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Ok guys need a little confirmation,
1.7l engine at operating temp
230k miles on engine
Noticed I was burning some oil,approximately 1/2 qt per 1k miles ran compression test to see if maybe broke a ring. Results #1 160, #2 180, #3 175 # 4 170. Number 1was slow to rise. So rings or valves? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

 
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The oil rings tend to get full of crap and burn oil after a while. You could connect your compressor to the compression tester hose with the cylinder at TDC and listen to see if you can hear air escaping through the intake/exhaust (leaking through the valves) or the oil fill (through the rings and into the crankcase)

 
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Hey thanks @Colin42 I’ll try that in the morning! I never would of thought of that trick, just one more reason that I love this place!

 
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The spec for compression numbers on these engines is minimum 135 psi. So your numbers are actually okay and what I would expect at that mileage.

The oil burning is rare as far as I know. And depending on what engines you compare it to, 1/2 qt per 1K miles isn't too bad.

What I would try to eliminate possible carbon buildup in oil control rings:
1. Remove coils and spark plugs
2. Put crank at 90 degrees past TDC (this should put all the pistons halfway in the cylinders AWAY from head gasket)
3. Pour about 2oz of Berryman's B-12 or Seafoam in each cylinder
- be careful because this stuff will probably eat through head gasket material
4. Let it sit for a day or half a day (it should all drain down the cylinders into the crankcase)
5. Repeat one more time if desired
6. DRAIN THE OIL
7. Refill with cheap oil and run the engine for a while
8. Drain oil again
9. Refill with oil of choice (full synthetic recommended)

If this does NOTHING about the oil burning, then I'd conclude you have an issue with valve seals.

 
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actually, the oil rings getting stuck to cylinder with all the carbon and other gunk is quite common. (Collapsed rings) and they will let oil through.

 
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@sdaidoji you always give me the best news. 😂. But reality is sometimes a b***h. Thanks buddy.

 
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I was saying it seems rather uncommon for these particular 1.7L engines to burn oil. Head gasket problems are much more common. If you compare this to a Saturn 1.9L engine, it's sort of the opposite. Oil burning is all too common on those engines...and they can be really bad like a quart every 200 miles with well under 200K miles on them. But they aren't known to have bad head gaskets nearly as often.

However, any engine over 200K miles is going to have carbon buildup. How much depends on the maintenance and the oil and filters used.