The oil in my boat smells like gas..what could this be?

Question

it's a 99 4.3 mercruiser

Answer 1

The carb or fuel pump is leaking gas into the engine. Look at carb and also check fuel pump sight tube for fluid. This is dangerous so find the trouble right away or take to a marine tech for diagnosis.

                                                                                   Bill

Answer 2

Change the oil/filter, run the engine and then check it afterwards...does it still smell like gas? What I would think is that the carburetor is seeping fuel into the engine and filling the block up...when it gets full, it has no place to go except for in the engine. You could very well also have an intake manifold gasket that is bad that's letting stagnant fuel leak past it. There are a few different things, but you'll want to get it checked out as soon as you can, because some serious engine trouble can result.

Answer 3

hmm maybe gas

Answer 4

The old addage applies:  "If iit looks like sh**, feels like sh** and smells like sh**, it's SH**!"

Same goes for your boat motor.  If it smells like gas, it is gas!  Some how gas is getting in the head via the carburator.  Check the base of your carburator for leaks.  You could have a bad carburator gasket.  Also check around the head gasket.  That would be the most logical point of entry.

It may be a little costly, but change the oil.  Fire the motor up and sit and watch what is going on.  It's should be easy to observe.  Watch the gas lines from the tank to the carburator.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

maybe your gas is leaking into it somehow...look for an opening!