Oil smells like gasoline!

DennisR_944 · 01-24-2003, 02:22 PM

I have a problem with my 1987 944 n/a. About a month ago I got on it pretty hard while it was real cold outside and I saw a lot of white smoke coming from the exhaust. Every since then, it seems like the car emits a lot of exhaust fumes that smell rich, and my exhaust tip has turned black. This morning I noticed a distinct ticking sound in the engine. I shut it down and checked the oil and it smells like gas. There is no water in the oil and no oil in the water. The coolant level is fine and the oil is full. The car doesn't run hot. What am I looking at? Thanks, guys.

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Rings.

Hopefully not a burned piston too.

Do a compression test.

Shepper · 01-24-2003, 02:49 PM

Never get on her when she's cold....

only bad things will happen.

Every guy knows that.

DennisR_944 · 01-26-2003, 06:51 AM

No, the car was warmed up when I got on it, the weather was very cold. It seemed like something let loose when it started smoking. Now, the fumes are very bad and the engine ticks like crazy. I think I'll start with changing the oil and see if it quiets down. Thanks for the replies.

AFJuvat · 01-26-2003, 08:38 AM

Is it ticking from the top or bottom of the motor?

Almost sounds like you blew out a ring or spun a bearing.

Change the oil and then run a compression test

AFJuvat

DennisR_944 · 01-26-2003, 11:37 PM

The ticking is more like a rattle in that it ticks very fast. It's coming from the top of the engine towards the rear. It's not a knock, just a fast tick,tick,tick.

AFJuvat · 01-27-2003, 05:11 AM

If memory serves, isn't that the original RLM # from Porsche during the 30's and 40's?

AFJuvat

DennisR_944 · 01-27-2003, 05:58 AM

Pssst...Rennlist Member Number.

profssr2017 · 01-27-2003, 07:02 AM

Any possibility of an injector sticking open? When you start the car, does it smell rich, possibly running on only 3 cylinders until the excess fuel is cleared out of the cylinder? A sticking injector will flood the cylinder at rest, due to the pressurized fuel rail, which can let fuel into the crankcase.

I'd also do a compression test asap.

no1biscuit · 01-27-2003, 07:04 AM

what about the fuel pressure regulator?

AFJuvat · 01-27-2003, 07:36 AM

Ahhh thought it was the Reichs Luftfahrt Ministerium number. All the manuafacturers had them during the way - numbers looked similar

AFJuvat

DennisR_944 · 01-31-2003, 01:09 AM

OK...changed the oil. There was no sign of coolant in the old oil but it did smell like pure gasoline. The ticking has stopped. The car idles perfectly and runs great but the exhaust fumes and smoking when accelerating are still terrible. I feel that it's just a matter of time before the ticking/thin oil returns. So, what next? How can I check the fuel regulator and damper? How to check injectors? Could it be anything else? Thanks guys.

Dave951M · 01-31-2003, 08:25 PM

From the description, a couple of possibilites, sticking injector, fpr, or both. Could also be a broken ring, but I doubt that at the moment. Pull the plugs and note the color of each. If they are normal, they should bave a light tan coloration. If a cylinder is rich (ie injector stuck open) the plug will be black and sooty looking. This should help identify which cylinder to look at. From your description of the noise, I would first suspect it is an injector. The fuel smell in the oil is from gas leaking down past the rings and into the pan when the car is off. Your oil is being thinned by this, you should track it down pronto.

If you find only one cylinder is running very rich, try replacing the injector with a known good one. Put in a fresh plug, run for a bit and check the color of the plug. If all the plugs are fouled, I would lean towards the fpr being at fault. HTH

stuart931 · 02-03-2003, 01:29 PM

If you cant source a known good injector try swapping the bad one with another one from your engine. run the car and if the problem moves to this cylinder you know this is the problem injector. stu