oil smell on deceleration

[whc03grady]

Last weekend we were going to take a short trip which included about 50 miles of interstate driving, half of that uphill. Before setting off I checked the oil and it was a low--not terribly low, but low so I put some in. It was a decently hot day, high 80s maybe.

During the trip I noticed that upon deceleration from highway speeds (~70mph), like when exiting the freeway, there was a distinct oil smell. And it wasn't so much a burning smell (though there was a little of that too), but like the smell of fresh oil. This happened on every deceleration from high speed. The car ran fine. It is a 1971 Type III with intact fuel injection.

Thoughts?

[midatlanticys]

hmmmm . . . the oil you had to add before taking off, is that because the motor is burning oil or leaking oil? If leaking, then it's probably getting onto a hot surface that really heats up with the lower airflow on decel - if burning, then maybe some pinholes in the heater boxes, also during the decreased airflow of decel are sending the fumes towards the front of the car and your nose! . . . jus' my 2 non-cents!

PS; nice plug for G-Eye's bus on your blog!! =D>

[whc03grady]

It has some chronic leaks and low (~100lbs) compression on #1. I figured that was my oil consumption. It's maybe 1/2 qt per 400 miles? But that's a guess.
The oil smell was definitely the smell of fresh oil.

[BellePlaine]

Where is your oil level at now? Find any new leaks? Can you smell it standing behind the car at idle or decel? Oil cap on tight? Breather hose still connected?

[whc03grady]

So the wife took Gertrude over the humpto P'burg yesterday. She says when she got back in there was a sizable ("as big as a large slice of pizza"--women: you gotta love 'em) oil spot under the passenger side, and that she could see it dripping. Not running, but dripping. I thought this was the end so I told her to dump the rest of the on-hand oil in it, about 1/4 quart and just drive back home. She did, and reported no problems on the return. There was a dime-sized drop where she parked it at home, and no new drops at all overnight. I checked the oil and now of course it's a little overfull. I'm going to change the oil anyway this weekend, but there you are.

Connections, caps, etc. are all on tight.

Is there a condition that would cause an oil leak to leak worse when the engine is nice and warm, and hardly or not at all other times?

[sped372]

Where exactly under the passenger side? Valve cover?

[Amskeptic]

Check that the air cleaner oil level is correct and that the air cleaner is secure at the center wingnut, if ity is oily underneath, clean clean clean.
Colin

[fancy pants]

Is there a condition that would cause an oil leak to leak worse when the engine is nice and warm, and hardly or not at all other times?

I would guess that as the oil thins out at higher temperatures, there are more places for the thinned out oil to escape. Does that make sense?

[whc03grady]

I would guess that as the oil thins out at higher temperatures, there are more places for the thinned out oil to escape. Does that make sense?

That was my speculation as well. A thin criminal is going to be able to squeeze out of more jail cells than a fat one.

Also, I'm embarrassed to say, I'm still running Winter (viz., thin) oil.