Elle wrote:
> Tegger <inva...@invalid.inv> wrote:
>> Are the deposits sooty with a bit of an oily feel to them, or are they
>> actually covered in liquid oil?
>
> They are much closer to sooty with an oily feel than they are to
> looking liquidy. E.g. they are nowhere near as liquidy and bad as the
> "oil fouled" plug shown at http://www.cyclefish.com/forum/topic...ex/3706/1#3821
> . Do you think this matters?
>
> Like I wrote, the ceramic part just beneath where the spark occurs is
> black-ish, sooty-ish on three of four of my Civic's plugs. Where the
> spark occurs is a textured brown, like some deposits are accumulating
> there, but they're not black (yet?). I figure this is because 1/2
> quart every 600 miles or so is not a lot of oil burning. A concern,
> but it could be a lot worse.
>
> I should have wrote my theory now is that it is either the oil control
> rings /or/ the valve guides that are going. I have looked into
> replacing the valve guides but assuming I wanted to gamble that it is
> the guides and not the oil control rings, it seems cheaper to just buy
> a new head. I think I'd consider a new used engine from a reputable
> used Honda engine seller, first.
>


The compression test with and without heavy oil may help you to
decide. It takes 5 minutes.