All this scares the HELL out of me....makes me want to trade her in for a 2010 when they come out...hopefully mitsu will fix the problem by then...

 

I plan on getting a test kit for my next oil purchase from oil doc. I want to do something about this.

 

TSB 08-13-011 (known as the second factory reflash) does not say anything about fuel dilution in the oil. It also does not state that the dealer should even change the oil when performing the reflash - it'd be nice if we got a free oil change but I certainly didn't. All it says is that the car can be running too rich at high rpm, but this doesn't necessarily mean that there is a known problem with excessive fuel dilution. Is there another TSB specifically for fuel dilution?

From TSB 08-13-011:
PURPOSE
Customers of some affected vehicles may experience a slight hesitation when accelerating at engine speeds above 5,000 RPM. The condition is due to the air fuel mixture becoming too rich during higher engine speed.

BTW, I agree that more people need to do oil analysis and I will definitely get it done at my next oil change. I've already requested a sample kit from Blackstone Labs.

 

What are you talking about? Synthetic will not "Always smell like gas". Do you know how many brands of companies make synthetic oil?? Do you think they all might smell different?
Come have a wiff over here on my car. Synthetic all its life, over 105k miles, very rich tune. I always smell my oil to pinpoint ring failure.

My synthetic oil smells just like that.......synthetic oil with a hint of burn. No gasoline smell yet thankfully.

 

I just ordered my kit as well...

 

NMX, that's not the correct tsb, and I can't find the right one but I assure you, there is one. It was posted on this very forum in plain english, so I don't know why you are contesting it's existence as if we are making it up. What possible reason would we have to lie? In any case, if you don't think this is a problem then don't heed the warning. I would take this seriouslyh though man, as this isn't something to mess around with if you ask me.

 

It Should scare the Hell out of you.... Fuel Dilution above 2 % is Critical... Not hmmm, I wonder if it is all that bad ? as some suggest.

I do oil analysis on my Motorcycle to make sure that if there is a problem, I can A: Get it fixed.. B: If a warranty issue arises, I have proof it was not the oil.

I use Oil Analyzers Inc as they are ISO Accredited which will help if there is any question on warranty.. I think $22.55 is just cheap damn insurance..


I agree with the former DSM I got the info from.. Regardless of what Mits says or the Dealer, The oil should be changed before the flash...

I would recommend the Oil Analysis to back up this. If it is 2% and you are under 3000 or 3750 whichever Mits recommends for Severe Driving, there is a problem.

My way of thinking is a little different here... too many people just passing this off as "It's a High Performance Engine" .... More people need to be Pro-Active, do Oil Analysis and get together to present this to Mits and if needed, an Attorney that specializes in class action suits... It will hopefully never come to that, but I sure wouldn't want to take the chance on $40K... I don't even take the chance on a $25K MotorCycle..

Do the oil change, keep all receipts and ALWAYS get a record of Exactly what the Dealer Did... Keep a Cool Head when talking to anyone as well, it goes a long way..

Doc

 

Let me clarify - I "do" think there is a potential problem. I'm one of the few that have said I'm getting oil analysis soon in order to check for it. However, I am trying to figure out if Mitsu has truly acknowledged that there is a problem. UFO asked for a TSB number, was given one, and I then looked it up and it did not have the info I was looking for. I'd just like to read the TSB to see exactly what Mitsu has stated.

 

never mind .

 

so i have about 500 miles and am gonna get a tune.
i don't have to worry about this right?

 

Depends...i know some with tunes that still smell of fuel. However, i would like to see some "tuned" guys get an oil analysis done and compare numbers to "non tuned" guys with similar mods. Id like to see if it really is a running "rich" issue and not something more to be worried about.

 

you don't have to be pretty savvy or earn an ACE certification. besides, smell is always subjective. I just noticed it comparing with the dino oil. besides, the only synthetic I use is Mobil 1.

 

I just found this site, that states 4% or higher on four cycle engine should be investigated. I think this whole thing is being blown out of proportion. And a few people here are out to scared current owners or potential ones.

http://www.usoilcheck.com/oilchek/se...l+dilution.asp

Alot of the stuff i have read on this thread sound more like a witch hunt, but hey go ahead and burn me. And another site mentioned when it gets to 8% well that's real bad then

 

Out of 100+ other (non-EVO X) oil analysis tests I have done, I have NEVER seen a fuel dilution over 0.66%. So the first oil change in the EVO X I have showing up at 2.4% is a SIGNIFICANT increase.

While it's a [relatively] high value, it still is only one data point for this car/engine. That first sample would include all the time it was on the boat from Japan also. As I get more time to drive the car (currently ~3000 miles on it total) I will continue with sample testing.

 

ok so I changed my oil yesterday and put mobile 1 extended performance in it, its supposed to be good for 15,000 miles.....

i put a good 100 miles on it and it smells of gas....! What the heck??

Oil was still golden yellow....but smells of GAS