Just wondering about this issue...my understanding is that unburned fuel can contaminate the oil due to the car running rich for too long. Too much fuel in the oil will cause the car to not start. I'm just wondering why oil contaminated with gas would cause the car to not start? I'm thinking this might be the problem with my car, as the oil definitely doesn't smell like oil...

Thanks a lot!

The gassed-down oil is not preventing your car from starting. The faulty pressure regulator (I've done a bunch of these lately) is flooding the motor and preventing it from firing. Although, I have had an instance where changing the oil in a car with fuelled down oil did make it start.

Hello:

If you smell fuel in your oil, check your fuel pressure regulator and look for leaky fuel injectors.

Let us know what you find! Good luck!
--
Herb Goltz, London, Ontario, Canada '92 245 w/109K mi

You want to do this ASAP. If you don't...all that gas will wash off all the years of buildup and sludge from the inside of your engine...then it will plug up your oil strainer intake. It's a tough battle... I know I had to change the oil and filter until I found out it was that $33.00 fuel pressure regulator. I changed the oil 3 times before I found the culprit. If it's injectors you'll just have to run the engine and then pull the fuel rail and check each injector to see if it drips. If it's the regulator, the diaphram inside it blows out and gas is pouring into the engine and you'll know by the way you've been filling the car up after 2 days of normal driving.

take care of this now- Good luck. Let us know.

-Andy
'91 volvo 740 8valve B230