Engine oil with a light touch

[AR6974]

Well, I'm new to this forum, and what a great one it is! I wish I'd had signed up many years ago when my relations with Alfas began. There is just no better source than actual Owners who live and breathe with their cars. Many threads I have read and followed so far are proving this.

Well, since there is no Alfa ownership without the strange noises, weird smells, sudden surprises and hick-ups etc. from our cars, I guess, it is my turn now to tell you about a not-so-good smell I encountered on my '69 1750 Spider. It's a US-spec car, consequently it features the Spica FI. The engine is original and was rebuilt about 35,000 miles (or roughly 10 years ago) and, generally, has been running fine since I owned it (Found the car three years ago in Arkansas). No burning of oil, no (out-of-the-AR-norm) leaks.

A year ago, I drove the car from Arkansas back to my home in Seattle. Mid-way, my Father in Law, who is a very versatile car mechanic and therefore was forced to join me on this trip, noticed that the car seems to be misfiring. Also, he thought that he detected a light fuel scent in my engine oil. We checked several times, but (maybe this is hard to believe) eventually it turned out to be inconclusive. Two things, though, which were obvious, was a light fuel smell (at varying intensity - from none to strong) when driving the car (however there was no leak visible anywhere), and a wet spot around the second cylinder exhaust manifold. Anyway, I decided to continue the journey from Arizona, and I stopped by at Alfa Romance in L.A. on my way through (great guys, by the way) to have them check the car, do an oil change, and other maintenance checks. They did not smell any fuel in my oil, and said, hell, there is nothing wrong with this car. Except the aforementioned fuel smell (which got pretty annoying once in a while, particularly when driving with the top closed) I made it back to Seattle with the car actually not missing a beat!

A few months ago, the car lost power and misfiring was evident. Spark plug on the second cylinder was on the edge (the one with the wet spot at the exhaust manifold seal), so I decided to change them and to see what happens. When I finally got around changing the plugs, number two was obviously fouled and the gasoline smell in the engine oil was undeniable. But the car ran smooth and with restored power again.

My conclusion is, that the car started misfiring intermittently when I was driving it back from Arkansas. The fuel smell was from unburned gasoline leaking through the exhaust manifold. Eventually, the condition worsened so that it permanently misfired, and fouled the plug on No. 2 for good (only starting and exercising it on short trips once a month over the last year did not help the situation either, I guess).

I realize that I just took care of symptoms by changing the spark plugs, but I have not cured the disease yet - fuel contaminating the engine oil. My question is, dear forum members, where to start tackling the cure? Engine or Spica FI+TA? (BTW: The car was set to run very rich intentionally by an Alfa mechanic, due to expiring TA - and possibly weakening Spica pump, as I understood at the time. This was done about a year before I moved the car back to Washington). I just want to avoid - if possible - focusing on the FI system (of which I'm inclined to do) when the problem seems more likely engine related. Any guidance regarding this matter or hints to existing threads that I may have missed would be appreciated.

Thank you. It's good to be here.