Oil Looks Like Peanut Butter???
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 51
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From: Cleveland, OH
ML320
Oil Looks Like Peanut Butter???
Today the oil light went on (briefly) in my 2000 ML320.
It's about 500 miles to the next oil change and the car is 6.5 yrs old.
I'm fairly regular about checking the oil level.
No visible leaks or stains on the garage floor.
Sure enough, this time the oil was at the minimum line on the dipstick.
When I opened the oil cap it looked like there was peanut butter on the underside.
It was not as thick, and maybe a shade or two lighter in color.
It was "slippery" like oil and went black when I rubbed it between my fingers.
Should I be worried???????
It's about 500 miles to the next oil change and the car is 6.5 yrs old.
I'm fairly regular about checking the oil level.
No visible leaks or stains on the garage floor.
Sure enough, this time the oil was at the minimum line on the dipstick.
When I opened the oil cap it looked like there was peanut butter on the underside.
It was not as thick, and maybe a shade or two lighter in color.
It was "slippery" like oil and went black when I rubbed it between my fingers.
Should I be worried???????
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Land of Magnolias and Mint Juleps
Today the oil light went on (briefly) in my 2000 ML320.
It's about 500 miles to the next oil change and the car is 6.5 yrs old.
I'm fairly regular about checking the oil level.
No visible leaks or stains on the garage floor.
Sure enough, this time the oil was at the minimum line on the dipstick.
When I opened the oil cap it looked like there was peanut butter on the underside.
It was not as thick, and maybe a shade or two lighter in color.
It was "slippery" like oil and went black when I rubbed it between my fingers.
Should I be worried???????
It's about 500 miles to the next oil change and the car is 6.5 yrs old.
I'm fairly regular about checking the oil level.
No visible leaks or stains on the garage floor.
Sure enough, this time the oil was at the minimum line on the dipstick.
When I opened the oil cap it looked like there was peanut butter on the underside.
It was not as thick, and maybe a shade or two lighter in color.
It was "slippery" like oil and went black when I rubbed it between my fingers.
Should I be worried???????
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 809
Likes: 74
From: Dallas, TX
2008 E63 wagon (1 of 62)
I have seen many cars with the inside of the oil cap looking like it has peanut butter on it. Basically its just a mixture of the moisture in the engine and the oil inside the cap area.
I wouldn't worry about a headgasket unless you checked your compression and found big variances in your numbers or you changed your oil and found the peanut butter down there or obvious coolant coming out with your oil.
I would suggest changing out either the seal for the oil cap or the entire cap and oil filler neck once in a while though since they do leak over time.
I wouldn't worry about a headgasket unless you checked your compression and found big variances in your numbers or you changed your oil and found the peanut butter down there or obvious coolant coming out with your oil.
I would suggest changing out either the seal for the oil cap or the entire cap and oil filler neck once in a while though since they do leak over time.
Almost a Member!
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
From: UK
2002 ML270
Today the oil light went on (briefly) in my 2000 ML320.
It's about 500 miles to the next oil change and the car is 6.5 yrs old.
I'm fairly regular about checking the oil level.
No visible leaks or stains on the garage floor.
Sure enough, this time the oil was at the minimum line on the dipstick.
When I opened the oil cap it looked like there was peanut butter on the underside.
It was not as thick, and maybe a shade or two lighter in color.
It was "slippery" like oil and went black when I rubbed it between my fingers.
Should I be worried???????
It's about 500 miles to the next oil change and the car is 6.5 yrs old.
I'm fairly regular about checking the oil level.
No visible leaks or stains on the garage floor.
Sure enough, this time the oil was at the minimum line on the dipstick.
When I opened the oil cap it looked like there was peanut butter on the underside.
It was not as thick, and maybe a shade or two lighter in color.
It was "slippery" like oil and went black when I rubbed it between my fingers.
Should I be worried???????
If the oil on the dipstick looks like peanut butter then you do have problems, otherwise, IMHO - as written in other posts, you don't.
An emulsion of condensation and oil under the oil cap is normal, particularly if you only travel short distances, it won't affect the oil in the engine or its ability to 'be oily'.
If it worries you, go for a 500 mile trip somewhere as fast as the police will allow, or a blast up some of your lovely American mountain passes, the peanut butter will disappear and your engine will run like a dream.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,005
Likes: 106
From: Houston, TX
2015 E250D
I would NOT be worried if the underside of the cap looked like peanut butter. It's moisture with oil. Check the oil on the dipstick. The most common cause of that peanut butter stuff is frequent start and stops without letting the engine fully warm up. No big deal.
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Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland, OH
ML320
Have done a lot of city driving lately. Thanks.
The oil on the stick looks normal. (It's Penzoil.)
No white smoke coming from exhaust.
Heading in for 60k $ervice in mid-March.
I'll have them check oil cap seal.
The truck is 6.5 yrs old.....
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,781
Likes: 3
From: Boston
'05 A4 1.8TQM6
No worries since the oil on the dipstick looks normal. If its just the cap, as said before, its due to not letting the engine up to operating temps and is condensation. Every so often, take it out for a longer drive so it burns off the condensation. 
Super Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 870
Likes: 1
From: East of I-287 South
01 ML55, 91 Supra Turbo, 05 Audi S4
Does your ML burn coolant on the regular? if not than it's probably condensation under the oil cap, check for white sweet smelling smoke coming out the tail pipes, or excessive coolant usage or jello sludge looking oil on the dipstick. Keep track of your coolant level and if any of the above start to happen get it checked immediately!
Newbie
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
C230 2006
Engine coolant brown, thick and gooey
Last night i noticed some leaking on the garage floor coming from my car C230 2006. I opened the hood and noticed that it looks like its coming from the engine coolant container. This morning i took my car to my mechanic and he told me that my whole engine including the radiator needs to all be replaced. Is this true.? We checked the color of the engine oil and its black, looks like normal color and consistency... What should i do?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,107
Likes: 765
From: Bronx, N.Y.
2002 ML 320 & 2006 ML500
Last night i noticed some leaking on the garage floor coming from my car C230 2006. I opened the hood and noticed that it looks like its coming from the engine coolant container. This morning i took my car to my mechanic and he told me that my whole engine including the radiator needs to all be replaced. Is this true.? We checked the color of the engine oil and its black, looks like normal color and consistency... What should i do?
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w203-3
Also you are not explaining this correctly. You found what kind of leak, oil, anti-freeze, transmission fluid? Be specific when you post on the forum
What I believe you mean is that there is some kind of oil in the coolant reservoir and it has overflowed. And what I think the mechanic told you was that the radiator has to be replaced (which is correct) and that the engine has to be flushed out, not replaced.
