help me diagnose this oil burning problem

[89Wagon]

Had my 89 Wagon for about 3,000 miles, it has 104k on it. Since I got it it seemed to always puff white smoke, and it increased when I got on the gas. Oil magically disappears, but the car doesn't leak and I've done very thorough inspection. Compression is 170-180. It nearly overheated a while back. It uses about a quart per tank or 2. I pulled all the plugs and #4 seemed to have oil/ash deposit, and when looking down the cylinder that piston looked wet or oily. It may be burning a touch of antifreeze, but minimal.

Any experience or ideas? I don't know much about the valve seals, I may just take the dive and pull the head to see if it's a headgasket problem. Any help is appreciated.

[Doctor J]

Check the PCV hose and 2 PCV channels in the throttle body. They may be plugged.
There are 2 ports in there: one opens to the gasket flange between throttle body and the intake plenum [it is hidden behind the gasket; located on the side that faces the radiator] .It was plugged up on my car so I took the throttle body off and cleaned this passage using carburetor cleaner.
This should be done before tearing the engine down.

[89Wagon]

I failed to mention it's the 4 cylinder. I didn't think the 4 had PCV valves?

[DM89]

the 3sfe doesn't have a PCV valve but it does have a PCV hose.

[fredk]

rings, just keep some oil in the trunk

[bluesguitarboy]

Oil could be leaking pass your valve seals. If you find coolant in your cylinders you have a head gasket leak.

[JayP71]

Just had a more severe version of your problem. My issue wound up being a pair of bad valve guides. I just went ahead and did a complete engine rebuild rather than just a cylinder head. Roughly $1000 after parts and the machine shop doing the head.

If it will be awhile before you can manage to fix it run a quart of Lucas Stop Leak through your car. It really slowed down my oil loss until I could fix the engine.