Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Oil found in spark plug ports

While changing the plugs and wires last week, I noticed engine oil on the threads of plugs #1 and #3. I know this isn't a good sign but was wondering if anyone could suggest what this might be a symptom of. It's a '95 Contour SE with 123K.

The check engine light will go on during long drives or shortly after I gun the thing to get on the highway. It doesn't blink, it comes on for an extended period of time then just goes off. Letting up on the gas doesn't make it turn off - I've noticed that SOMEtimes it'll go off when I start going downhill or when the average speed decreases. It ran rough prior to replacing the plugs and is better now with the new platinums, but with 40-50 miles of highway driving (av. speed 70-75) the CEL will come on and the engine runs rough.

The car's got a lot of highway mileage and I need to fix this problem without spending upwards of a grand to do it. Thoughts??

With 123K miles, your O2 sensors could be dying or you may have clogged EGR ports. (Or both) The EGR ports just build up over time but can be cleaned with some throttle body cleaner if you can remove the intake and throttle body. The O2 sensors wear out over time and are just a little harder to change than the back spark plugs. You can find the fault code and exact cause of the CEL with a code scanner or you can use a small jumper wire (95s only ) and count the flashes of the CE light to get the code.

With 123K miles you may be getting some oil past the valve guides or the rings. If it's not putting out a lot of blue smoke or burning more than 1 qt every 2000 miles, I'd call it normal. (The dealer would say 1 qt/1000 miles, but these engines run seem to run way cleaner than that...)

The oil on the spark plugs could simply be the valve cover gaskets. There is a doughnut shaped gasket that seals the valve cover around each spark plug hole.

if the threads were just wet with oil and there was no oil pooling in the spark plug recess and you car doesn't make blue smoke from burning oil then I'd say there's nothing to worry about.

As for the CEL that is probably just what was suggested, your EGR valve and or ports are dirty and not working to their full potential or the oxygen sensors are wearing out and are not operating as efficently as they should be.

Oh you guys are great! After all I'd read prior to posting, I was sort of leaning towards EGR or O2, but I thought I'd go right to the source and ask the horse.

I can't tell if there's oil pooling around the plugs. I just spotted it around the threads. As for blowing blue smoke, I've never seen any. Might it be a good idea to replace the O2 sensor just as a matter of course? I have no idea how expensive the part might be. My Haynes manual says to check if the EGR valve is dirty. How can you tell? What would I be looking for?

Scott - where can I find more info on checking the CEL codes with a jumper?

Hi Julie,

The O2 sensors (OEM Motocraft replacements) are $53 each from www.fordpartsonline.com I just replaced mine. One is cake, the other is, ummmm, not cake. Dealer prices would be considerably more than this.

Good Luck,
Jab