Looks like valve cover gaskets leaking. Mine look similar and mine leak also.

 

I would replace the boot also. If it's oil soaked it could Crack & cause further issue. They're cheap anyways. Use some dielectric grease on the boot sealing surfaces when reassembling. It will help prevent contaminates getting into the plug chamber. Glad ya got her figured out.

 

This is just my preliminary diagnosis. If this fixes the problem then I know exactly what was wrong. I am planning on swapping all the plugs and boots. Not gonna replace my coils because that's expensive. if I find a faulty one I will replace it.

 

So I am kind of stupid. I don't know why I though the spark plugs went through the valve covers. They are on the intake side of the head.


I don't actually see any oil leaking around the valve covers, maybe they are fine?

 

If the valve covers are not leaking, I would not change them as it is a difficult job because the bolts are hard to get at. Those deep plug sockets collect a lot of dirt and debris over the years. when I change the plugs, I clean out the plug sockets with a wire plumbers brush, WD40, and rags. That way I know I get a good seat on the plugs. Also I use di-electric grease on the wire connections. That number 4 plug is below the heater hoses where they connect to the heater core on the firewall. When those plastic fittings get old, they crack and can cause small leaks into the plug socket. When working on the plugs, you can bump up against the hoses causing leaks in old hoses.

You plugs look a little ruff but not too bad except that one plug that is really black with carbon. May be a problem in one cylinder like leaky valve seats, bad ring and a bad valve or two. I would go ahead and change the plugs and see what happens as it should be running a lot better (at least for a while). If or when the problem returns, check that cylinder and decide the course of action you want to take.

final note: if the PVC is old, replace it as it only cost about $10 or less. That will make sure you don't build pressure in your engine that will push the oil into your cylinders.

 

I am going to see how it runs after the work I did. It will at least give me an idea of what's going on. The PCV is only about a year and a half old, and wasn't making much noise, but I am going to go ahead and replace that. I am going to replace all the coil boots and springs. Anyone recommend a part number? Or a specific one from rock auto?




If the miss fire persists I am going to check that cylinder for pressure and see how it looks.

 

Well seems a lot worse now than before. I did swap in two plugs from when I changed them, makes me think plugs are bad.

I'm gonna change all the plugs, the fuel filter and hopefully the boots this weekend. Might just have my local stealership diagnose it for me since they owe me anyways.

 

Well I dropped her off at the dealer. Hopefully they can find out what's wrong.


However, when I was driving it this morning it seemed to drive fine. Go figure. When I first drove it to work this morning it drove like crap. As I was driving through out the morning, it started driving better and better to the point it didn't miss at all....


Oh well. Hopefully they find something.


Gonna swap all the plugs and boots, and the fuel filters and PCV anyways.

 

so they figured out that it was the number 2 coil. going to replace it with genuine motorcraftone from the dealer. 73 bucks

 

Well I got the new coil in and I runs fine now. Thanks for the help everyone.