I have had this problem the entire time I have had the bike. I thought it would go away after break in, but it has not. I have 3000 miles on the bike now. I switched to Syn3 at 2500 miles. I check oil level after every use, and it has a smell of gas. It's not too strong, but I smell it over the oil. When I was running regular oil, I went through about 1 quart of oil. I have barely used up any Syn 3. My bike does not blow smoke when you start it either. I am out of ideas and the dealer says they don't know what it is. Any help would be appreciated. I am going to post this in Vtwinforum also so I can get more coverage. Thank you for your time!
Oil smells like fuel
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Here is the link to the kit he sells.
http://www.v-mod.com/shop/viewProductDetails.asp?PID=834
We do oil test any time engine problems are in question. It can save a lot of time and give peace of mind.
Max
http://www.v-mod.com/shop/viewProductDetails.asp?PID=834
We do oil test any time engine problems are in question. It can save a lot of time and give peace of mind.
Max
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27,325 Posts
sslegend, I have seen others comment about the fuel smell but the test on the only test that someone reported came back with the part per million of fuel normal but did show some high metal content.
Max
It is well worth the expense, it will tell you about everything taking place with the motor.
Max
It is well worth the expense, it will tell you about everything taking place with the motor.
I have read other reports of people claiming to smell gas in the oil. As Max indicated, the only test that I've heard about indicated that the the amount of gas in the oil was well within normal limits.
Unless there are other symptoms or problems, I really wouldn't worry about it. If you bike is performing well, not creating smoke, or losing a lot of oil between changes - I really don't think you've got much to complain about.
Maybe other folks have had different experiences, but IMHO its not a good idea to make yourself a nuisance at your local dealer - constantly having him searching for niggling little "problems." One day you may need his help when you need to have something major done to your bike. Technicians and service advisors are people too.
Unless there are other symptoms or problems, I really wouldn't worry about it. If you bike is performing well, not creating smoke, or losing a lot of oil between changes - I really don't think you've got much to complain about.
Maybe other folks have had different experiences, but IMHO its not a good idea to make yourself a nuisance at your local dealer - constantly having him searching for niggling little "problems." One day you may need his help when you need to have something major done to your bike. Technicians and service advisors are people too.
There was a report today on another forum that a V-Rod owner had smelled gas in his oil and had sent a sample into a lab. The laboratory report showed 7% "fuel".
One knowledgable lister discussed the possibility that the gas in oil that is being reported more frequently lately could be due to leaking fuel injectors following shut down.
I too have a minor gasoline smell from the dipstick. I havent been worried about it, because I have no apparent mechanical problems with the bike.
I am trying to connect the dots and am speculating here, but the letter which we all are receiving from Harley states "The new fuel module flange provides more consistant fuel pressure delivery and improves the smoothness of the engine operation."
Perhaps "More consistant fuel pressure" may keep fuel from leaking into the injectors? I know there have been some other reported FI issues which the fuel model flange may fix, but could there be some relation here.
Any fuel injection experts here???
Bob in Albuquerque
One knowledgable lister discussed the possibility that the gas in oil that is being reported more frequently lately could be due to leaking fuel injectors following shut down.
I too have a minor gasoline smell from the dipstick. I havent been worried about it, because I have no apparent mechanical problems with the bike.
I am trying to connect the dots and am speculating here, but the letter which we all are receiving from Harley states "The new fuel module flange provides more consistant fuel pressure delivery and improves the smoothness of the engine operation."
Perhaps "More consistant fuel pressure" may keep fuel from leaking into the injectors? I know there have been some other reported FI issues which the fuel model flange may fix, but could there be some relation here.
Any fuel injection experts here???
Bob in Albuquerque
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13,094 Posts
There are 2 ways fuel get's into the crankcase, through the crankcase ventilation system (not possible on the V-Rod, they are completely separate systems) or past the rings.
It's typical for a small amount of byproducts of combustion (hydrocarbons) to get past the rings and over time accumulate in the oil, that doesn't seem to be what this lister found. The other suggestion that a leaky injector is dumping fuel after the engine is turned off is also but considering this is electronic fuel injection the injector shouldn't be opening without electrical energy. I suppose it's possible that a dirty injector could stick partially open and dump fuel but these are relatively new bikes and injectors have a very long lifespan in relation to the age of any V-Rod.
Since we're speculating here I think there are 2 possible ways for this to have occurred.
1. bad gas causing an injector to get really dirty or worse, corroded due to water in the gas. This would cause the injector to spit droplets of fuel into the combustion chamber allowing for significant quantities of raw fuel to coat the cylinder and leak past the rings. This could be either under power or even immediately post running if the dirt or corrosion is bad enough to prevent the injector from closing completely.
2. Excessively rich mixture allowing unburnt fuel to leak past the rings.
I personally think it's the latter. This person was not runing a stock configuration and was using a PCIIIr. There's significant evidence that improperly tuned PCIIIr's or race tuners can run very rich as indicated by so many people complaining about low 30's and even high 20's fuel mileage. I don't think anything is broken, just not running as the designers intended.
Mark
It's typical for a small amount of byproducts of combustion (hydrocarbons) to get past the rings and over time accumulate in the oil, that doesn't seem to be what this lister found. The other suggestion that a leaky injector is dumping fuel after the engine is turned off is also but considering this is electronic fuel injection the injector shouldn't be opening without electrical energy. I suppose it's possible that a dirty injector could stick partially open and dump fuel but these are relatively new bikes and injectors have a very long lifespan in relation to the age of any V-Rod.
Since we're speculating here I think there are 2 possible ways for this to have occurred.
1. bad gas causing an injector to get really dirty or worse, corroded due to water in the gas. This would cause the injector to spit droplets of fuel into the combustion chamber allowing for significant quantities of raw fuel to coat the cylinder and leak past the rings. This could be either under power or even immediately post running if the dirt or corrosion is bad enough to prevent the injector from closing completely.
2. Excessively rich mixture allowing unburnt fuel to leak past the rings.
I personally think it's the latter. This person was not runing a stock configuration and was using a PCIIIr. There's significant evidence that improperly tuned PCIIIr's or race tuners can run very rich as indicated by so many people complaining about low 30's and even high 20's fuel mileage. I don't think anything is broken, just not running as the designers intended.
Mark
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I have noticed the fuel smell on the dipstick also. This was just before my first oil change and prior to any modifications to the motorcycle. I have since changed to Mobil 1, and added the PCIIIr and SE air cleaner plus Supertrapp exhaust. I now have just over 1700 miles and will send out for an oil analysis and post as soon as I get the results. BTW, I haven't 'sniffed' the dipstick in some time, so I'm not sure if the problem is still evident.
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1,029 Posts
Mark, I think you're on the money where my 'Rod is concerned. It was after I installed the PCIIIr (V-Mod map) that I could smell the gas and was getting really poor mileage -- way too rich. I had the bike tuned and am now getting 35+mpg. I haven't changed oil yet but anticipate the issue will be rectified.
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WOW VrodDrew, we have a huge difference of opinion. I am one of the people that did the test, and had fuel in the oil. Now you know at least one that has the problem. I don't understand how not bothering the tech people at the dealer solves a problem. They DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU !!!!! not pushing for a solution only fortifies that position. I would agree that if the problem is small that you may not get satisfaction by being a bother. But then you would want to go to another dealer anyway. So who cares if they get pissed. 7% fuel is significant in only 4k miles.
When in doubt let science help make your case. Get your oil tested
When in doubt let science help make your case. Get your oil tested
vroddrew said:
I had the gas smell once. Also happened just before the fuel flange (?) let go. No gas smell since. Hopefully it will stay that way. I beleive there is a problem with this in certain bikes, but not all. Maybe HD will get to the bottom of it someday. More likely, a member here will
I noticed some gas smell especially aftering adding a dobeck performace pack to my bike about a month ago. It never had that smell at all really till this mod, but I called their tech support Techlusions and they said nothing at all was wrong with the bike, nor their unit. It is going to have more gas in the fuel, their unit is built to do one thing add gas only. If you add gas to the motor the more and more you add the more will end up in the fuel thats all. For those of you smelling gas that use a techlusions unit dont worry. They run the first pot up to as high at the 4:00 setting without any problems and I notice fuel smells at 2:30 setting. Ya know its not gonna be a problem at lower settings when 4:00 is ok. Two separate techs there told me that they usually just changed the oil a little more often thats all. You could do an oil analysis after getting your bike tuned correctly at different intervals to see when is the optimum time to change the oil. I plan on sticking with my own rule, no matter what I change oil every 3 months or 2K whichever comes first for around town and road riding mixed 1/2 and 1/2. If all my miles are pretty much road miles I go 3K b/t changes. Never had any problems, and I dont store my bike in the winter, thats when I ride. My riding season starts in September and ends at the end of May when its starts getting hot outside. I hate hot weather, and pretty much use the summer months to work on my bike, make mods and get ready for the spring and fall rally at Myrtle Beach. Im weird I know, but The Fall Rally is pretty much when I break my bike out and get started riding (buy yourself some Gerbing Heated clothing) that stuff is worth way more than it costs. My season ends in the spring with the grand fi-nal-eee being Spring bike week at myrtle beach SC....
I changed the oil in my bike today used Syn3, and went out for a short ride, about 150 miiles. I can pick up a hint of gas in the oil still. It could be residual from before the oil change added to any new gas making its way into the oil. I think it is related to a richer mixture of the TFI unit. Even though its only setting at the 2:30 position it still might need to be backed off a bit more. I am out of answers. I know I didnt have any problems with stock pipes and pre TFI install, back when the bike was running lean from the factory. I think I will take the top off to allow more air in, and give techlusions a call. The last time I called them on this issue they said it was common to see this in the VRod with a TFI installed. I asked them what to do. They said nothing, that the bike was running much better, not surging, and responding as soon as you touched the throttle. It practically jumps up in the air when you take it up around 5K and nail it. This bike has great power, just the gas smell bothers me some. I guess I can get an analysis after 500 miles or so and see what the levels are of gas in the oil. Its just a mystery because in my older days of carbs (what I am used to working on) if they werent dialed in great one could tell, especially if you know your own bike. I could tune all my older harleys with carbs, have even thought about switching back to a carb on this damn bike...LOL..Just kidding. I hate to think of a leaky fuel injector, I prefer to think its gas seeping around rings that havent seated yet. It took about 1000-1500 miles before my 88B twin cam was broken in well by analysis. Who knows, Im a pharmacist that tinkers on his own bikes...Not an expert on bikes by any means, but I love to do my own work if possible.
WarrenX,
If you check the history of this issue, the gas in oil symptom has been around since the V-Rod was introduced. Some V-Rod owners find it a concern; most do not. I have heard of no mechanical failures or H-D acknowledged recalls specifically related to "gas in oil" syndrome. The fuel flange recall several years ago did noy apparently relate to this issue. My 2003 V-Rod had the syndrome since day one, no problem(s) for me.
Sure there are steps you can take, such as get your oil analyzed, take the results to H-D, haggle with them on the findings. Will it be worth it to you? It's your choice on how you deal with it.
Bob near Albuquerque
If you check the history of this issue, the gas in oil symptom has been around since the V-Rod was introduced. Some V-Rod owners find it a concern; most do not. I have heard of no mechanical failures or H-D acknowledged recalls specifically related to "gas in oil" syndrome. The fuel flange recall several years ago did noy apparently relate to this issue. My 2003 V-Rod had the syndrome since day one, no problem(s) for me.
Sure there are steps you can take, such as get your oil analyzed, take the results to H-D, haggle with them on the findings. Will it be worth it to you? It's your choice on how you deal with it.
Bob near Albuquerque
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