You are corect... For that matter worn valve seals too...

Jon Kraus
'79 Mooney 201

Don Hammer wrote:

All this makes us think that the plane really is burning the oil but
wouldn't the compression check yeild much lower results if it were burning
that amount oil? Where's the likely suspect here?


Could be worn valve guides. They won't show up on a compression
check, but oil can be sucked in around the intake guide when the valve
is open.

Don