I can't tell from the pics, are they wet and oily or just covered with fluffy black stuff?

If dry, you are running WAY rich, you have a fuel problem. If bad enough, this can cause excess oil consumption due to oil dilution (this is VERY bad for the engine, by the way).

Îf oily, it's valve guide time. You would be making smoke at that oil consumption rate, too.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!