Oil in Spark Plug Wells?
 

Not sure if I'm just bad at searching, but couldn't find a thread on this.

I'm at 79k miles, changing my spark plugs and noticed the wells were oily.

I'm hoping it's just the O-rings on the spark plugs, in which it's good that I'm finally changing the plugs, hoping it's not a valve cover leak or something more serious.

Combustion chamber seems normal?

Attached is some pics of cylinder wells 1 and 3 and piston head.

Anyone else seen this or have this issue before?

Is there oil on the plug itself? Where?

Oil present in spark plug hole most likely is a bad spark plug well gasket. It can only be replaced by taking off the valve cover.

If you have oil on either electrode itself, you have a much bigger problem.

In the well, combustion chamber and spark electrode is dry.

As already posted. Valve cover has to come off and be resealed. NOT A FUN JOB.

Spark plug well gasket. You have to pull valve cover to replace it.

Might as well do other maintenance work if you're doing this... if not, leave it. The oil is only a problem if it pools up enough to interfere with the spark plug. Much easier to dry out the oil periodically (every other oil change) than the pull the VC and replace two gaskets...

Recently did this on my wife's car (inline 4, but same principle). The valve cover gasket became too brittle from nearby exhaust, and caused leakage. Took about 15 minutes for inline 4. For the Boxer... well... good luck anyway!