1993 4runner. 3vze with boatload of miles.

So Im burning oil, but what my question is related to where is the oil coming from? (besides the engine crazy) Does anybody know what would make oil puddle around the spark plug hole on the #1 cylinder? I put some pics to help explain. I don't see anything running down the head from the valve cover and the valve cover gasket maybe has 10k miles on it? Somewhere in there as it was changed when I adjusted the valves. So............can there be enough blowby say from the rings that it would actually go up the threads and puddle in the low spot of the sparkplug hole (See Pic 4)? If its the rings then I guess Im SOL and I'll just run it till it quits. If somebody knows what would cause this, Im all ears. Thanks

 

Get it clean, get it dry, see if it reoccurs..

looking at it from here, with your description, it is almost certainly coming up out of the cylinder..

Valve seals, ring leakage, cracked head, if it's not leaking down from above.

PS your sparkplug was probably a little loose or reused to many times and destroyed the crush washer.

 

Have any luck on figuring out the problem?

 

Looking at this again, there is burnt/solidified oil showing on the valve cover bolt and to the left lower of it..

Get a small dental style inspection mirror and a flash light and have another look.