S500 - residue on oil filler cap?

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kps70

Active Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2010
Messages
72
Location
Cheltenham
Car
MB S500 W140, VW411LE, VWPassatTDi, VWGolfMkI, VWType2
Hi - I hope I can pick someone's brain.
Went to look at a 2001 S500 for sale today. It has just over 100k on the engine. When I had a look at the oil filler cap, there was a faint hint of yellowish/white on the inside of the cap. I've seen much worse in the past on other cars. This was just a faint hint - a few light swirls in the oil on the cap. Should I walk away?
Thanks for your help
Kieron
 
Possible head gasket ?

I've just checked my 2003 S500 (106k) - just oil colour. No mayo.
 
Thanks ever so much for checking. I've done a bit more research. It seems that a slight residue might be normal, especially if the car is not regularly used and has not warmed up. This is the case with the car. Tricky one as the car does seem wonderful - FSH etc.
 
i noticed this on one of my cars once (few years back). as long as it is very slight i wiped it with a clean cloth, and it never returned.
 
it could be normal it just depends on the type of use the car is getting, short journys where the engine dosent get up to normay temp for a decent ammout of time will cause this, as well as a possable head gasket, it is quite easy to check for certain if the head gasket is on its way out, if it's a petrol.
just get an old spark plug, remove the centre of the plug and have atyre valve brazed into it, then remove the plugs from the car and turn it over untill it's on TDC (top dead centre) connect a high pressure airline onto the "plug" and listen to see if you've got any air leaking, if it's coming from the radiator then the head gaskets knackered, out of the exhaust and it's an exhaust valve or an inlet valve if its coming from the air filter if it's coming from the oil cap then you've got worn rings, i have used this method many times on various cars as it's much more reliable than a compression testand you dont need any specialist tools either
 
Reassuring advice guys - thanks for all of your help
 

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