What's your oil smell like?

[chumch]

Took a whiff of my oil today (from the paper towel I wiped the dipstick with) and I noticed a slight gasoline smell...Is it normal for there to be a slight gas smell--am I paranoid?--or do I need a new Head gasket?

Everyone go out and smell your oil and let me know. (was that the sound of garage doors opening I just heard). Yes, we are all freaks.

Thanks for your input.

Matt

 

[jadkar]

my oil smells like Staten Island in August

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Matt,

There typically should not be a gas smell to your oil. So......

I would take a sample and have it analyzed. I am sure a quick search on the Web will give you a place that will do it for $20 or so. Worth the piece of mind for sure.



HTH,
LarryB

 

[John McCain Racing]

I've always stuck to sniffing glue and sucking on my NOS bottle I'll keep my mind open to new things and smell my NSX oil and see what it does!

 

[jrehner]

Do they allow questions like this on the site

 

[Jimbo]

Ahhhh...

I love the smell of NSX oil in the morning!



-Jim

 

[BITeR]

I think it is normal for the oil to smell a little like gasoline.
Especially if close to an oil change.

Almost all my cars have had this smell. Think of it, there will always be a thin layer of oil on the cylinder walls to protect, lubricate and cool. Now some of that oil will get mixed or absorb some gasoline in the otto cylcles. Do that enough times, and the gasoline smell will eventually be noticable in the oil.

If the smell is really bad, I'd say check the head gasket or something else.

 

[NSXBill2]

I always smell my oil. I don't know why, I just do (it'll probably eventually kill me). I think I am just looking (smelling) for abnormalities. I figure if I smell it all the time, if something is wrong (burned smell, strong gasoline smell, etc) I might notice.

 

[nsxtasy]

Just don't taste it.

 

[Zishan]

My oil smells like oil!

 

[jadkar]

tastes like chicken....................from Staten Island

 

[Black&Tan97Tnewportbeach]

is that a Staten Island Dump Chicken???? (seagull that lurks over the landfill)

 

[John McCain Racing]

is that a Staten Island Dump Chicken???? (seagull that lurks over the landfill)

that's some good eatin boys! Cajun seagulls taste might nice

 

[jadkar]

wow....I'm impressed....Staten Island is known for it's dump even all the way out in CA. Maybe you guys can smell it out there as well

 

[blknsxnoc]

the thought of smelling my oil never even crossed my mind. Is there something wrong with me?

 

[Black&Tan97Tnewportbeach]

I was born in Lenox Hill Hospital so I cheated . . .

 

[BITeR]

the thought of smelling my oil never even crossed my mind. Is there something wrong with me?

No, but it's actually a good idea when buying a used car. The Oil should smell like oil, nothing else really (i.e "burnt oil" or coolant fluid, except maybe a hint of gasoline) It's also a good idea just to look inside the oil filler cap for residue. It usually means high milage or infrequent oil changes.

Learn something every day! I didn't know this either until a few years ago. smilie('')

 

[blknsxnoc]

Biter,

Thanks,

I was kidding but your point is well taken.

I do the usual "check the oil filler cap" as well as check for residue and color. I also check the oil by taking some off of the dipstick and rubbing it between my fingers to feel for grit or other debris but I have never thought of smelling it.

When I change my oil, you can smell more than you want to then and the thought of accidentally, (or intentionally) inhaling it gives me a headache.

If the rest of you think that it is something that is worth doing, I guess that I will give it a whirl.