2.0 engine oil smells like fuel

[Doubleaaron]

2019 JLRU with 2.0 etorque. 61k miles
Just did an oil change (4k) and the oil has a strong fuel smell.

google suggests possible bad fuel injectors as a likely cause.

Anyone replace the injectors themselves? Is a gasket kit needed? Difficulty level? Never had to replace fuel injectors , not too many videos or instructions floating around on the internet for a 2.0

Am I better off taking it to a dealership?

I also have the extended mopar 8yr 120k extended warranty

Thoughts?

any other potential causes?

note: spark plugs replaced about 14k miles ago, no issues. Engine a little noisier than normal, but no performance changes, MPG about the same 20ish. Peppy as normal

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[PunksJL]

How is it running? Have you noticed the oil level rising on the dipstick? I would suggest pulling a sample of the oil and sending it in for analysis which will tell you how much fuel dilution you have. I'm not saying there is nothing wrong, but we are talking about a direct injection engine which are more prone to fuel dilution. How may miles are on the engine? You might consider trying Valvoline Restore and Protect to break down any piston ring deposits and ensure the rings are sealing as they shoud be.

 

[Heimkehr]

@Doubleaaron
Direct-injection engines are prone to fuel dilution. Short trips, and the frequency of the same, are just one contributing factor.

If the vehicle has warranty coverage of any kind, and you trust your CDJR dealership to give the diagnostic process a fair go, then taking it there will probably be worth your time, if only to gain access to their knowledge base with respect to the probable cause(s) of the fuel dilution.

I second the suggestion to send a used oil sample to a lab, for testing, at your earliest convenience. I use this service, but several are available. Figure a 2 to 4 week turnaround time for the report to be provided to you. The oil should be hot when filling the collection bottle, and the sample should be taken mid-stream.

Send me a PM if you have any add'l. questions, or want to have a phone conversation. This is a subject with which I have direct experience, and it's easy to go down the rabbit hole.

 

[Doubleaaron]

@Doubleaaron
Direct-injection engines are prone to fuel dilution. Short trips, and the frequency of the same, are just one contributing factor.

If the vehicle has warranty coverage of any kind, and you trust your CDJR dealership to give the diagnostic process a fair go, then taking it there will probably be worth your time, if only to gain access to their knowledge base with respect to the probable cause(s) of the fuel dilution.

I second the suggestion to send a used oil sample to a lab, for testing, at your earliest convenience. I use this service, but several are available. Figure a 2 to 4 week turnaround time for the report to be provided to you. The oil should be hot when filling the collection bottle, and the sample should be taken mid-stream.

Send me a PM if you have any add'l. questions, or want to have a phone conversation. This is a subject with which I have direct experience, and it's easy to go down the rabbit hole.

Thanks for the reply


I just ordered a kit and am holding on to used oil. Can also do anotherr change to get some fluid mid stream.

I understand direct injection. Smell is much worse than normal.

didn’t see any additional fluid when drained, about the same. Will keep an eye on the dip stick. Can still smell fuel on the dip stick with about 80 miles on the new oil, just no where as bad

May try the dealership. My confidence with them is very low. Every time they have touched my vehicle, they seem to break something, and it sits on the lot for a few weeks before they get to it. Will see what the sample shows and may have to bite the bullet and drop it off.

 

[Doubleaaron]

How is it running? Have you noticed the oil level rising on the dipstick? I would suggest pulling a sample of the oil and sending it in for analysis which will tell you how much fuel dilution you have. I'm not saying there is nothing wrong, but we are talking about a direct injection engine which are more prone to fuel dilution. How may miles are on the engine? You might consider trying Valvoline Restore and Protect to break down any piston ring deposits and ensure the rings are sealing as they shoud be.

Runs about the same. 61k miles. Planning to send a sample in for analysis. Just a much higher fuel smell than normal. Change around every 4k

 

[Heimkehr]

I understand direct injection. Smell is much worse than normal.

didn’t see any additional fluid when drained, about the same. Will keep an eye on the dip stick. Can still smell fuel on the dip stick with about 80 miles on the new oil, just no where as bad

For the sample, and thus your time and expense, to have any value, the used oil should have a regular service interval already accumulated.

E.g., if your normal oil change interval is 4K miles, such that that is when you originally noticed the fuel smell, the sample should be collected (again, when hot, and mid-stream during the draining) with the same or similar accumulated mileage.

Having the recommended miles accumulated between oil changes will allow the lab to comment fully on the effects of fuel dilution on other wear elements in the engine.

FWIW, on a separate GDI vehicle of ours that once had a confirmed 3.5% fuel dilution, the sample didn't smell at all of oil after I collected it, but before I sent it to Blackstone. I mention that for context. If your used oil has as strong a scent of gas as you suggest, you might consider not driving the vehicle at all, or at least as little as possible, until the issue has been attended to.

 

[jellis4148]

I would use Amsoil for the analysis. Only problem is it will be a few days before he gets it. A lot of the fuel will evaporate out of the oil before he gets to get a sample.

 

[Heimkehr]

I would use Amsoil for the analysis. Only problem is it will be a few days before he gets it.

A lot of the fuel will evaporate out of the oil before he gets to get a sample.

How could fuel evaporate out of the oil in a closed system such as an automotive engine, or even the sealed bottle that holds a sample of the same oil? Were that true, a testing service wouldn't otherwise be able to measure fuel dilution in the lab, or the effects of it on the operating parameters of the engine itself.

 

[Doubleaaron]

How could fuel evaporate out of the oil in a closed system such as an automotive engine, or even the sealed bottle that holds a sample of the same oil? Were that true, a testing service wouldn't otherwise be able to measure fuel dilution in the lab.

Yeah. Have it stored in the 5 liter oil jug. Capped in the garage with lid

 

[dstevens]

I think you'd know a bad injector - engine would run poorly and sound even worse than normal.

What is your driving pattern and climate like? Short trips in cold weather are bad for oil dilution. Long trips on the highway should get the oil hot enough to allow the fuel to evaporate and get burnt in the engine.

 

[Heimkehr]

I think you'd know a bad injector - engine would run poorly and sound even worse than normal.

From experience, that's absolutely how a bad ignition coil would manifest itself.

 

[The Fixer]

FWIW I noticed the same thing when I changed the oil last weekend on my '18 with the 2.0T. I attributed it to running rich on our winter cold-starts, but I didn't take a sample to send in. I'm going to keep an eye (and nose) on it though. Jeep has 44K on it, and I change the oil like you, about every 4K miles.

 

[JLUR Farout]

Yeah. Have it stored in the 5 liter oil jug. Capped in the garage with lid

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...-dillution-some-thoughts.144350/#post-3021929

OP, there is my thread on this. I HOPED it was a done deal, but it seems it is not. I am still gaining oil at a measurable level.

 

[jellis4148]

How could fuel evaporate out of the oil in a closed system such as an automotive engine, or even the sealed bottle that holds a sample of the same oil? Were that true, a testing service wouldn't otherwise be able to measure fuel dilution in the lab, or the effects of it on the operating parameters of the engine itself.

I meant if it is sitting in the drain pan

 

[Maverick909]

welcome to the new engines running the thinnest oil possible. fuel gets into it quick. have multiple trucks that do the same thing regardless of the make and model

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