Park Avenue using oil

[Jrs3800]

Go ahead and change the plugs and possibly the wires as well...

Number the plugs according to the cylinder and then snap a pic of the electrodes all together in a row or what ever arrangement you like so we can get a look at how they were burning...

Also does your oil cap say 5-30 or 10-30? Most of the 3800's after a certain year had a better oil pressure kit that required 5-30 oil... Most of these engines run close to 70 Psi at road speed... If it does say 5-30 I will ask that you run that..

I will be changing the plugs in mine today as well...lol.... I have a set of NGK plugs in it, been close to 30k... I will be changing those for the stock AC Delco Plugs.. iridium I believe they are...

[big white bufflo]

i have a 92 buick 202000+ 3800 dont burn a drop of oil i have seen differant oil brand burn in some cars and some cars not quik oil change places use recyl oil try changing it useing valvoilne or a good normal oil not synthetic see what happens

[TopherS]

So I changed the spark plugs and the rough idle is 99% gone. I'll try to get pics of the old ones and post them, but meanwhile, I can describe the part that curves over the electrodes (pardon my ignorance, but I don't know what that part is called). They are clean, but blackened...no buildup that I can see.

I did notice when I took the plastic cover off of the engine to change the spark plugs that there is oil caked on all over the place. It appears that there may be fresh oil leaking from near the top, passenger side. Perhaps, I've found my leak. I'm wondering if it is leaking under pressure, but burning off the engine before it leaks onto the ground...or as the engine is turned off, the oil (no longer under pressure) is draining back into the oil pan where it isn't leaking from.

If I remember correctly, the last time I looked at the oil pressure reading in the Driver Info Center, it said 130, not 70...I'll have to check it tomorrow to verify.

By the way...the oil filler cap says 10-30.

Bufflo: thanks for your response, as well. I did not know that they used recycled oil at the quick change places. For years, I used to have a mechanic, but he moved. I should do my own oil changes, really. If my father, Lord rest his soul, is looking down on me now...using a quick oil change place...he's probably thinking "where did I go wrong with that boy?" .

[Bassasasin]

If oil is being burned in one cylinder more than another the plugs may show a different color or deposit.
Oil can get into the coolant but you would discover that quicker.
Look down the underside frame for light oil there a slow drip at high speed.
A strange oil leak failure is out the oil pressure sensor. They have been known to fail. Mine leaked right out the electric connector section.

Good luck.