Build up and discoloration of valve train and inside of left side valve cover

[cmassa]

2003 LC (US model) with 227,000 miles. I'm the original owner and it has always had scheduled oil changes and maintenance. Around 150,000 miles it blew a spark plug out of the head, I think the driver's side but I don't know which cylinder. It was repaired with a coil insert.

I was doing it's first valve cover replacement today after I found a lot of oil leaking down the left side of the engine. When I pulled the valve covers I found lots of build up and discoloration of the driver's side rear and valve train. The passenger side looks fine. The engine runs great. The oil only has about 3 or 4,000 miles and looks good but it's due for a change anyway, it's been a year.

Is this a problem? Or just clean it up and go?

Thanks,
Chris

Driver's side valve cover, rear is left.

Driver's side valve train

Passenger side valve cover, rear is right

 

[Bisho]

Clean it up and go. Make sure you replace the spark plug tube seals, they are probably hard as a rock.

 

[cmassa]

Clean it up and go. Make sure you replace the spark plug tube seals, they are probably hard as a rock.

Yep, new tube seals are in.
Thanks.