Normal or not....

[Jukie]

...I cannot remember.....

I was viewing a car today, 12 year old E240, genuine 46k miles. There was some white sludge on the inside of the oil filler cap.

I know it's bad on the dipstick but on the filler cap? Total memory loss as to whether it's normal or bad news.


TIA, David.

 

[The _Don]

Indicates a lot of short trips and oil not getting hot ?

 

[Jukie]

That is very possible. The last owner, who's had the car most of it's life, has only averaged 3k miles per annum.

So might not be so bad.....??

 

[Tinkerer]

Never used to worry me on the older cars as it trapped the water that condensed in the engine in the sludge that accumulated in the rocker cover instead of pumping it around the bearings. Used to be a big argument with Duckhams vs Castrol GTX, I would not worry about it just change the oil if you take the plunge.

 

[DRBC43AMG]

Never used to worry me on the older cars as it trapped the water that condensed in the engine in the sludge that accumulated in the rocker cover instead of pumping it around the bearings. Used to be a big argument with Duckhams vs Castrol GTX, I would not worry about it just change the oil if you take the plunge.

And the filter too

 

[Scott_F]

Never used to worry me on the older cars as it trapped the water that condensed in the engine in the sludge that accumulated in the rocker cover instead of pumping it around the bearings. Used to be a big argument with Duckhams vs Castrol GTX, I would not worry about it just change the oil if you take the plunge.

I would disagree.

If it was your own car you could afford to take a chance and just keep monitoring the situation. However, you have identified a potentially serious problem with a car that you are considering buying. Unless the price is unbeatable, ask yourself whether you want to risk having to have the cylinder head gasket replaced soon after purchase ?

Try using what you have found as a point of negotiation. Or unless you're sure it isn't the head gasket, walk away.

 

[clever dicky]

Its just condensation that would normally burn off when engines hot.
As said but only if engine sounds and runs ok.
Cant see any reason how it could cause head gasket failure.
If you buy it, do a good service asap and take it on a good run.

 

[renault12ts]

Could be nothing, as others have said. If the car was given a good twenty mile hard drive then the mayo should disappear...ask the vendor if he would mind such a run.

 

[dulayj]

The A classes w168 are known to suffer from this -long plastic oil filler tube most of the time its condensation/short journeys-but check coolant level and contents along with dipstick.Not sure if other mercs have similar problem?

 

[Colin_b]

I would disagree.

If it was your own car you could afford to take a chance and just keep monitoring the situation. However, you have identified a potentially serious problem with a car that you are considering buying. Unless the price is unbeatable, ask yourself whether you want to risk having to have the cylinder head gasket replaced soon after purchase ?

Try using what you have found as a point of negotiation. Or unless you're sure it isn't the head gasket, walk away.

If you remove the radiator/cooolant filler cap (not when hot, just warm) and have a good sniff, you can normally tell if the headgasket has gone between combustion chamber and coolant...

 

[djm17]

A tip might be to extract some of the oil from the engine and test it by heating it. if spits ans spatters its got water in it which could indicate a head gasket problem otherwise its probabl simple condensation. The emulsification of oil occurs when water gets into it as we are told oil and water don't mix but they do and you get white residue.