[pauly_k]

Hey all. Just reaching out since you all have helped me with my '99 E320 in the past. I train IT folks from home so the Benz doesn't get too much action anymore, but I noticed some yellow gunk under the oil refill cap. I thought when I had a full oil change last month, the gunk would naturally dissipate but it's still there...

Do I need to be concerned or, as I read online, it can happen if the car is only occasionally run (as is my case) or there is water contamination to the oil itself?

Thanks.
Pauly K.

ps- point me to BenzWorld link if I picked a topic that has a thread already.

 

[SocalSam]

A German...er...Italian tune up can do wonders. Clean cap, go on a long highway drive, and see if yellow muck comes back.

Check oil on the dip stick. Is it the same yellow milk shake? Coolant level holding steady over time?

 

[mrboca]

Hey all. Just reaching out since you all have helped me with my '99 E320 in the past. I train IT folks from home so the Benz doesn't get too much action anymore, but I noticed some yellow gunk under the oil refill cap. I thought when I had a full oil change last month, the gunk would naturally dissipate but it's still there...

Do I need to be concerned or, as I read online, it can happen if the car is only occasionally run (as is my case) or there is water contamination to the oil itself?

Thanks.
Pauly K.

ps- point me to BenzWorld link if I picked a topic that has a thread already.

Oil consumtion high, gunk in oil filler cap and/or smoke?

Oil consumption high, gunk in oil filler cap and/or smoke? Do you have an M112 or M113 with these symptoms? I do, and have done some research. This thread is a continuation of a discussion started at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w210-e-class/2755937-v6-question.html This is not to be...

www.benzworld.org

 

[260e crusier]

Sounds normal to me for a car that is not driven often or on short trips in the winter. I would be concern though if your coolant level is going down or if the oil dipstick has emulsion on it.

 

[David Quinn]

I've had it consistently for the past 50 or 100K miles, emulsion just on the oil cap. No milkshake in the oil, no smoke. I have oil consumption but at least some of that is due to leak at rear main seal of engine to transmission, a typical problem with my M113 engine. I now have almost 160K miles on it and other than some tappet noise, it runs fine. Happens probably more if we drive it more. Actually it had gone away, but I recently used an additive to de-carbon the engine (because of very loud tappet noise, successful for that) and the emulsion on the oil cap came back.

 

[MBGraham]

I have that same white greasy stuff around the oil filler at present. This on a car that has been driven all winter in Canada on mostly short trips. There was no gunk there when I changed oil back in November. I have seen it in past and general consensus seems to be that this is normal when car sees this kind of use.
It is strange that it only builds up at the tope of the oil filler nech. Perhaps that is the coolest pat the oil/water vapours see.

 

[wlb50]

I'll bet that is just the condensation of the moisture in the crankcase - if you take just short trips the oil doesn't have time to heat up and burn off the condensation. I have almost OCD on the subject - I'll always make sure I have at least 12 miles or 20 minutes in the car before shutting the engine off. If you are in extreme cold you might need longer - perhaps X minutes at op temperature?

Of course this attitude of mine occasionally leads me to do some foolish things

 

[Loden338]

I live in cold weather Minnesota. My experience for past 5 years is a build up of butterscotch pudding-like deposit on oil filler cap in cold (below freezing) weather. Makes no difference if I do short trips or long (1/2 hour freeway or more) trips. As soon as temps are consistent above 50 degrees, the build up disappears. I don't worry about it. Just make sure to change oil when weather warms to get rid of any moisture/emulsification in cold-weather oil.

 

[pauly_k]

Well, you guys basically gave me piece of mind on this since with a new synthetic oil change, the engine seems to run fine through the yellow gunk is still near the oil cap (maybe it just "bugs" me since I had VW Beetles for about 15 years and never saw that color.)
Thanks all!

-Paul K.

 

[Verbal]

I just happened to add oil to the '99 E320 this weekend and found some butterscotch goo under the filler cap before I saw this thread. Synchronicity.

I called the independent M-B guy I take my cars to, and he said he sees it all the time. He echoed the comments in this thread, which are that it is caused by condensation, and can happen when the car takes a lot of short trips. He also says that he has never had to do a head gasket on an M112.

The car has been parked outside during the (rainy) winter, and lately it has been used for short trips. So (a) it fits the pattern, and (b) it doesn't need a head gasket. Sigh of relief.