2017 Honda Civic 1.5T - Oil Level Rising and Fuel Smell

Question

I went to check my oil and noticed the level is nearly an inch above the top hole on the dipstick. The oil itself is very thin and smells strongly of gasoline. I'm also getting fairly poor fuel economy lately.

I live in a cold climate and mostly do short trips to work (about 5 miles). I'm worried the engine is washing the cylinder walls with gas and is going to blow up. Honda told me it's 'normal' for the direct injection engines but this can't be right.

FordGuyFrank · Accepted Answer

✅ Confirmed fix: This is known as fuel dilution, common on the early L15B7 Earth Dreams engines in cold climates. The engine doesn't get hot enough to evaporate the fuel that bypasses the rings during the warm-up phase. The fix is a Honda-issued TSB software update for the PGM-FI and Transmission (TCU) that alters the warm-up logic to build heat faster. Also, avoid long idling and ensure the thermostat isn't stuck open.

DPF_Doc · Answer

It's possible your high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) is leaking internally into the camshaft area. This is a mechanical pump driven by the cam, and if the internal seal fails, it dumps raw fuel straight into the oiling system. Replacing the HPFP is the only way to stop this if the software update doesn't help.

2017 Honda Civic 1.5T - Oil Level Rising and Fuel Smell

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