All,

Thanks for the replies. I will be going to the mechanic tomorrow so I will figure out exactly what work has been done so far, but reading the comments jogged my memory. It is in fact the Valve Stem Seal that needs replacing. The vehicle is currently using about a liter of oil every six weeks or so, and seems to be getting worse. We have just been swapping out the same spark plug that gets fouled, trying to put off the big job as long as possible. Mechanic said this won't work forever.

I made an appointment for a checked engine light (usually just the gas cap causing a false error) and asked about labor on the engine swap and was told $3K, that seems a bit steep? For what it's worth, every time I have checked my mechanic's quotes against other indy's or service centers he comes in 20-30% lower.

What is a fair hourly rate for a good wrench and how long do swaps take? Is there a directory for good indy's so I can find one in the DC region?

I either have to pay to swap it or pay to fix because I live in apartment, don't own tools and my car know-how includes changing oil.

For additional insight, we plan on keeping this car (if possible) for 4-5+ more years.