Gas in Oil!?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Barrett-FL

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2023
Posts
20
Reaction score
18
Location
Central Florida
First Name
Barrett
Truck Year
86
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
I have two issues. One causing the other with my 86 C-10 which has a 350 with 4-barrel Ellerbrock carb and intake.

It's a project and doesn't get driven yet. After sitting a few days the gas seems to drain back from the fuel line, it takes a lot of pumping the gas peddle to get fuel to the glass fuel filter and to the carb to get it started. Once the fuel filter is full it will start right up daily, but if I let it sit a couple days it's hard to start due to the lack of fuel in the line.

The time I started it to move it it began spewing oil mixed with gasoline. I can't see where it was coming from but it covered the engine and engine bay with the fan blowing it. The oil dipstick was over filled due to the gasoline and one could smell the gas on the dipstick.

I drained the oil and replaced the filter and ready to refill the oil but I'm somewhat afraid to do so and to start it without knowing what happened and how to stop or avoid it from happening again. I would hate for it to do it again and repeat the process.
Has anyone had issues with gasoline getting into the oil and what I can do to solve it?

I appreciate any sound advice.

Thanks!
 

YakkoWarner

Full Access Member
Joined
May 29, 2024
Posts
241
Reaction score
337
Location
Central Texas
First Name
Wolf
Truck Year
1989
Truck Model
R2500 Suburban
Engine Size
454
I experienced this twice - once on a large GM 4 door car and once on a Jeep with a 2.5L GM engine. In both cases, the diaphram on the mechanical fuel pump had ruptured, so as the engine was turning the pump was cheerfully filling the crankcase with fuel. Not fun, definately check it before trying to run the engine again because otherwise you'll have just wasted/contaminated another 5qts of oil.
 

Barrett-FL

Junior Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2023
Posts
20
Reaction score
18
Location
Central Florida
First Name
Barrett
Truck Year
86
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
Thank you for your responses.

I suppose the best thing to do is replace the fuel pump and give it a try.

One thing I’m concerned about is where did the oil leak out from and will the oil leak out again when running.

Also, will replacing the pump stop the fuel from leaking back from the fuel filter?

Thanks again!
 

fast 99

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2021
Posts
2,179
Reaction score
3,230
Location
Spokane, Washington
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
81,85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Fuel pumps have check valves. Replace the pump then if problem persists move on to other areas.

Suspect ethanol fuel did some of the damage.
 

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
4,190
Reaction score
13,711
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
If it were me, I'd start by first looking around the engine bay for any other leaks - coolant hoses, transmission lines going to the radiator, freeze plugs popped out, anything. Then clean the engine bay really good with either brake clean or Gunk and a hose (being careful to not soak the distributor/alternator/anything electrical) and reinspect.

I would then replace the fuel pump cuz that's the likely culprit of the fuel in oil issue. Then take the wire off the coil and dizzy and have a helper crank the motor over for a bit (don't crank the starter more than 20-30sec at a time or you could burn it up) and see if oil comes out anywhere without the engine running. You may need to do this for 5-10min before oil starts getting to the top end/anywhere out of the pan. Just like priming a fresh motor. If it does come out anywhere, it'll probably just ooze out since the motor won't be spinning very fast.

If not, then hook the coil wire back up and again have a helper start the truck while you look for leaks underhood. I've never run across a vehicle that "spewed" oil like you describe so I wonder if it was a transmission line with a pin hole or something else.
 
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
44,949
Posts
972,081
Members
37,833
Latest member
Seibelc1077
Top