I have returned to riding after a while off it through medical reasons. Did an oil change and filter etc....added clean new oil after the usual warm, drain, clean, new filter etc. after a short 10k ride I came back let it sit 5 mins then checked the oil level...it showed I need a bit more as per normal...BUT the NEW oil smelled of fuel...can anyone tell me why, and what I should do...the '07 Heritage Softail has 117,000ks on it and has had regular oil changes by myself or via local dealers who are very thorough and have looked after my bikes for 16 years....ANY IDEAS ????

welcome to the forum

Thanks Ando I was on for years as Heritage-Dave but forgot my password so back again as my normal name MUZZA......good to be back...with real people...

Its normally a sign that the carb is overflowing and/or running extremly rich - the unburnt gas gets by the rings and into the main oil supply.

What color are the plugs? Ifs its the carb then the plugs should be pretty black showing the rich burning issue.

I wouldn't be riding it btw - I was always told fuel fucks oil so you need it changed out after you solve the problem.

2007 HAS to be EFI !

I remember seeing this on cars ( carby cars !) that ran too many short journeys with the "choke" ( remember them !) on for too long

On motorcycles I have seen week/defective carby floats allow petrol to gravity feed to the sump diluting the oil

I have not seen this on 2006 and up EFI bikes , but I'll be interested to hear the outcome of this one

Personally I'd take it a ( gentle) 25K ride , and carry some oil with me. The higher heat of the run should vapourise any residual fuel and "drop" the oil level

All of what Retroman said.

Theoretically, the only way fuel would be able to enter on an EFI system would be if an injector was stuck open,,,

but then you'd have all sorts of problems trying to get it to run smoothly if at all.

Injector stuck open could cause this however since you havent ridden the bike for a while the residuals in the oil haven't been heated enough to burn off. A dodgy ring might also lead to a fuel odour! There will always be a slight odour to oil that resembles fuel but if it is definately straight fuel you smell take a sample and get it analysed, google will help you find a lab near you, good luck.