sounds like the valve seal is leaking oil from the head into the cylinder, fouling the plug until it heats up and clears its self, you can check the seal by putting a rope in the cylinder then putting it up on the compression stroke, holding the valves tight, then take your rocker arms off, remove the valve spring, if you can turn the seal with your fingers it is probably leaking, I just went thru this with my 1500, I ended up burning an exhaust valve, had to pull my head and replace the valve. It also was shattering the ceramic insulator on the plug.

By CVCC x 2 (64.229.14.133) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 06:31 pm:

Hi all,

Just did a headgasket on my 83 Civic CVCC EM1. I bought it with a blown gasket, so I am unsure if this problem existed before.
When the car sits for a length of time (2 hours +) it runs only on 3 cylinders when started briefly, then smooths out normal after about 2 or 3 stabs at the throttle. I thought it might be leaking antifreeze into the cylinder, but when I pulled the plug out of the offending cylinder (#2) the plug was coated in oil. I am assuming that the CVCC valve copper rings or rubber seal are at fault, or that the valve is not tightened fully in the chamber allowing oil to drip into the spark plug area, but I thought I would ask here before I tear into it.
The engine was rebuilt 35,000 km ago, has good compression, but does blow some slight oil smoke occasionally, otherwise runs A1.
Anyone have any thoughts???

Thanks,
Colin