[MNjake]

I have a question regarding my 2009 Ford Escape with 2.5l engine. We recently purchased it and it currently has 117,000 miles. I went to change plugs and 2 of the 4 had oil on the threads.
In my photos spsrk plug order left to right or bottom to top is passenger side to drivers.
Plug 2 had oil the whole length of the threads and plug 3 only has oil from the top down about half way. They all look to be burning similar in the tip. Inside the plug well there was no oil pooling or oil leak appearance like the valve cover gasket is bad.
Any recommendations on what to check? Could it still be the VCG?
With plug 3 only having oil on the top half make me think it is still coming from above.

I have searched quite a bit and most often am brought back to VCG or PCV valve. Just the upper half coverage and no pooled oil make me question VCG.

Thank You

 

[dwightbresemann]

My best guess, yes, you need a new VCG. The spark plug hole seals within the valve cover may be starting to fail

 

[Mountain Escape]

I have a question regarding my 2009 Ford Escape with 2.5l engine. We recently purchased it and it currently has 117,000 miles. I went to change plugs and 2 of the 4 had oil on the threads.
In my photos spsrk plug order left to right or bottom to top is passenger side to drivers.
Plug 2 had oil the whole length of the threads and plug 3 only has oil from the top down about half way. They all look to be burning similar in the tip. Inside the plug well there was no oil pooling or oil leak appearance like the valve cover gasket is bad.
Any recommendations on what to check? Could it still be the VCG?
With plug 3 only having oil on the top half make me think it is still coming from above.

I have searched quite a bit and most often am brought back to VCG or PCV valve. Just the upper half coverage and no pooled oil make me question VCG.

Thank You

Hey Jake, welcome to the city.
you should be able to trace where the fluid is coming from. What do you mean, still the VCG? Was it changed recently?
Soak a rag with some carb cleaner or something, and wipe down the head, everything… Don't guess.
If this is not on the electrode, spark surfaces… Someone may have oiled the threads on the last change because they had trouble getting them out?
I would install your new plugs, and pull them again in 50 miles or so… see what they look like.

 

[bangster]

That is an external weep, I wouldn't do anything like change out the valve cover gaskets. If any of the spark plug wells was filled with oil, then maybe, but something that minor, that probably wouldn't even affect the spark plug boots, could probably go another 60k+ miles before needing any attention.

If it was an internal to the combustion chamber leak somehow, the oil would be in coked deposits on the ceramic or other part of the plug, it wouldn't be liquid state oil anymore.

 

[tomw]

I would just go ahead and replace the plugs. Given that they have 117k on them, it is past time. There is not enough oil to indicate a leak from the cam cover spark plug well gasket/O-ring. Unless you know the history, the oil could be from someone dribbling some oil into the well, replacing the plugs and leaving it as is.
Should there be oil seepage down the front or back of the cylinder head onto the block, that would make me consider replacing the set of gaskets. If yours is dry externally, leave well enough alone as the oil on the threads amounts to a drop or two. If you want to experiment, get an old dry spark plug and put a couple drops of oil on the threads right below the plug washer, set the plug on a paper towel, on its side, and wait a day. A drop is likely to drool down the plug threads to the bottom and maybe form a droplet over the paper towel. Little bit of oil.
tom

 

[MNjake]

Thank you for all the responses. I am going to leave it for now and check it again on a while.