ml320 sludge on oil cap

[2SSB]

hi there new to this site but looks great
having a problem with my 1999 ml320 have found sludge on oil filler cap have looked at other posts but cant see it being head gasket as no water loss and no sludge in sump or on dipstick also car has starting problems lately takes a while to start sometimes any answers will help ta

 

[jibcl500]

Petrol or diesel?

jib

 

[2SSB]

hi sorry its petrol and sludge looks like mayonaisse

 

[jibcl500]

Is the ML used for short drives only? could be the car needs a good blast to get hot, is it using any water at all?

Is there any smoke whote bluish ?

jib

 

[Xtractorfan]

Also some brands of oil do sludge, castrol from memory was a sludgy oil...

 

[2SSB]

hi there jibcl500 use it for long and short trips but does get some good long trips yes do get some smoke dosent use any water

 

[jibcl500]

Same problem I have then with an E class 240 V6, still working on it and havent found a cure for the smoke, sometimes no smoke, after a good drive all of a sudden smoke and lots of it.

Recent engine flush and new filter with Mobil 1.

Is yours using any oil?


jib

 

[MB TECH WARRINGTON]

give your engine a good flush, use correct oil, etc etc,

you say it takes a while to start?


does it turn over for 5 to 10 secs then start or does it keep cranking no start, leave it, keep cranking no start, then 20 mins later it will fire instantly,
((timescale is reference)

 

[jibcl500]

I would also suggest the MAF maybe out of spec, has the performance dropped?

You need to get some diags run really to see whats going on, Ive got a feeling diags wil show misfire on 4 cylinders.

jib

 

[2SSB]

Hi There MB TECH WARRINGTON Sometimes Takes 10 / 20 Seconds or a minute or so to start ,If i leave the key off for a minute or more will start after 10 sec but like today started straight away every time all day

 

[2SSB]

hi uses a little oil nothing out of the ordinary

 

[television]

Not easy this one on the starting or the oil. If the car is not using water then thats a good sign. I would clean out the cap and after a drive take a look for any moisture bubbles in the cap.

The starting one is odd, the MAF is not used on starting I believe.

 

[jibcl500]

2SSB

I have spent some time on a W210 Eclass with the 2.4 V6 engine with the same problem although starting the car wastnt a problem

So far I have replaced the MAF as diagnostics showed there to be a fault. New plugs as they look terrible.
Ive done an engine flush to clean the crud and sludge internally, replaced the filter and used Mobil 1.
Ive removed the intake and engine breathers and cleaned all of these, Ive removed the rocker covers and cleaned them interanlly and the breather section on the top blocks with crusty old oil.
There is also a rubber seal on the inlet thats could possibly do with replacement also.

Hope that helps.

jib