[joeyr]

Hi Everyone,

I think I may be dealing with a blown head gasket. I noticed when filling the oil that there is a light brown creamy substance on the filler cap. The strange thing is that shortly after I purchasing the car about six years ago, there was the same type of substance--it was during the winter like now, so I'm wondering is this normal? I originally panicked and thought at the time that I had purchased a real nightmare of a problem, but a colleague of mine mentioned this was normal and eventually the gunk went away...

I've been keeping an eye on oil level and it requires about half a quart monthly and both of the leaking valve covers have been recently replaced. I had to add coolant maybe a month ago, but have yet to do that again. I can't tell if oil is in the coolant. There does not appear to be any leaks and I'm going to take off the bottom cover to do a cardboard drip test. I'm also due for an oil change which has been strictly maintained.

The coolant lamp came on a couple times during the summer, but I maintained the level and the gauge never read above 90c on even the hottest days. It has not been on in quite a while.

If it turns out to be a head gasket issue, what level of repair is necessary to tackle this on ones own? I'd really like to keep her going!

I really appreciate any help!

Thanks,
Joey

Just some basic info:

- valve covers replaced 11.09
- oil change 09.09
- current running temp. 80c
- radiator replaced 04.09
- water pump 04.09
- mileage currently at 170K

 

[Check Codes]

I'm going to guess yu drive a lot of short trips, which would account for those symptoms. The crankcase is very well sealed, so shorter trips will build up the **** inside the filler cap continuously. And shorter trips (lots of cold starts, etc.) will consume more oil for several reasons. That said there have been fairly rare cases of oil consumption; since you don't mention miles you drive but rather just time that may not be significant.

Easy way to check for head gasket is pull the dipstick right after you shut off the engine. If the oil looks like oil, you're good. If it's creamy **** like on the filler cap, you're in trouble.

That said I've yet to hear of a head gasket issue on the modern modular 112 and 113 engines, they are extremely reliable in that regard. Not to mention that if it were a head gasket and had been leaking that long, it would have gotten much worse a while ago, not stayed the same.

So relax and enjoy, but drive it longer at least a couple times a week, say 30 or 40 miles on the open road; not like it's a sucky car to drive, eh?

 

[joeyr]

My commute is about 16 miles one way, 65mph, and pretty much all highway.

I didn't know the thing had a dipstick!! Where the hell is it, because I'd much prefer to check oil with that rather than the computer, lol. I'll def. check tomorrow in the morning in the light.

Thanks for the reply--makes me feel better! Yeah, I love driving the car and although she's had a few issues, I really want to keep it going especially since I've learned so much in terms of repair and maintenance from this forum!

 

[Buellwinkle]

Some models back then did, some didn't. For example my 2002 C230 did have one, but I don't think the C320 did. You can get a service dipstick that measures oil in mm.

If you are just trying to get a look at the oil, just use a dipstick from another car and hope that it's long enough to reach the oil pan.

 

[joeyr]

Looks like I don't have a dispstick...

I checked for other symptoms today such as white smoke and water dripping from the exhuast, but none of that. The idle appears okay and power seems normal too. I also remember when changing the spark plugs in early December that there was no indication of weird stuff going on in there except a small amount of oil on the driver side last plug which I assume was from the very leaky valve cover gaskets.

What's the normal running temp. in Summer for these cars? I'm in Maryland where it's pretty hot and humid, but nothing crazy or extreme. I was mistaken in the original post, because it actually ran just under 100c sometimes on very hot days, (forgot the temp. gauge was in increments of 20, lol.)

 

[contact148]

my c240 wagon has the same crap on the oil cap

I drive 5 km each way to work

Now i take a slightly longer route and there is less gunk

if i go for a 30 min + drive allmost all the gunk is gone

so id just say its condensation inside your engine its not getting hot enough to burn it all off

 

[gmoser2000]

Normal Gunk in Oil During Cold Weather

You might have normal build-up of condensation, the bimmer forum (see link below) has a pretty thorough explanation.

Milky Residue on Oil Cap during winter? Welcome - Bimmerforums - The Ultimate BMW Forum

 

[Sam Spiral]

My is Mercedes B160 petrol 2010. I opened oil cap and saw yellow milky substance down on the side of the neck and water droplets on the cap itself. It has done 85 000 miles. I drive short distances. Is it common for B class Mercedes or I have got a serious problem.

 

[rudeney]

That's definitely a symptom of water in the oil. It could simply be the result of atmospheric humidity collecting there and not burning off due to short trips where the engine does not get hot enough to vaporize it (where it would be expelled through the crankcase ventilation system). Another possibility is a broken head gasket. Head gasket failure happens, but is not common on MBZ engines. Are you losing coolant? Do you have white vapor smoke coming from the exhaust? Those would also be symptoms of a broken head gasket. If not, then my advice is to do some "spirited" driving, pushing the engine to redline, get it to full operating temp for half an hour or so, then recheck it.

 

[Sam Spiral]

It is strange engine seems to be running fine. And I can not see any white fume coming out of exhaust I can not see loosing much coolant. I followed your advise and drove long distance but still droplets on the cap and some milky substance inside.

 

[rudeney]

If you aren't losing coolant, then don't worry about it. Some moisture int he oil is normal.

 

[73u086]

No oil dipstick on the C320. You can buy one though (don't recall where I got it). Try automotive tool sites.