1999 Toyota Camry

Hi ANDREW FARRELL.

A bad valve cover gasket would not result in oil getting to the spark plug tubes.

The sprak plug tubes are isolated from the valve cover and the only way oil can get in is via the tube itself, at lower end of cylinder head, which is very rare.

From top, the plug tube extends out of the valve cover so oil cannot get in, unless the sealing bush is leaking and flooding the exterior of the tube.

When the spark plug wires are removed, you would see a large hex nut around the plug tunes. Removing the the hex nut would allow you to remove the valve cover. Of course other components that are above or connected to the valve cover should be removed as well.