Oil Smells Like Gas

al_huryn · #1 (**permalink**) 01-27-2007, 04:29 PM

I noticed a frothy peanut butter colored drip spot under the truck. Open up the hood and it's coming from the airbox, now I've been getting oil in there since I've had it about 2 yrs. I open it up and this froth is in the bottom, I assumed it was coolant but it smells really strongly of oil and gas and it look like there may be rust mixing in with it. What are my options other than total rebuild if I have any others? '92 5.0 E4OD...Any thoughts or other ideas?

topfisherman · #2 (**permalink**) 01-27-2007, 09:01 PM

First off, have you checked your PCV system to make sure it is working properly? A clogged PCV valve would produce what you are seeing.

Second, how is it running? What kind of gas mileage do you get? If the PCV valve is good, then you have the same issue a lot of other 5.0L truck engines have, blow-by. Mine has it too, and yes the oil in the air box is frothy and smells really strong like gas. If the truck is still running good and you don't mind replacing air filters a little more often, then just keep driving it until the condition gets really bad or your mileage drops off. My truck has had the blow-by issue going for almost 3 years now and it is my daily driver. So far the condition has not gotten any worse and I can still pull off 17mpg highway with it. Sorry to say it but the only way to fix it is a total rebuild.

ag30265 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-28-2007, 01:35 AM

My '87 did the same thing. I replaced the pcv valve, back of the passenger side valve cover two inches tall big around as a quarter, $2.97 , then I replaced the breather tube filter in the bottom of the air box, about $10, also get a can of degreaser and remove the tube that the breather filter's connected to and clean out the inside of it off the vehicle. That solved my problem for about $20 and an hour, as TOPFISH said the only other solution is a freshen up, donar, or crate engine. Good luck.

mebe2k · #4 (**permalink**) 01-28-2007, 04:41 AM

My '86 was also doing that.. after the old 302 tossed a rod out of the side of the oil pan, I dropped in a new engine and the problem stopped..the old engine had HORRIBLE blowby.. sometimes blew the PCV valve right out of its hole..required an oil change every 1500-2000 miles because it got so contaminated..and those cheap paper FRAM PCV filters.. the paper element always fell out because the adhesive could not stand upto the oil..they would last maybe a week..

94 XLT White/ Silver 302 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-28-2007, 12:15 PM

If the options listed don't work. On the newer 5.0's like my 94 Ford moved the pvc hose from the air box to the air cleaner outlet tube. So filter doesn't get contaminated, it's now sucked back through the engine. You can see the nipple on the outlet tube pictured below.

al_huryn · #6 (**permalink**) 01-28-2007, 02:24 PM

Thanks guys, pcv was changed back in july or closse to july, as far as I know it's still working properly will check into it though. It's had blow-by for a while this is the first i've noticed the gas, and I guess I was a bit surprised by it. A little cold out there right now but I will check things out this week, thanks again..

Kemicalburns · #7 (**permalink**) 01-29-2007, 09:17 AM

change your oil right away. gas mixing with the oil will wash the bearings and cause the bearings to eat each other basicly. pull the vac line from the fuel pressure regulator and if gas is dripping from that then replace that part. I would preform a compression test as well this will tell ya the life left in the motor.
good luck

sixtyfive_ford · #8 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 02:12 AM

This happened to me for years and I asked tons of people why. I chased a ton of dead end leads until one day I noticed it wasn't happening any more. The only thing I had done to the truck in months was changing out the 160 degree t-stat for a 170 (wife said the truck's heater blew to cold) and there you have it. This was 6-7 years ago and then I read a post here and a guy went into depth and it all made sense why.

The frothy penut butter stuff that smells like gas is actually moisture that is combined with the oil. Under normal conditions the oil gets hot enough to burn it off and you never notice anything. It can be caused by: to cold of thermostat or your drives are to short not allowing the engine to get hot and stay hot for long enough to burn off the small amount of condensation.

I hope this helps. His post was under the oil forum but I couldn't find it to give him credit.

b4hntn · #9 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 07:44 AM

I do not have a clue if this will help but am throwing out an observation that you might want to think about. This MIGHT reset your rings. I switched oil to Mobil Clean High Mileage 10W-30. I only find it at the zone. About 3,000 miles later I replaced the timing chain and drained the nastiest oil I have ever seen come out of a gas engine. The chain area was really clean. I told this story to a friend who sells Mobil lubricants for big industrial engines. He said to watch oil consumption until the rings reset then it will be fine. The detergents clean the buildup in the rings requiring them to reset in a little while. Mine used a 1/2 qt more than normal the first 3,000 but has leveled out now. It normally uses 1/2 qt per oil change but I suspect that is the volitiles flashing off out of the new oil.

al_huryn · #10 (**permalink**) 02-17-2007, 08:30 AM

It's been so cold here in Philly I haven't had a chance to look at the problem yet. As far as heat goes I definately don't have any, I'm thinking it may be the heater core. As far as the oil goes it's still got the gas smell, I'm trying not to drive the truck too much. I need a break in the weather so I can look into all your suggestions. With this truck though it's getting to the point where there's a bunch of issues adding up to where it's really a crap shoot as to whether or not I'm going to keep it, I may be better off at this point looking for one in better shape. Living in the city is a pain without a garage or decent spot to work on it, never mind the fact that none of my friends have any mechanical ability to help me out whatsoever (need to find new friends), but that a whole different story. I definately nned to get this gas situation taken care of though.

al_huryn · #11 (**permalink**) 02-22-2007, 12:33 PM

I pulled the vac from the fpr and it seems fine, not wet at all or anything unusual looking. I noticed though there is another vac line that runs along with the fpr line but it goes around the back of the intake and I can't see to what it connects. This line is broken so there is obviously a leak there. Does anyone know what this goes to? I looked on the sticker and it just shows the vac running to the fpr it doesn't show this other line.