I have a 2003 2.3L and when accelerating between 2000 and 3000 RPM there seems to be some hesitation. Overall it seems down on power and the fuel mileage is much worse (20.5mpg) than it used to be years ago (24.5 mpg). There are no codes and no more than the occasional misfire (according to the code reader). So I am going to clean the MAF, change the fuel filter, check the fuel pressure, replace the valve cover gasket (it leaks badly and 3 of the spark plug boots are covered in oil) and a few other things. But in planning to do this I have wondered why my crankcase ventilation tube is so messy. It is the hose/tube that runs from the large air inlet tube to the top of the valve cover. Where it slips on the valve cover there is a fair amount of oil all over the end of the hose and the top of the valve cover. I once put a small radiator clamp on it to prevent it from leaking but it didn't really help. Is this just normal?

 

You may need to change the PCV Valve, Ford recommends once a year but I think once every 2 years is OK
Its a pain to get to, best method is to remove drivers side wheel and go thru inner fender to get at it

The hose you are describing is the Breather tube/hose for the PVC system, it should PULL IN fresh filtered air into the valve cover

The PCV Valve on lower engine is suppose to PULL IN air from the crank case using engine vacuum, and burn it in the engine, this air has "blow-by"(exhaust gases) in it, and some oil vapor
Because this PCV Valve is sucking that air out of the crank case, the Breather allows Fresh air to be pulled in thru the valve cover

If PCV Valve, or its hose, is clogged up then the Blow-by gases cause a positive pressure in the crank case and valve cover so the blow-by and oil vapor goes OUT the Breather instead of fresh air coming in
And this positive pressure will cause valve cover oil leaks, and oil pan leaks

 

Thanks.

I changed it a few years ago and yes it was a pain. I had the intake off to fix the issue with the plug falling out where the swirl flap rod is held and replaced it. But that was probably more years than I am remembering it. I will have the intake off again to replace the valve cover gasket so that would be a good time to change the PCV. That makes sense that crankcase vapors would go out that hose if the PCV is clogged. Thanks.