Oil Dilution + Strong Gas Smell + Soot on Tailpipe + Poor Mileage

[VG EDC]

I picked up my 2025 TRD ORP Hybrid late December of 2025. I chose to get the Hybrid for more power and some help with the mileage. From day one, it always felt like it was running lean, and the mileage was at least 50% worse than advertised. I chalked it up to a break-in and the cold; I didn't think much more of it.

Now has 4265km (2650 miles) on the clock. I noticed the other week that my Garage had a strong smell of raw gas. I checked the oil and found major oil dilution. My oil was 1.5 litres overfilled, smelled like gasoline, and was very thin. I took it to the Dealership. After testing all day, they couldn't find anything wrong and told me to change the oil and no corrections at this time. I dropped the oil and confirmed it was 1.5L overfilled. We changed the oil and filter. I then took it out for a 20-minute drive later that night and got it up to operating temperature. The oil level was already 1/8" over the top fill dot, and again smells like fuel. I also noticed thick soot on the tailpipe.

I'm concerned this will fry my gaskets/bearings.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what this could be from? High-Pressure Fuel Pump? Injectors? Bad Sensor?

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[horbit]

I would do sea foam cleaning and then another oil change to try cleaning out the residual gas\crap from everything. Keep an eye on the oil levels for sure. Best case scenario was some idiot overfilled it before delivery?

 

[127.0.0.1]

constant short trips in a hybrid can do this, like 2-3 miles all the time
but not at the rate described...it would be far milder

these engines are designed for mild fuel dilution. critical bearing surfaces
are coated with advanced resins same as in the prius, rav4, sienna engines

but what you are describing is way off anything normal in any sense.
there must be a mechanical or technical fault

 

[Vincenzo]

Excess soot would indicate that it’s running rich. Sounds like injectors are bleeding down. I think you should find another dealer

 

[samsamdar]

Definitely find another dealer and document all of this. Sounds like injectors (either port side or direct) are stuck open and spewing excess fuel. That amount of dilution is horrible for the motor

 

[jimr]

Do they have lemon laws in Canada? I'd say you should be entitled to a new vehicle since this is a serious problem going all the way back to delivery (right?), and potentially permanent damage already done. To say nothing of the hassle factor already incurred with more to come. Please report back on progress/resolution, you appear to have many interested/sympathetic readers here.

 

[127.0.0.1]

I'd get the cylinders borescoped again immediately to check for unusual wear

 

[Gator 22]

I'd report that dealership!

 

[bakutheleo]

They suggested *you* change the oil???? Why did they not do that after confirming all your concerns? They should not have let it out of their service center like that. Seems like fuel in the oil could be very dangerous (not just being there, but how it got there). Definitely find a better authorized service center and report that one as suggested.

 

[pmedicj]

Oil / fuel dilution looks like it’s an issue on some tacomas and land cruisers as well

 

[VG EDC]

My brother (who owns his own shop) said the same thing about it being an injector. Said they saw it all the time with the CRV's.

The dealership said they borescoped the cylinders during a test and didn't see any leaking. I still think that's what it is, too. ChatGPT says it could be the High Pressure Fuel Pump but who knows.

I'm keeping my eye on the oil for now. It's very close to the fill line and I don't want to leave anything to guessing. The second I see the oil level change, I'll drive to the dealer and escalate this.

I really don't know why they didn't change the oil, though. Seems lazy.

 

[drNick]

Turbo engines don't do well cold for short trips. They need to be driven often with optimal working temperature. Hybrid systems make the issue worse since take off the load of the engine and prevent rapid warm up. If one drives 3-4 miles, the engine can't warm up at all. Because of that I drive all my turbo cars at least once a week 30-40 miles and change the oil every 3000 miles. Pick an oil with high TBN like Pennzoil Ultra Platinum or Amsoil Signature Series. I use Pennzoil because it is an excellent GTL based oil, good for turbo engines and is half the price of the Amsoil.

 

[drNick]

Also pull the dip stick once a week, check the level and smell the oil. If it smells of gas, take the truck back to the dealer, because the engine might be running too rich and the reason should be diagnosed and rectified.

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