1995 Acura Integra strange one time very high fuel consumpt

SHREDNI

MEMBER
1995 ACURA INTEGRA
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
207,000 MILES

On a recent road trip, I was getting very good gas mileage (30mpg) and then I filled up and all hell broke loose. First I noticed that my fuel gauge went way down to 3/4 in 17 miles. Then a couple of miles later, my car just stopped.

I had it towed and had the distributor replaced. They told me I had lots of gas in the oil (which I had replaced 1000 miles before). I had them change the oil and then I crossed my fingers and resumed my road trip.

From then on I got 30 mpg again.

If I the rings caused the gas in the oil and the huge fuel consumption, wouldn't it have continued on the road trip. I checked my dip stick on the road and didn't notice any gas smell.

Any ideas about what caused the one time massive gas consumption and gas in the oil?

3 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi shredni,

With the engine running, it is not possible for gas to go pass the piston rings as it requires a large amount to do so and that would cause flooding of the cylinders.

I can't think of any logical explanation for the problem as the fuel system is not linked directly to the engine blowby recirculation system so it could not be through the EVAP system.

When engine stalled, was it due to the distributor failing?
Before the engine stalled, was there any indication it was not running well?

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Thursday, August 12th, 2010 AT 9:10 AM

SHREDNI

MEMBER
2 POSTS

When engine stalled, was it due to the distributor failing?

YES

Before the engine stalled, was there any indication it was not running well?

NO -- the only indication of something wrong was the fuel level on the gauge had dropped to 3/4 of a tank in 17 miles. ( I never saw that happen before).

Other info:

When the distributor failed, we kept trying to start it, including pushing the gas pedal. We tried this a number of times. Could this have caused the gas to get into the oil?

The car was taken to shop that I knew nothing about (reputation, etc.)

Was it possible to get gas in the oil when changing the distributor?

It may also be possible that they snowed me about the gas being in the oil to get a oil change out of the deal, but that seems doubtful.

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Thursday, August 12th, 2010 AT 2:46 PM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

When engine could not be started due to no sparks, it can cause flooding on the cylinders but the amount that can get past the rings into the oil can't be that much till the oil level increases.

The distributor is not related to the fue system and work on it would not cause the problem.

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Friday, August 13th, 2010 AT 6:54 AM