Honda Civic Forum - Oil smells like gas, 2010 Civic

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Oil smells like gas, 2010 Civic

I have a 2010 Civic with 10,000 miles total on it with full synthetic. I just got an oil change after 5,000 miles (early, right?) and the drained oil smelled like gas. Thoughts? I've owned the car since new and I've been extremely nice to it (although I do live in cold weather).

Re: Oil smells like gas, 2010 Civic

Cold running means fuel enrichment. Fuel goes past the rings and into the oil when cold, that's normal.

Short trips? Long periods of idling?
If the engine doesn't get up to operating temperature and held there for long periods of time, the fuel and condensation doesn't get cooked out of the oil. The oil NEEDS to get hot for this to happen. Driving is best, not idling.

Just smelling like fuel doesn't mean a whole lot, by itself. They all seem to smell that way in the winter.
Take an oil sample and rub it between your fingers. Does the oil feel "grainy"? THAT is oil dilution/fuel contamination. If it is that bad, then change the oil and alter your driving habits.