I've recently purchased a 1994 Civic with 260,000 miles. It was (and is) in pretty rough shape...

I'm trying to get it road worthy and I'm having some trouble tracking down an oil leak. The number 1 cylinder spark plug is continuously fouled with wet oil, especially after letting it sit a few days.

I've taken the easy step of replacing the valve cover gasket and groments, and the slightly less easy replacement of the rocker to head gaskets. But I'm still getting oil on the threads (never on the boot).

I did a compression test (185, 180, 175, 215). I'm guessing the last one is a bad reading because I didn't have the ECU fuse pulled or WOT. I don't suspect a head gasket problem, since it doesn't overheat on the short trips I've take with it.

The only other thing I can think of are the valve stem seals. I'm guessing that it's leaking down the stem into the combustion chamber and wicking up the threads.

Any suggestions as to the next steps to identify the source of the oil? Can the valve stems seals be replaced without removing the head?

 

For the oil leak, man it almost sounds like a blown headgaskit if you've already replaced the seals for the spark plug wire

 

You're probably right. I should just pull the head and do a full resto on it. I already had to buy the head gasket kit to get the little o-rings for the tubes. I was just kinda hoping I wouldn't have to.

 

Yeah sounds like a "why not" sorta thing lol if anything it mite save you some money in the long run. goodluck man

 

Get a valve cover gasket and replace that and the gaskets on the bolts, it also comes with rings to put under the valve cover where the valves are. Should fix it, if not, head gasket.

 

you realize they do sell the o rings separately right?
if you got the HG already...just change it.

 

Is there blue smoke in the exhaust? Is there oil inside cylinder 1?