Hi everyone! Picked up a ultra clean 1984 Accord LX 1.8 L (ES2, KL California Car) with 45,000 original miles. Nearly mint condition. But it's got an issue that's driving me bonkers.

Car is missing on cylinder #2 after sitting overnight. #2 plug is fouled with oil, so I cleaned and reinstalled. Car runs great after cleaning but after sitting overnight plug gets fouled again. The oil is NOT coming from the valve cover gasket, rather its coming from inside the cylinder and being pushed OUT from the spark plug hole and leaking onto exhaust manifold. After removing that plug I looked into the chamber to find it oily and grungy. I need some help here in drumming up some ideas. Leaky valve stem seals? Blown head gasket leaking oil into the chamber? Ive also noticed oil inside the airbox. After I cleaned it out and replaced PCV valve, I noticed a minute amount of oil around the upper and lower seals of the air filter. Could oil be entering the motor through the intake manifold somewhere? I've done extensive research and can't find very much information relating to the ES2 motors.

 

Can you do a leak down test on cyl #2? This "sounds" like a stem seal issue but again that is just a guess at this point.

 

Ill try to get a leak down kit today. After inspecting the antifreeze today I noticed oil in it. The antifreeze was perfectly clean when I bought it so I didn't notice it then. I'm thinking the issue is a blown head gasket in addition to valve stem seal leakage in that cylinder. I'm really hoping its not cracked rings or a cracked/holed piston. The leak down test should should give me an idea. Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm convinced that the previous owner knew it had a blown head gasket, replaced the fluids and spark plugs so they could sell it as a car commensurate with its mileage. It's very difficult to find a vehicle in this area that is what they say it is.