1991 escort

i just bought a 1991 ford escort about 168000 miles just using it for gas mileage-i checked the air filter has oil on one end that leads from vavle cover is this normal-or it getting a blowback? also is it hard to chang bottom oil pan gasket?

The blowby is from the PCV valve. It's supposed to draw clean air in through the air filter except when a lot of blowback occurs. I took the end of the hose out of my air filter because of that. I just have it vented to the outside since I don't drive in dusty conditions. It is not hard to change the oil pan gasket. The cat may have to be removed as the bottom support is bolted to the pan. The end seals need to be coated with silicon. The tightening sequence of the 10 bolts is 10 7 2 5 9 on the back and
3 6 4 8 1 on the front.

Bolts should be torqued to 15-22 ft. lbs. Easy to do. Piece of cake.

thanks

On my 92 Escort, the cat converter starts right at the exhaust manifold. I soaked all bolts with penetrating oil, and was able to unbolt that cat. conv from the exh. manifold, as well as unbolting it from the place where it connects to the flex pipe. Then unbolting it from the bottom of the oil pan, and it was totally out of the way. You may have to take the ABS plastic splash shield off of the engine, I dont recall.
P.S. It was easier to work on the bolts for the cat. conv. after I removed the radiator fan assembly.

thank -also i think the timing is off a little --new plugs gap to 54 the car trembles alota=s but not bad--what i need to do

Make sure the rubber boots are all the way onto the plugs. The timing is not adjustable. (Idle Air Control) probably needs to be taken off and sprayed with WD40 to clean and lubricate it. It's location is right on top of the throttle body. It is about the size of a C cell battery. It has a single elctrical connection and 2 bolts holding it on. Take the 2 bolts loose and lift it off. Be careful not to damage the gasket. Once you have it off spray the inside of it with WD40. Don't spray into the cavity in the throttle body. If this doesn't help you may have to replace it. All major parts places carry it.