Creamy Oil cap... CHECK YOUR OIL CAP!
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From: Toronto
V12TT
Creamy Oil cap... CHECK YOUR OIL CAP!
My 55 and 430 engines are developing creamy oil caps, oil turning into a thick tan color what's happening? Head gasket gone bad? 
Just like this BUT NOT AS BAD: http://img16.imageshack.us/i/pict0019h.jpg/
Just like this BUT NOT AS BAD: http://img16.imageshack.us/i/pict0019h.jpg/
Last edited by benz_addict; Mar 16, 2010 at 12:04 AM.
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From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
Wow this is weird. I just went through the exact same thing. Not as bad as yours but enough to make me think I had toasted a head gasket. After checking it all over, we came to the conclusion it was winter condensation from short drives. I drive it in the winter for a few miles at a pop and the engine is not getting hot enough to burn off the condensation. Quite common in our winter climates. NOT saying this is your case but so far appears to be mine and I can sleep at night again. Keep me posted.
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From: Caribbean/Florida/Colorado
E-ZGO 53hp., 1999 E 430 sport, 2004 E 55, 2008 Tahoe LTZ on 24"s
That is a condition that can happen during winter months when a car is used for short trips and the engine never gets to full operating temp. The paste is condensation (water) that is mixed with the oil, now since the engine only makes short trips the condensation never has a chance to be evaporated out of the engine. A good highway trip of 200 miles should help to "boil" the water out, then an oil change would be a good idea.
EDIT Jakpro1 types faster than I do.
EDIT Jakpro1 types faster than I do.
Last edited by Yacht Master; Mar 16, 2010 at 12:37 AM.
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From: Bloomingdale,IL
2004 W211 E55K, GL550
My 55 and 430 engines are developing creamy oil caps, oil turning into a thick tan color what's happening? Head gasket gone bad?
Just like this BUT NOT AS BAD: http://img16.imageshack.us/i/pict0019h.jpg/
Just like this BUT NOT AS BAD: http://img16.imageshack.us/i/pict0019h.jpg/
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bloomingdale,IL
2004 W211 E55K, GL550
LOL dammit i was typing while u beat me to it Yacht Master lol and i did'nt even finish reading jackpro1 post lol so 3 of us agree on condensation can i get a thumbs up
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
Do a Google search for "creamy" "oil" "cap" "color" and you'll get 20 pages of just about every car forum in the universe with this same question. And the same answer. Condensation in very cold weather.
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Porsche 991S, Cayenne S, 1972 BMW 3.0CS E9 Coupe
The owner's manual for my Porsche describes it.
Water vapor can occur in the sump in cold weather and a froth may be visible on the oil cap. This is normal.
Water vapor can occur in the sump in cold weather and a froth may be visible on the oil cap. This is normal.
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'06 E55 K2
It is very easy to pressurize your cooling system through your radiator and see if you get any bubbles in your overflow bottle, that would be the true way to test a head gasket is "suspect".
Yasin
Yasin
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From: Houston/ Austin /Toronto / UAE / Minneapolis / Orlando /Cincinnati
Eurocharged Performance ML63 and TT lambo
Thats definately water vapor in the system. We see that with 90% of the benz's and bmws at the shop during the winter months.
Nothing to worry about.
Nothing to worry about.
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From: Seattle
w203 m112
Wow, im glad im not the only one who just went through this... Jackpro's post is exactly what I learned about it. I was told to just keep an eye on it, but nothing to really worry about.
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haters crazy
Wow this is weird. I just went through the exact same thing. Not as bad as yours but enough to make me think I had toasted a head gasket. After checking it all over, we came to the conclusion it was winter condensation from short drives. I drive it in the winter for a few miles at a pop and the engine is not getting hot enough to burn off the condensation. Quite common in our winter climates. NOT saying this is your case but so far appears to be mine and I can sleep at night again. Keep me posted.
It looks similar when this happens but there are other signs. Check oil dipstick and oil filter. If you see this stuff in thos eplaces then you probably have a problem.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Saskatchewan
1969 280S, 1991 300E
We see tons of this issue where we are...not really an issue, but it happens. My stomach dropped when my tech showed me my oil cap looking like that a few years back.
Good quick responses guys!
Good quick responses guys!
