How do you know if the engine is burning oil and not leaking?

Answer 1

To find wether your car is burning our or leaking it, clean off area around where gasket(seal) should be. If the area is leaking it obveously will no onger be clean.

To check if your car is burning oil start the vehicle and if the exuast fumes are black its most likely oil seeping into the cylinder from a damaged gasket or damaged cylinder head or block. To fix buy new head gasket(make sure to get correct model and fit). before attempting to put on that is if you do it yourself. compare the old gasket to the origional.

If you get blue smoke its most likely coolant leaking into the cylinder and combusting with the fuel/air mixture.