Not to get too far off-topic, but crankcase ventilation issues are nothing new to MB. Finding more efficient ways to ensure adequate/complete ventilation at lower temperatures has always been a challenge. The M272/273 engines use a camshaft-driven centrifuge which seems to work very well. The recommended oil change interval is 13,000 miles for these engines, and so far so good. The new OM642 V-6 diesel engine has a heating element in the vent line to speed things up at low temperatures.


This is very common on M112 engines, for the reasons mentioned by several other members. I see it every day. IMHO, the crankcase ventilation system on this engine doesn't work quite as well as the M119 engine in your car. The good news is that it's easy to fix. Clean all the goop out of the filler cap assembly, and make sure the engine reaches normal operating temperature every time the car is driven. A couple of "in-between" oil changes won't hurt either.

Thanks for all of the advise. I just finished cleaning all of the goop out of the filler neck and will be doing an oil change on it tomorrow. I know I'm not using the correct approved oil but that's only because I was planning on changing it quite frequently. Tomorrow I'm going to switch from the Rotella to 10W-30 M1 that I bought several weeks ago. I don't know if it will help any with the condensation build-up but time will tell. I'm going to run the car to work and back for several weeks to see if longer trips help it, if it does then I'll let me wife take it back over and see if the M1 helps any with the build-up. My guess is it won't, so FREQUENT oil changes is probably my only way out on this one.

Again, I thank you all for taking the time to write me about this!!

Dale

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