cars around. I drive to town in the morning for Coffee and coming back from town when the motor temp is right I nail it to 100 and then immediately back to 60 then repeat once. Keeps me and the truck happy...

Hey Doc, How many miles do you have on your Ranger?

 

[txquailguy]

I ordered my Blackstone kit yesterday. I figure I'll be right at 30k when I get ready to send off the sample. My Livernois tuner should be in by months end. Probably a good idea to see what's up with my power plant before I load a hot tune in her. Baseline data is always good for future reference.

 

[Doc]

Hey Doc, How many miles do you have on your Ranger?

6500...not a daily driver just one run to town in the morning, the GMC does most of the work
Regards

 

[N. J. Jim]

This doesn't look too good for Ford!

 

[rpeterson53]

John Cadogan on AutoExpert.com explains the issue from an engineering standpoint.

My experience mirrors what many owners post. I check my oil regular with the truck is same place in the garage after sitting overnight. During warmer weather, I noted very little change on the dipstick level. My first oil sample at about 9700 miles came back at 2.0 % fuel dilution. My second sample at 14400 miles came back at 1.3 %. For the second sample I drove the truck for about 30 minutes at highway speed prior to taking the sample.

With the colder weather, I noted the oil level did rise about 1/4 inch. After driving the next day on the highway for a substantial distance, the oil level was down to the “normal” value. I have been changing the oil at 5000 mile interval using full synthetic. For the winter season, I plan to drop that change interval to 4000 miles. I do my own service so the cost is relatively small.

I also own a 2019 Mazda Miata that I drive the same routes as the truck. The Mazda has not had an issue with oil dilution. I sent a sample back and the value was <.5 % dilution. Car has same oil change interval as the truck and driven the same. My conclusion is that a forced induction engine more likely to see the issue.

Cheers

 

[rpeterson53]

Back in the day in the Artic with radial engines, we would use fuel to dilute the oil to thin it out at the end of the day so the engines had some chance of starting in the morning if external heating not available. Typically radial engines used 50 or 60 weight oil. There was an oil dilution switch that activated a solenoid to allow fuel to enter the oil system. We did this for several minutes with the engine at idle. The fuel in the oil would burn off during the operational day.

The downside was the potential for dislodge of sludge that could block the oil screen so we didn’t like to use it unless absolutely a necessary. I seen to recall we deactivated the system on most aircraft and went to external heat mandatory. But I can confirm the fuel did burn off from the oil after operating at normal engine and oil temperature.

Thats been my experience

Cheers

 

[MotoWojo]

Well, I have not checked my oil level in a week or so, as I just got sick of doing it everyday. Last night I noticed the smell of gasoline in my garage. I checked my oil level first thing in the morning and the level is at about 3/8in above the twist. That matches about the highest I had ever seen it and the amount of oil that drained out during the change at that time, was 7.8 qts not counting what splashed on the floor. I have about 2000 miles yet to drive before Ford will allow it back in for another repair attempt. Other than the oil level being extremely high, the truck is running as good as it did when it was new. I still have to believe that 1.5-2 qts of gas in the crankcase has to be doing some damage?

 

[Sarge104]

How much does the Blackstone analysis cost?

Standard test is 30 bucks, I opt for the tbn which is an extra 10 due to my racing itch. You absolutely do not need the tbn if you do regular oil changes.

 

[2ford]

Well, I have not checked my oil level in a week or so, as I just got sick of doing it everyday. Last night I noticed the smell of gasoline in my garage. I checked my oil level first thing in the morning and the level is at about 3/8in above the twist. That matches about the highest I had ever seen it and the amount of oil that drained out during the change at that time, was 7.8 qts not counting what splashed on the floor. I have about 2000 miles yet to drive before Ford will allow it back in for another repair attempt. Other than the oil level being extremely high, the truck is running as good as it did when it was new. I still have to believe that 1.5-2 qts of gas in the crankcase has to be doing some damage?

When you bring it in see if they will scope the intake valves I'm curious if all that fuel in your oil is helping to keep the valves clean. Good luck

 

[N. J. Jim]

You guys with catch cans, are you still experiencing high levels of fuel dilution or are you catching alot of it?

 

[Brisko_Michigan]

I’ll throw this out, not knowing yet if it was the issue: a couple of weeks ago the check engine light came on. Fuel vapor valve (fuel tank sensor) was the culprit. Slow fail; ultimately a simple valve replacement.

I was concurrently in discussion with Ford warranty on the oil level problem.

A Ford engineer spoke with the dealership and advised that the fuel vapor valve issue may have been pushing fuel vapors back into the motor, rather than the exhaust or fuel tank outlet, causing the slow rise in oil level and gas smell. When asked how that could get past circulation systems and into the crank case, Ford offered a reasonable theory.

Ill update after 500 or more miles when we check the level/system again.

May not have been the issue, but the explanation provided was reasonable and cautious; “lets see if that’s it, as it could be.”

We’ll see how it goes and update.

Best recommendation I’ve received was from the dealership advising me to open a case with Ford warranty and customer care. Don’t wait. (and there’s little to lose by saying to Ford “the level is high, please fix it”)

Helped the dealership elevate the matter internally (warranty repair) and forced formal recognition of a problem, now allowing easier ‘next steps’ if this doesn’t work.

Update: back at the dealership for high oil level. Seems it wasn’t the fuel vapor valve.

 

[N. J. Jim]

Update: back at the dealership for high oil level. Seems it wasn’t the fuel vapor valve.

Sounds familiar opening a case to make things go smoother for the dealer. Good luck with that, didn't work out too good for me. Ford knows they have a problem trying to dodge it as long as they can!!

 

[landiscarrier]

You guys with catch cans, are you still experiencing high levels of fuel dilution or are you catching alot of it?

That's what I am curious about also....and is the catch can contributing (somehow) to the gas smell and fuel in the oil??

 

[jsphlynch]

That's what I am curious about also....and is the catch can contributing (somehow) to the gas smell and fuel in the oil??

I can't envision how a catch can could affect the fuel dilution either positively or negatively. By the time the fuel gets to the catch can, it's already been evaporated out of the oil, and it can't flow backward back into the crankcase. It should just prevent that evaporated gas (and anything else) from making its way into the combustion chamber.

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