Hello everyone. I drive a 2005 Ford Escape 2.3 4 cyl NOT hybrid. I have noticed an oil leak and drops of oil forming on the bottom of the oil filter for a while now through multiple oil changes/oil filters. Today I decided to wipe all oil off the filter and drive it up an down the street. The filter was completely free of oil after I wiped it and before I drove it. I started the car, drove it about 1/2 mile and came back and looked at the filter. I have attached a picture of the filter after the drive and it had formed drops of oil on it with a few drops leaking on the driveway. I like repairing these things on my own if I can, so does anyone have any idea where this oil is coming from. Obviously I am guessing it is from the oil filter housing but are there any other places it could be coming from? Also, what should I try and replace to fix this? Thanks.

 

There appears to be an oil cooler behind the filter housing, it might be coming from there and getting blown back on everything.

 

As he said. You should clean the area (brake parts cleaner) and start the vehicle if it's really bad you'll see a trail from where its coming from. Hopefully it's just double gasketed oil filter, if the oil was changed recently.