You find them both and look see if they are leaking.
oil filters normally have a o ring or a d ring not a gasket. and it is installed on filter itself if you have the spin on type or around the filter cap / screw in housing if you have the cartridge type
Replace the gasket with a new one.
The housing gasket may be bad. Replace the gasket.
Here are a few reasons for oil to spray from the filter area:The gasket from the old filter was stuck on the oil filter housing and was not removed before the new filter was installed.The new filters gasket is not seated correctly on the oil filter housing.No Oil filter gasket was installed with the new oil filter.Defective Oil Filter and/or Gasket.Oil Filter Housing came lose from the engine block or mounting surface.
Yes
The gasket is very inexpensive at around 2 dollars. I believe it is about a one hour job by book hours. The price should be around 75-100 dollars.
yes there are 2 o-ring gaskets against the engine block where the oil filter housing attaches.
Because it is not a good car!
On the filter. The open end that you screw on has a gasket around the outer edge. Oil the gasket before installing.
Your 1997 Mercury uses a spin on cartridge filter. The gasket is built into the filter. Just apply a thin layer of oil to the new filter gasket and screw it on. Tighten 3/4 turn after it makes contact with the mounting surface. Do not over tighten. If the old gasket was left on when you removed the old filter just pull it off.
apparently it needs a new gasket or there is a small hole in the housing itself.
I'm sure it's not a pressure problem. Bad gasket on the oil filter. That or it is possible when the old filter was taken off the gasket for it didn't come off with it. When the new one is put on it won't seal correctly. Go buy a new filter. Take of the old one and look at the gasket for defects. Also make sure there is no gasket left on the oil filter mount.