general question

["Robert F. Dunne" <0004474605@mcimail.com>]

I hope you can induldge me, as this is a non Audi question regarding my 
wife's car, but I know there's quite a bit of knowledge out there....

It is a '91 Mitsubishi Galant with 130k (auto). It runs great, but is using
oil pretty regularly. Part of the problem is a head gasket leak and the rest
I assume is being burned (although NO visible smoke at any time). All told, I
need to add a quart every 1,200-1,500 miles (sometimes less). Also, the oil
turns dark within a couple of hundred miles after being changed so it
always "looks" dirty. I have not done a compression test yet, and am toying
with the idea of doing a head gasket and having the valves done while I've
got it all apart. My concern (please confirm or deny), is that if I do this,
the top end will be much better than the bottom end and make the
problem worse. Any thoughts ? Is a compression test enough info to make a 
determination. Should I just do the head gasket and leave the rest alone ?
The difficult part is determining how much is leaking vs. how much is being
burned. If I got consumption down to a reasonable level (1 QT every 3k) than
I would be happy. Any advise is welcome..

Bob Dunne
'90 200t