Sweet smell on dipstick
 

Hello folks. Checked the oil on my 2002 Honda 350, and I noticed what I initially thought was a smell of gas on the dipstick. I was kinda worried about that so I changed the oil and filter, and used the genuine Honda oil (which I normally don't). After the oil change and an hour of plowing snow, I checked the oil again and there is still a strange smell from the dipstick. I guess it could be gas, but I'm not sure. It has a sort of sweet smell to it if that makes any sense. Any ideas if I'm in any danger here? Thanks for any advice.

Sweet smell on dipstick
 

is the machine liquid cooled if so it's antifreeze

Sweet smell on dipstick
 

No it isn't liquid cooled. And thanks for the military service. We are forever indebted to you and your fellow soldiers.

Sweet smell on dipstick
 

Thank you ,
does the oil look any different ?

Sweet smell on dipstick
 

After draining the oil I let the oil sit in a container overnight to see if I could see anything gather on the top. When I checked it the next day, I could not notice anything abnormal about the oil. Other than the smell.

Sweet smell on dipstick
 

There is nothing it could be except fuel. Perhaps your rings are passing combustion gasses?

You changed oil brands, so that eliminates anything funny about the oil itself (unless you are just smelling some leftover odor from the old oil?). Which Honda oil did you use, GN4 or HP4???

I would do a compression and leak down test. Are you losing a lot of oil out the vent, ie. is there a lot of oil in your airbox?

Sweet smell on dipstick
 

I used GN4. As for the airbox, it's the first time i changed oil without checking and cleaning the air filter, so I guess I'll have a look at that when I get home from work this evening.

Sweet smell on dipstick
 

Ok...did an oil change and changed the air filter as well...checked the airbox. After running the bike for awhile, the sweet smell is still on the dipstick. There is some oil in the airbox. but no gas smell. The oil in the airbox is VERY clean, just as it would be fresh from the bottle. Does this help you diagnose what's going on?