Oil smells like gas

2003 3.8 Base model Windstar, 111k miles- changed the oil today (Mobil 1 5W-20) and put it in a container waiting for my Blackstone Labs analysis kit. Since it was waiting for me in the mail today upon returning, I opened the jar to transfer it and got a definite whiff of fuel. It is a very strong odor when I get close to smell it. It's only been 6k mi. since last change, and I've been on time for the most part with oil changes (except while deployed, but mileage at last change was similar to this, around 6-6.5K mi.). I know it could be a sticky injector or bad piston rings. If anyone has other ideas or a similar experience, I sure could use your input. Will post the UOA when it comes back from Blackstone as well. Boy, am I glad I decided to do the UOA!!

Short trip driving in cold weather can lead to fuel dilution.....fuel getting into the oil.
The best way to prevent this is to include longer drive times in the mix......having the vehicle running for 30 minutes or more.
This gets the oil warm enough to have moisture and fuel evaporate out.

The other thing to do is to check the PCV system.
On your year....the PCV valve is in the front valve cover.....(1998 and older have it in the rear valve cover)
If it is original....you might consider replacing it.....I would get a Motorcraft brand.....as some aftermarket brands do not correctly meter the flow.

Verify that the vaccum line from the PCV valve to the intake manifold is in good shape.
This includes checking it with the engine running at idle......if the line has become soft....it can collapse under vaccum and restrict flow.

The other thing to do.....less common to be a problem.....verify that the fresh air hose from the big flex hose to the rear valve cover is not pinched.....as this is the air that goes into the crankcase to replace what is drawn out through the PCV valve.

For what it is worth.....I have a catch can installed on my '96....pictures are in the pictures that the link in my signature takes you to.
In the winter.....the catch can fills quickly with nasty, runny, milky, smelly fluid.
In the summer......it barely gets anything.....a thick stuff.
Point being.....the cold weather creates a LOT of condensation in the oil.
The catch can does nothing to bring more out of the crankcase......I have it to try to keep my intake cleaner, and reduce cylinder deposits.

Thanks, Wiswind. You're right about the short trips, though we did just complete a down-and-back trip to PA and NJ from northern NY (350 mi. one way), so it did have a lot of opportunity to burn out any condensate and fuel. PCV is new as of last March and was purchased from the local dealership, but I will get out to the garage and check the PCV, the line to the intake, and the fresh air hose. Also will clean the MAF and check the air filter, etc., etc. Plugs and wires have been replaced (Autolite double platinum plugs, Motorcraft wires) and I did the iso bolt job last March before I deployed. It's frustrating- it seems every time I've gotten ahead of this thing, it pulls something else out of it's bag of tricks. Hopefully it's just short trips in cold weather. I'll look at that catch can as well- sounds like a good idea for driving in cold conditions.

Ok, checked the air temp hose, and that's ok to the rear valve cover. PCV hose is fine as well, though it seemed a little loose. I may replace it, as the rubber fitting that attaches to the throttle body is getting a little too flexible and is starting to dry rot at the elbow. PCV is fine- shakes like it should. Cleaned the MAF and harness connections. Any other ideas out there?

Got the UOA from Blackstone today, and here's what they said:

"Except for the mildly high iron, everything looks great in the first sample from your Ford 3.8L. Universal averages show typical wear metals from this type of engine after about 4,700 miles use on the oil. This level of iron doesn't necessarily point to a problem at steel parts and may even be normal for this particular engine. We'll watch it closely next time. All other wear looks great. The flashpoint and viscosity were both fine, so we do not suspect any excess fuel is getting into the oil. No anti-freeze was found either. All in all, a good report at 111,805 miles."

Needless to say, I am shocked. I'm really surprised that this engine is holding up as well as it is. I'm not having the lower intake gasket problems that others have reported, and the fuel I smelled must have been negligible. Awesome!! :bananasmi Still can't figure out why it smelled so strong, though. It must be the aromatic component, as was suggested.

Thanks, everyone, for your input and help!

That is great news.

UOA results posted here: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1386957#Post1386957