Is there a sneaky way to check the plug wells for oil leaking from valve covers?
Or is this a 'might as well do it' type thing because it's fairly involved to check?
I have an oil smell after highway drives, and 200k miles now so chances are....

2002 3.0L gasoline engine

 

The sneakiest way is to answer the question. Do you have misfires. Yes = probably oil at the plugs. No = Probably dry.
Seriously short of pulling the coil pack not much else you can do. Do you see oil leaking around the valve cover or the front chain cover? If not and you smell burning oil after a spirited drive I would be looking at the PCV valve.
The engine vacuum with level out but blow by will continue if the PCV isn't functioning properly the blow by pressure will will cause normally tight cam cover gaskets to leak and the exhausts will burn off the oil. Sitting idling and checking for leaks will probably reveal nothing.

 

Oil smell is caused by oil seeping onto exhaust manifolds. Fumes from that come into the cabin. At 200k miles I'd say your car is due for valve cover gaskets.

 

I don't know any sneaky way, but straight way is to remove the coils and shined a light in the wells if you see any oil in it? If you can't see any thing, stick a long cotton swab and run around the plug, if swab just get dirty it's OK, but if it wet with oil then you know it, but the problem with the inside bank you have to re move the intake manifold, No other way around

 

I do not get misfire codes ever, but the car has a sporadic, what I would call a miss.
So I will check the pcv as I have never even seen it.
Thanks for the input x 3