New here and need some input on oil being odd

[Pesca]

Since you want to bother them one more time, ask them to take a sample and make an UOA on it.

It will give you more info than your dripping test.

There are several labs in the toronto area which can probably do the UOA fast for you.

If you end up buying the car, do an oil change immediately and start fresh with an known to you oil.

 

[fdcg27]

We have had reports of some oils turning red on here.
Years ago, when Maxlife had its fifteen minutes of fame here as the be-all do-all oil for every application, there was a guy who posted that Maxlife tirned red after only a few hundred miles in his engine.
From what you've written of the behavior of this engine, I'd doubt that there's anything worng with it.
The oil may be discolored from the disuse the car has seen.
If you really want the car and it really is all that cheap for what it is, then go for it.
You've already posted that the savings you'd get over the car's typical value would fund an engine replacement, so if you want it, buy it.
Ignore the Chicken Littles.
I'd doubt that the sky is about to fall on this engine.
Throw a fresh change of M1 0W-40 in it and motor happy.
Oh, but you're on the wrong side of the border.
Drop down to the states and buy a couple of jugs of the oil at a US Walmart.

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
We have had reports of some oils turning red on here.
Years ago, when Maxlife had its fifteen minutes of fame here as the be-all do-all oil for every application, there was a guy who posted that Maxlife tirned red after only a few hundred miles in his engine.
From what you've written of the behavior of this engine, I'd doubt that there's anything worng with it.
The oil may be discolored from the disuse the car has seen.
If you really want the car and it really is all that cheap for what it is, then go for it.
You've already posted that the savings you'd get over the car's typical value would fund an engine replacement, so if you want it, buy it.
Ignore the Chicken Littles.
I'd doubt that the sky is about to fall on this engine.
Throw a fresh change of M1 0W-40 in it and motor happy.
Oh, but you're on the wrong side of the border.
Drop down to the states and buy a couple of jugs of the oil at a US Walmart.


This is the right time to buy it here. Our big chain store Canadian Tire( Think Pep Boys that sell everything from car parts to kitchen items) have sales anywhere from 10-70% off.
Right now Moblie 1 Synthetic Motor Oil 4.4 litre/1.16 gallon jug is $30.99 CND/$24.89 US from $51.99 CND/$47.76 US
The car is $5000 my money $4000 your money. Fully load no rust 196,000km/121,000 miles

 

[fdcg27]

Four grand USD for this puppy seems dirt cheap.
I'm dumb enough that I'd buy it myself.
Decent miles and I'm assuming it looks okay.
The Daimler-Chrysler era was not good for Mercedes quality and I've seen cars from this era where the interiors were quite ratty by old-school Mercedes standards after not too many years or miles.
The price you quote on M1 0W-40 is pretty straight.
If this car looks decent in and out and you can buy it for 5K CD and you can afford the risk and you want it, then why not?
Make sure you let us know what you do and what your experience is after if you buy the beast.

 

[WobblyElvis]

There are a couple of test you can do on the oil without any special equipment and only a few drops of oil.
The blotter test, a drop of oil is placed on a white business card.
The crackle test, a few drops of oil are placed into a hot frying pan.

These tests, and there may be more, can help detect water/coolant in the oil.

see here..
http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/101/visual-crackle-water

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/499/blotter-spot-method

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Four grand USD for this puppy seems dirt cheap.
I'm dumb enough that I'd buy it myself.
Decent miles and I'm assuming it looks okay.
The Daimler-Chrysler era was not good for Mercedes quality and I've seen cars from this era where the interiors were quite ratty by old-school Mercedes standards after not too many years or miles.
The price you quote on M1 0W-40 is pretty straight.
If this car looks decent in and out and you can buy it for 5K CD and you can afford the risk and you want it, then why not?
Make sure you let us know what you do and what your experience is after if you buy the beast.


This one is the higher end model Napa leather reclining rear seats, heated/cooled seats all the way around, message seats, park assist, distance control cruise control, keyless go(push button start on the gear shifter), navigation, rear window power sunshade, rear door sunshades, heated steering wheel,keyless entery 5.5 litre supercharged engine pushing 489hp 265/40/18 rears 245/45/18 front and so on

On the other scale I have a 2000 S430 with park assist, message seats heated front seats, navigation, rear window power sunshade and a few more not even close to the above and I have lovely bounded leather seats or as Mercedes calls it leather.
The Napa leather is much nicer both are the same body design just the 2003 has a face lift front end and a newer bigger screen nav system. there are a few other little things but unless you are a fan most people will not notice.
Yes I do understand that A.M.G stands for All. Money Gone. A. Cash. Grab. Add. More. Gas. and so on. I just love the looks and performance of these cars. A four door sedan pushing almost 500hp and with the Active Body Control you can stiffen the ride, raise/ lower and on the highway the car will drop almost an inch and a half to drop wind drag.
When I was in my twenties I wished my 1968 Camero RS would give me 500hp and not have my friends complain about sitting in the back

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: WobblyElvis
There are a couple of test you can do on the oil without any special equipment and only a few drops of oil.
The blotter test, a drop of oil is placed on a white business card.
The crackle test, a few drops of oil are placed into a hot frying pan.

These tests, and there may be more, can help detect water/coolant in the oil.

see here..
http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/101/visual-crackle-water

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/499/blotter-spot-method



I actually mentioned the crackle test just did not use the proper name at the top of page 3 or 4. We use to do that away back. We use a space heater put a few drops on top if it smoked it was oil if it sizzled/steamed there is water/coolant in the oil.
The way I think of it is like if you want to test if a pan is hot you flick some water on it.
The blotter test never heard of I like it.

I went and picked up 4 feet of vinyl hose, a syringe so I can run the hose down the dipstick tube and draw some oil out. I am debating putting a weight on it so it does sink to the bottom of the pan. This way if the water settled I will draw up water. Once I got some from the bottom I was going to pull out a bit and grab some more.
My issue is without a weight I have no idea if the hose id floating or not. Then if you put a weight on and it falls off into the pan you could have much more serious issues. These oil pans are not an easy removal.
I hope they will let me do this like I say I do not want to keep going back and not giving them an answer.

 

[philipp10]

that looks thick like red chocolate milk. Is there by chance, red anti-freeze in the car? You have water in the oil, IMO.

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: philipp10
that looks thick like red chocolate milk. Is there by chance, red anti-freeze in the car? You have water in the oil, IMO.



Mercedes coolant is yellow/gold in colour. I am actually just head over to draw a sample with a syringe and a vinyl tubing. I will do the crackle test. I am trying to find the paper for the other test.

It is actually very thin not thick at all

 

[turtlevette]

Originally Posted By: Scoott
Hi everyone
I am looking at a car and when I pulled the dipstick I got this very odd colour. The colour to me is a reddish brown. I have been Googling to see why this colour.
The engine runs extremely smooth, there is no noises, no smoke, has all kinds of power, starts right up, idles smooth and so on.
I found that there are certain brands that actually turn red.
The car should be using full synthetic oil 0W40

Please any help would be greatly appreciated
Scott


Why can't you provide a decent picture for us to look at? Garbage picture garbage diagnosis.

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Originally Posted By: Scoott
Hi everyone
I am looking at a car and when I pulled the dipstick I got this very odd colour. The colour to me is a reddish brown. I have been Googling to see why this colour.
The engine runs extremely smooth, there is no noises, no smoke, has all kinds of power, starts right up, idles smooth and so on.
I found that there are certain brands that actually turn red.
The car should be using full synthetic oil 0W40

Please any help would be greatly appreciated
Scott


Why can't you provide a decent picture for us to look at? Garbage picture garbage diagnosis.


That picture is clear and lit not sure what more you expect. What is wrong with the picture?

 

[turtlevette]

It looks a little different. Is the level above full? It looks to be on that dipstick.

 

[jdavis]

lol, I wonder if the seller(s) are getting annoyed yet

 

[fdcg27]

For whatever reason, none of your photos downloaded for me before now.
Having seen the dipstick picture, I have to retract my previous advice that this would be a car to buy.
Based upon this photo, there can be little doubt that coolant has gotten into the oil.
This isn't just a little condensation mayonaise on the fill cap.
While coolant is never good for bearings, this could be either a cheap fix (think GM LIM) or it could indicate a much more costly to resolve problem.
If you're still serious about the car, search Benz boards and find a local Mecedes specialist indie.
Go and talk to him. Offer to pay him for his time. If he wants to see the car, either pay him for his time to go and look at it or pay to have it flatbedded to him.
This may not be as bad as it looks.
OTOH, it might be worse.
Do your due diligence before parting with your money.
This car could be a steal but could just as easily be a nightmare.

 

[killswitch83]

Gotta agree with fdcg here, looking at that opaqueness and level, I wouldn't be surprised if there was coolant leaking into your oil from somewhere. Either way, good luck!

 

[Bandito440]

Here's one of his photos properly linked. I stand by my opinion that this oil is contaminated. Do not buy.

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
Here's one of his photos properly linked. I stand by my opinion that this oil is contaminated. Do not buy.

I think you are right. I did put some oil onto a hot surface. I got some bubbling and cracking. I would agree there is water/coolant in the engine. How much, how long who knows.
It is like that old saying the cheap becomes the expensive.

 

[Scoott]

Originally Posted By: jdavis
lol, I wonder if the seller(s) are getting annoyed yet


I bet they are. But if you are selling a car you should know something about it.
Yes the car is cheap, but why throw good money out for bad.

 

[Scoott]

Here is the crackle test also new 0W40 Moblie 1

 

[BrandonT]

That milky look is bad sign that a lot of coolant has gotten into the crankcase. I wouldn't expect you to see anything at the tail pipe, it is probably nothing more than an internal crack in the head between the water jacket and oil galley. On my car it was more milky and brown, but the red could be that your coolant is red.

It is easily trouble shot and the parts replaced, but after running all that water in there on a hipo car you don't know what the condition of the internals is. I'd stay away. Don't let you desire get the best of you!