yellow sludge

[loveceramics85]

hi all i am hoping that you can help me out, today i checked my oil and all other fluids when i look in the oil cap and sow a yellow creamy sludge, im not losing any coolant and or oil when i checked oil it is clean i am in the mid of winter here and its the first time this has happened i drive about 350k not sure what that is in miles sorry but thats about each week oh and i had an oil change about 4 months ago

 

[Ecab14]

With luck it's condensation. I've seen this with other manufacturers.

 

[MBDevotee]

If not condensation, might be head-gasket.

Rare on an Merc to have head gasket go though.

 

[wheelie]

Had this with an M3 and it was actually condensation related. I took it to an indie for a cleanout and had the oil and filter changed. No drama really.

 

[nokia]

Take the car on a good long run then check again. Any condensation should be brunt off during a long drive. Drive it a bit harder during this but dont rev the nuts off it.

 

[hotrodder]

I'm pretty sure this is normal on A classes, at least several models of them. AIUI the oil filler cap isn't in the rocker cover but a seperate tube that's bolted to the engine. This arrangement means that the filler tube doesn't get as hot as the rest of the engine and kinda creates a condensation trap. Not an MB but i've owned a car that used this style of oil filler before and there was always traces of 'mayo' in it. The only variable was how much... short journies/winter = much more than long journies/summer but it was impossible to eliminate as there was no escape for any condensate and the oil filler tube was always cooler than the engine

 

[loveceramics85]

thank you all so much, i took my car for a drive yesturday and there didnt seem to be any problems with her, i took her for a 80km (49.71mile) trip and checked her when she was cool and all i could see what look to be a few sweat/condensation drops in the cap

 

[nokia]

^you should be fine. Just make sure you keep to regular oil changes and use the correct grade oil.

 

[kth286]

Is the engine getting fully up to temperature ?

What temp you at ?

Is heater blasting hot air within the first half mile ?

It stuck coolant thermostat will cause your problem.