elzocalo

Hi. I have a 2013 Honda Civic I baby the car and drive it on the highway mostly, as I commute 60+ miles a day for work. I have 61,000 miles on the car and there are no signs of trouble except recently I had to get the timing chain tensioner cover resealed. I was checking the oil recently and happened to smell the pwper towel I was using to wipe the dipstick. It smelled like gasoline. I did the check a few more times and the oil on the rag smelled like gasoline. Is this normal? Does the oil on your dipstick smell like gasoline?

I checked my wife's car and her oil also smelled like gasoline on the rag i used to wipe the oil. Called my dad and he tested his 2014 Honda Civic and he said he did not smell gasoline on the paper towel he used to wipe the oil from the dipstick, but my mom said she smelled gasoline on the paper towel.

What do you think? Can you check your cars oil and let me know what you smell? Anyone heard of anything like this?

1999 Civic Si

Every car I have ever owned has done this too a certain extent, typically it only happens in the winter when I spend a lot of time letting my car warm up and I spend quite a bit of time in bumper to bumper traffic. Any other time of the year and I have no noticeable amount of gas in my oil.

97emsedan

Fuel enrichment in the winter cold months means that there is a greater chance of fuel seeping past the oil seal and wear rings on the pistons and getting down into the sump. Not to worry unless the smell is there after your first oil change in the spring.

elzocalo

Thanks for the replies. I live in the Bay Area, and it really does not get that cold here... not like in the northeast or northwest. It has been in the 40s in the mornings here these days. In the summer it might be in the 50s in the mornings. Not much difference.

DaveSi677

Again this is related also to the additives added in the gas. Could be you are getting the same gas as the ppl in colder climates.

I would wait till spring and check after your first oil change.