Trying to keep it

Not that I want to question you diagnosis, but how do you know for sure? There have been more than a few Marks that had leaky head gaskets just to find out it was an oil filter adapter gasket or something else. Is the exhaust blowing white/blue?
 
I actually took in to a mechanic that has been servicing my car for the last six years, I hope he is telling the truth. I never heard of the oil filter adapter gasket. Is that common?
 
If you have a bad head gasket leak you will have discolored exhaust. For oil blue and for coolant white - usually.

If he saw oil in the coolant tank, it is often a sign. But on a Mark both coolant and oil go through the oil filter adapter gasket. This can lead to some oil in the coolant and this trigger that "warning" of a head gasket failure.
 
The leak is kinda small, oil leaks sporadically since i took it to him, before it was low every three days....Now i fill it once a week. The smoke is kinda dark.
 
If the exhaust is off, then if could be a head gasket. But if the oil filter adapter gasket is shot is could be dumping oil on the ground, usually more so when driving when pressure is up.

The dark exhaust is the key though. If its smokey dark with a touch of blue, thats oil alright.

The final test would be a compression test. Thats where you remove each spark plug and turn the engine over manually to see how much psi each cylinder gets up to. They should all be pretty much the same. But if you have one low, thats another sign of a leak.
 
That's it! you are right, did the compression test and there is one that is low. Who does head gaskets? Any one reasonable?
 
Well normally its time for a new engine. DO NOT DRIVE IT! Right now it sounds like its just oil. Thats sorta "ok". When coolant gets in thats when things can get ugly. If you keep driving, then there is a chance that will happen next.

Who does head gaskets? Well any decent shop can. But once you see the price you will opt to do it yourself OR just get another engine. There is A LOT of work involved and I mean A LOT!!
 
As of 2 weeks ago, there is a 1997 Mark VIII LSC sitting in North Avenue Auto Parts in Villa Park. It's been parted here and there, I got a few parts from it, but the Engine and Tranny are still there. I don't know much more beyond that, but I am sure you could get a deal on it as they usually have great prices there.
 

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