When I pull the dip stick out to check the oil I early this morning I notice white foam contamination at the top of the dipstick and at the very tip with. So when I re-insert the dip stick I get just oil with white contimination at the tip. The oil cap show not signs of contamination. Coolant a little low less than a qt if that. No smoke or steam coming out of tail pipe. Car has about 110K last oil changed 5K ago.

So without jumping to conclusions (head gasket). Please help me diagnostic this.

1. How do I determine to to be a head gasket for sure???

2. Could it be a oil cooler seal issue??? Please correct me here. If it is a oil cooler issue I would get oil in the coolant not the coolant in the oil, right?

3. Could it be a pvc valve, crank case ventilation problem?? I am thinking it is this. Is this wishful thinking??? Also if it is a crank case venation problem what else can I be checking I replaced the PVC valve and crank case plugs 10K ago because it was leaking (common problem on ML350).

What should I do next?

thanks

__________________
Silver Honda Accord, 2006
Silver G500, 2003
Silver SLK-320, 2002
Black ML-320, 2000
Bule Porsche 993 Targa , 1997
Silver Merkur XR4Ti, 1987

I had such a problem many years ago in my 76 Volvo with the renault v6. I cleaned the crankcase ventilation system and it cleared up. I don't know what you have on your system but perhaps it is pcv related.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

When you said you clean the crankcase ventilation system. You are saying you change the pvc valve, clean/clear the hoses etc and everything you can think or see that is connected? thanks

__________________
Silver Honda Accord, 2006
Silver G500, 2003
Silver SLK-320, 2002
Black ML-320, 2000
Bule Porsche 993 Targa , 1997
Silver Merkur XR4Ti, 1987

Do an oil change and send a sample to Blackstone lab for analysis. It will be fresh oil in case it is coolant in the oil and the lab report will be definitive.

Is a short trip vehicle? Could be condensation plus a separate coolant leak issue.

Good luck!!!

__________________
"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Probably just condensation from sitting. The fix is to drive more often or longer or faster. Best is a combination of all three.

Do you ever get out on the interstate (ones without bumper to bumper traffic) and drive it hard? As stated could be condensation. How does the inside of the coolant reservoir look?

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Jim

Definitely a short trip vehicle! Wife drive it to work less than 5 miles each way. But did dive it to the inlaws for Thanks Giving 70 miles round trip. But that was a month ago.

No signs of oil in Radiator or reservoir.

Let me know if you folks have any other ides. I think I will let the motor oil settle and check it with the dip stick again (that is how I find out his morning) and let it sit over night and check it again tomorrow. I can also try to see if I can suck up anything from the bottom the pan (using a top-side oil changer).

But let me know if you folks have any other ideas.

thanks again.

__________________
Silver Honda Accord, 2006
Silver G500, 2003
Silver SLK-320, 2002
Black ML-320, 2000
Bule Porsche 993 Targa , 1997
Silver Merkur XR4Ti, 1987

Thank you folks for all your experience and wisdom. Save me from an heart attack.

So I let the car sat for a few hours and check the oil again. Oil totally normal and not oil in the radiator.

Check the oil again this morning. Everything totally normal.

Hopefully it is just condensation as you folks said. Hopefully it is as simple as checking the oil on a car that has not been driven often early on a near freezing morning. It has been cold here the past few days even for where I am from (San Francisco Bay area).

Will try to suck some oil from the bottom of the pan this weekend to see if I see anything abnormal. I will let you folks know if I do.

thanks again

__________________
Silver Honda Accord, 2006
Silver G500, 2003
Silver SLK-320, 2002
Black ML-320, 2000
Bule Porsche 993 Targa , 1997
Silver Merkur XR4Ti, 1987

Make sure you take it out on the interstate (one where traffic is moving 70+ mph) every week or two for 30 minutes to an hour and going forward you should be fine. The 5 miles trip and then shutting it down is considered "severe" service because the oil never gets up to operating temperature.

Sometimes I get BMWs in that have an oil temperature gauge and it is surprising how long it takes for the oil to get up to temp (relatively speaking in comparison to the coolant).

__________________
Jim

The M112 engines often benefit from a new thermostat after 100K miles or so to help get those few extra degrees of operating temp in the winter.

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Prost!

Confirming a full operating temp is good advice as is running it longer. I'll add to those with at 5k on the oil and signs of moisture, I'd change the oil and filter.

Good luck!!!

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

This is pretty common on the M112 and M272 /M273 motors when driven in cool/cold weather for a lot of short trips. I used to have to scoop out the condensation nasty foam from the oil cap housing on my brother's M112 when I'd do his oil changes. It never hurt the engine however.

Doesn't happen on my M112....I make sure all the horses get a thorough workout no matter the distance of the drive.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

yes. Details are lacking as it was 40 years ago.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.