My question would be do the limited and base have an oil cooler like the SRT6? If so, it could be the oil cooler or just the two little gaskets it has. You can remove the oil cooler and bench test it with air and a bucket of water (see YouTube). If you see air bubbles replace the oil cooler and gaskets. If no air bubbles just replace the gaskets. Hopefully it is just nothing but if oil is in the coolant that is symptom of the oil cooler or oil cooler gaskets being bad.

 

No oil cooler.

 

Blown head gaskets do happen on m112's. The good news for op, since his is NA a used motor is easier and cheaper to source than a m112k. I spun mine from a blown head gasket that got progressive worst. Mine started leaking at 200k and the bearing spun at 242k. Now I didn't care as I was going to swap a v8 in mine anyway. Only reason mine lasted that long was because I was changing the oil like every 2500 miles (my oil changes are free). If you plan to replace the motor you can keep driving it and doing oil changes until it let go, if you plan to have the head gaskets replaced which can be done if you find somebody that knows what they are stop driving. If you spin a bearing the whole motor is trash,

Also if you want to know if its a head gasket, just pull the valve covers, The camshafts and everything will look like the underside of the oil cap. It might be on one side or both.

 

I agree, before jumping to conclusions, pull the valve covers and see how it looks. Try the least expensive route first. It may be nothing to worry about. These engines are pretty much bullet proof.

 

If it will every warm up hear ill look at it. I always look at worst case. Ive been looking at motors. Is the slk320 same they seem to be cheaper than crossfire motors.

 

The SLK320 has the same M112 engine.

But as others have said, driving it without fully warming it up (like around town and right back home) WILL or CAN cause unevaporated condensation to build up on the cap.
You may be worried about nothing here.

 

i just found a few 3.2 engines carfaxed and tested all 90 day warr except where noted
75000 miles $1500 delivered 100. if u do not have a way to get iy off truck 90 day warr
79000 miles $1300 1 year warr.
71000 miles $ 1350. no Throttle body
73000 miles $ 1400 with all acc
59000 miles $1400

if you look local u can find this engine for less than 1000

 

As mentioned, short drives or not driving a lot will get condensation on the oil cap and appear milky. You could pull an oil sample and have it sent up to Blackstone Labs for $30.

They can confirm if you have any coolant in the sample.

 

I have a complete, running M112 engine with a good working transmission attached to it from a Crossfire, all for $350 $325. It has new(er) valve cover gaskets, fresh transmission fluid and filter, and more. It will need to be picked up 30 miles east of Pensacola, FL, but for the price, and road trip is worth it!


Edit, even cheaper! https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum/market/84163

 

Anyone needing a drivetrain (engine and transmission) should JUMP this deal!


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