First oil change smells like gas

May be a sensitive nose as I notice it on all my vehicles.

 

I have to say I have never smelled gas in my oil and I have been changing mine for almost 25 years in new and old vehicles.

 

I can't ever recall the oil smelling like fuel when I do oil changes, nor the oil being dark, especially doing my tacoma's last oil change at 9k, and change. I'm thinking if the oil smells like gas, and is dark, your fuel/air mixture is excessively rich for some reason, causing the oil to be dark appearing when its changed. Whenever I did oil changes at 15k on my tundra, the oil looked very close, like a darker amber maple syrup.
It sounds more like too much unburnt fuel is passing the rings on these engines when smelling fuel in the oil.

 

Put your sniffer on hold until the next oul change..it is breaking in give everything time to mate

 

Some are more sensitive than others. I can spot residential gas leaks from neighbors houses.

I smell it often during oil changes on all models. Worse in the winter when the vehicles run rich longer.

Many variables.

 

Wonder if the op did a lot of short trips in the winter before the engine has a chance to break in properly.

 

I'm at like 80k miles or so and I have always felt like my oil had a somewhat gassy smell to it. 7.5k - 10k mile oil changes since new, no issues.

Yet...

 

Just purchased the truck 3 weeks ago. Followed break-in instructions for the first 680 miles and changed the oil at 1k which is when I discovered the black/gas oil.

 

* UPDATE *

The dealership service manager reached out to some "higher-ups" and they all were perplexed. Said they had never heard of this and they aren't sure how best to proceed. Encouraged me to submit the oil for testing, change where I'm getting gas and to drive the truck until something happens, (or nothing happens). Waiting on Blackstone's testing kit and I'll send it off for analysis.

I have only used top tier gas and followed break-in instructions. Toyota has made millions of these engines and it is quite alarming that several shop managers and "higher-ups" aren't able to explain what is going on. The only thing I can possibly conclude is that the oil was defective or tampered with at the factory. It wouldn't make sense for someone to vandalize the truck at the dealership by pouring gas in with the oil. If that's the case, they'd pour some dirt or sugar... Since the truck isn't throwing any codes, I am left to assume that there is nothing mechanically wrong and that the oil from the factory was shit. I'm just glad I happened to change it when I did.

Been driving around this week and put another 100 miles on the truck. I can still sniff some gas on the dipstick, (that's what she said) but the oil is clear and the engine seems to be running fine. Been waiting about a week for the Blackstone testing kit and I have no idea how long that process takes but I'll update our findings and share any other details.

 

Thanks for the update and never missing the opportunity for a good that's what she said. This almost has me hoping something conclusive is found out about the cause instead of just being a fluke and everything is fine now. I do hope it's fine, I'd just want to know why.

 

I don’t know if you mentioned this yet but are you doing mainly short trips?

 

Michael Scott approved.

 

For a second reference point, here is what my oil looked like at 1500 miles and 6 months. Might not be molasses black like the OP but definitely on the black scale. Did not notice gas smell nor too time to sniff it.

 

I'm at 20,500 on my 2017. I noticed the gas smell in the oil around 13k miles, sometimes worse than others.

I recently did a full tune up (serviced the entire truck front to back) and noticed a few of my spark plugs (passenger side) were excessively loose from the factory. I also tend to do short trips/idle more than I should.

The truck runs a lot smoother after the tune up/fresh plugs and the most recent oil change didn't smell like gas, so I don't know. I never had any codes.

 

Why did you change plugs at 20k? Seems like a lot of work and money for plugs that are no where near their service interval.

 

My oil looked like yours at 850 miles. I had done a meticulous break-in. The oil black surprised rather than alarmed me. I didn't smell fuel either but neither did I specifically check for it. I plan to change the oil again at 3000 and see how it looks.

I did the transmission oil (a manual) both differentials and the transfer case at the same time replacing with the appropriate Amsoil gear or trans oil. Except for the transfer case all those oils were black as well. What did alarm me was the weird rainbow sheen that swirled on the surface of the drained oil - I assumed it was microscopic metal bits. (The drive train did quiet down substantially though I still have a bit of a whistle sound when I wind out the engine in third gear.)

 

You got to wonder if possibly ( just thinking here ) could it be some type of break in material or additive possibly. Although it doesn’t seem normal to us but it’s a little coincidental too. Especially no one is having issues with the truck the way it runs.

 

I've been doing all my own oil changes and bought my truck new back in 2016, they have always smelled like gas here. Took it to the dealership at 20k miles and they claimed it was "normal" so I had them document it and carried on. Recently sent in a sample around 60k and they confirmed no measurable fuel dilution.

 

It's got me wondering too. Maybe try a different manufactures oil next time. Do you run a lot of real short...like 5-10 minute trips? Then again, I've never done an oil change at 1k miles since the 70's...really no need to in this day and age. I would guess the rings are still in the seating stage at that mileage, so it might be normal for some of these engines.

 

Our 2019 4Runner was the only vehicle we've ever purchased new. That had 48 miles on it and had all kinds of burning smells and strange noises (power steering pump comes to mind) at first. But things wore in and it functions as it should now. It's a completely different engine so I can't comment on that. We waited until 5k to change the oil. We didn't get a sample, but also didn't notice any issues.

As for my Taco, the oil often still looks clean at the 9k mile mark. I had 14k on it when I got it so I never saw the first oil change. My advice is to keep an eye on it. It's definitely alarming, but I am also not surprised on a first oil change. I'd change again at maybe 5k and keep an eye on it for 10k. You'll still be well within warranty by then and the problem will have possibly gone away, along with the dirty oil that didn't drain from this oil change and got mixed in with the new stuff.