How to replace valve guide seals for 1998 saturn sl1, 1.9l

Well if it's not leaking it, it must be burning it. Do you notice blue smoke out your exhaust? You say that the head gasket and valve seats were done. How about the valve guides? Oil can go past worn valve guides and valve seals. The only other place that oil can be getting by is past the piston rings.

blue smoke is usually oil burning- is it light or heavy- if light- change oil and go up one grade- rings are worn- if heavy- time for a rebuild- rings need to be replaced. but for the money on rebuild- could find car newer and lower milage

Oil on the plug does not indicate a head gasket.
It could be a bad ring, valve guide or valve seal.
A leak down test will comfirm a head gasket leak
A compresion test will confirm a ring problem.
Oil consumption and smoke indicate ring and valve problems.
If it smokes on stat up, most likely valve guide or seal.
If if smokes when you drive and let off the gas quickly from speed, then most likely a ring or cylinder wall problem.

Good Luck

oil on the spark plugs means either you have bad valve seals or bad rings. Valve seals are fairly cheap and easy to replace. Bad rings requires a full rebuild of the motor.
Also, did you over heat this vehicle?
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could be 3 things
if you have reverse but a bad delay into reverse it could be a loose input shaft nut in the trans,and or a bad valve body
if you have no reverse you got a torn seal in the trans but if you have a torn seal you will have no second gear as well as they share this seal,,,i would take it to the saturn dealer as trans shop have no idea how to fix these,like cottman and them have no idea,,take it to saturn

replace valve guide seals in a 1999 dodge dakota 3.9

bad piston rings Excessive engine wear - Rings, Valve guides, Valve seals

It likely has worn out or hardened valve seals in the head(s). Oil is leaking into the cylinders through these seals. I'd try a seal softening agent in the oil before doing a valve job. Check your local auto supply for such stuff. A good mechanic can replace the seals without tearing off the heads.

You may be faced with missing cylinders due to exhaust valves sticking or not seating/sealing well generally caused by excessive oil consumption through valve seals and poor fuel quality.Listen to the exhaust while idling in gear and you may hear popping and feel the suction inwards on your hand which helps indicate this problem exists.Perform compression test on all cylinders and should see no more than 20% variance in the compression readings. One last ditch effort before removing the head and servicing valves may be to replace valve seals and run chevron techron in fuel system and run engine at freeway speeds for an extended amount of miles.This is the only additive that has proven usefull with this problem but works best as a preventitive measure before cylinders start dropping.

No real diagram, just unbolt valve cover,has rubber seals that fit in groove.