get a compression test done....

if its drinking oil and not performing well might be seals/gaskets. a compression test should cost about £30 but will tell you where the problem is. (found i had a slight leak in my head gasket although mechanic thought it was fine)

For some time now, my engine has a very low idle (550rpm instead of at least 800rpm), but for the past few weeks now the following is happening:

- High use of oil (1 litre of oil is needed every month)
- Light blue smoke for half a second from the exhaust when the engine is started
- Engine mis-fires, very noticeable on idle
- Engine performance is VERY poor (feels like I'm driving a 1.0!)

I've just been out and put 0.75 litres of oil in the engine, I also removed the spark plugs, and found the spark plug nearest the cam belt end of the engine didn't really have any dark deposits only sort of grey in colour, but the other three plugs were mostly dark deposits, they are NGK plugs and were changed about 3 months ago. I also noticed oil on the tips of all plugs and the insides of the HT leads.

As is always the case with my Astra the repair bill will probably cost a small fortune, but just wondered if anyone could hazard a guess as to what the culprit(s) is?

There are no external oil leaks, and the tailpipes of my exhaust are really black and sooty, so I'm guessing piston rings or something to do with the valves?

Engine is X14XE in a mk3 Astra.