Date:         Thu, 2 Jan 1997 11:42:55 -0800 (PST)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Johnson <sjohnson@pcocd2.intel.com>
Subject:      Re: how engine oil degrades (was: sysnthetic oils)

So Cetin Seren says:
> place, and checked the oil level once again, almost full -- BTW, what
> was that smell??? Then I slapped myself on the head: the oil smelled
> of gasoline!!!! Somehow, it mixed in (the fact that the van idles high
> until it warms up? the few times I cranked it too long and flooded it?
> the fact that the engine now has 142,000 miles on it? some other
> defect  somewhere else that I cannot think of?).  In any case, the
> buzzer and the light were coming on because the oil was thinned down
> by the gasoline that somehow mixed in.
> Anyways, the 'cure' was an oil change with 20W50 oil...  I've been
> 'sniffing' the oil reasonably frequently now, and no smell of gasoline
> yet. 

Hi Cetin,

It sounds like your fuel injectors are probably worn and that the fuel 
is leaking past their seals/valve.  I would consider replacing them.  Check 
them first of course.

Steven 
Sacramento, CA
sjohnson@pcocd2.intel.com