E320 Emulsified oil

[Andy Langman]

I am looking at a 1999 E320 from a non-merc dealer, there are no signs of any problems from the exhaust, but there is emulsified oil on the filler cap. I have seen this on a previous car and it was the head gasket, that one had no signs of oil in the water but water was disappearing and the exhaust had a grey smoke. This machine apparently has clear water and no unusual signs from the exhaust. What are the chances of this being innocent condensation as the dealer claims. What other checks can do? Or do I just walk away from this one?

 

[turnipsock]

It sounds more like a cylinder head gasket.

The previous instance probably had the gasket blown between the cyclinder, water and oil.

The car you are looking at probably has a leak between the water and the oil.

You could confront the dealer with this and get the price reduced, but I guess he will try the condensation ploy with the next customer.

As for checks, I would see how quickly it is loosing water.

 

[Andy Langman]

Head Gasket Cost

Thanks for that, I have just seen some figures elsewhere on this forum quoting costs for head gasket replacement starting at £1500 and going upwards. I would be very surprised if the dealer would knock that much off. So yeah, I guess he will try the condensation trick on the next customer.

 

[robbo]

Hang on a minute chaps!

He may well be right about this, it is most likely condensation.

The oil filler cap sits on a plastic housing that is slightly higher, this means that it doesnt get as hot so quickly as the rest of the engine. If the car has done a lot of short trips (or if it is in winter) there can be a build up of gunge on the oil filler cap. All 320 engines will do this. Mine shows the same thing if you do short trips in cool weather. Take it for a longer drive and the emulsion goes.

I'd try and take it for an extended test drive, I suspect the emulsion will disappear.

 

[jberks]

Guys,
I have the same emulsified oil on the filler on my E240 - I clean it off and it returns in 1k or so. I do 100 miles per day so I'm not sure about the disapear bit. Garages have never said anything on the oil changes and the dipstick is clean and there are no oil signs in the expansion tank. Plus, I've never put a drop of water in since I bought it 5 years ago. The block is basically the same v6 - it could just be condensation.

 

[Bolide]

Condensation vs compensation

If the car's of interest, make an agreement with the garage that they will cover the cost of a cylinder head gasket replacement if it fails in the next 6 months

If they say no, and it's not covered by a warranty, walk away, If they say yes, or the whole cost would be covered by the warranty, buy it

In my experience very few people, including car dealers, can accurately predict cylinder head gasket without driving the car for a few weeks. And I would think most dealers drive their stock a couple of miles at most

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Andy Langman]

Thanks

Thank you all for your help, much appreciated, I think the way ahead is indeed to ask the dealer to put his money where his mouth is and ask for that 6 month guarantee as suggested.