Fuel in Oil - small amount is normal

[superba]

Hi Steve, Huw, and all,

A small amount of gasoline in oil is a normal occurrence in gasoline
engines.  Now, if the dip stick shows 87 octane, that's a different story.

Under "normal" circumstances the gasoline is evaporated away when the engine
is brought up to temperature and operated that way for a short time.  In
fact, it was SOP for the military, and for others as well, to dilute engine
oil in propeller driven airplane engines in very cold conditions to reduce
its viscosity temporarily so the engines could be started.

FYI, some condensate resulting from starting combustion also drips into the
sump and will adversely affect the oil's lubricating properties and
ultimately the engine if the engine isn't operated long enough regularly to
evaporate it.  The condensate contributes to the "gunk" that's found in some
engines, and it can be observed coming out the tail pipe just after
starting.

For more evidence of this condensate take a look inside a waste gate that
hasn't been cleaned for a while.  It eventually rots the waste gate
diaphragm and rusts the inside of the waste gate.

My .02 worth.

Cheers!

Jim Jordan

>  Message: 1
>  Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2003 02:08:47 -0400
>  From: Huw Powell <audi at humanspeakers.com>
>  Reply-To: audi at humanspeakers.com
>  To: Steve Sherman <spsherm at attglobal.net>
>  Cc: quattro at audifans.com
>  Subject: Re: Fuel in Oil
>
>
>  > In doing a routine oil level check in our 87 5KTQW, I noticed that the
>  > oil smelled of fuel (gas) rather strongly.  Other than running rich, is
>  > there anything else that could be leaking gas into the oil?
>
>  leaky injectors, dripping fuel into the cylinder while the car sits,
>  could do this.
>
>  --
>  Huw Powell