engine oil cap in "beige"

[C240Sport97]

I looked at a very nice SL320 (R129) today -- 98S, 69k miles, FMBSH. Then opened the engine oil cap and saw "beige" runny, slightly foamy liquid under the cap -- this was literally a minute after a 15 minutes drive.

Any ideas what this means?

 

[sym]

Could be nothing to worry about if it has only been used for very short journeys - as condensation builds up and causes the mayonnaise effect - alternatively could be signs of trouble . . . . was it at a dealer ?

S.

 

[C240Sport97]

:bannana: private sale; the man has a new SL500 :bannana:

and car hasn't been used for about a month. But generally used on journeys of at least 15 miles.

 

[V12]

As sym says, for short journeys it can happen, but if not...it points at headgasket firstly.

Where there any signs of the engine temperature raising higher than 80-90??

 

[C240Sport97]

headgasket looked fine .. engine compartment was 'clean' -- it had the expected 5.5 years worth of dust etc, but no oil leak and it had not been steam cleaned. Water temperature was normal -- in the middle of the gauge.

 

[sym]

Probably nothing then . . . . how did it compare to the . . . C43 ?

S.

 

[C240Sport97]

not nearly as fast ... not nearly as throaty sounding ... not nearly as firm a ride

but the panaromic roof was wonderful and would make dull wintry days very bearable

it rode and handled much much better than I expected, based on memory of my first ride in an 300 SL 24v in 1993

Probably nothing then . . . . how did it compare to the . . . C43 ?

S.

 

[Tan]

But its not the V8.... was it a V6 SL320 or an earlier one??

 

[Steve_Perry]

But its not the V8.... was it a V6 SL320 or an earlier one??

On a 98 S registration I reckon it's got to be the V6 320 and not the earlier inline 6 version.

S.

 

[V12]

Yeah, should be the V6 after 97/98...

 

[C240Sport97]

yes, it's a V6 ...

But an SL's got to be a V8, otherwise how can you deal with the C43s out there??? :bannana:

Yeah, should be the V6 after 97/98...