Looks to me like it's been run hot and baked the oil. All that crude is not just limited to the valve cover. It's spread thru out the engine....where ever the engine oil circulates.
It would have very little trust in the reliability of one in that shape.

 

That's what I'm thinking. Like coked up rings. With a lot of luck a top cleaner might fix it.

 

The car runs like a dime no chug missing no running hot only bad part is only gets 17 mpg everything seems sound except oil drinking

 

Like people had said to you. This engine has been neglected.
When you see the inside of a valve cover like that it's just plain proof of that.
If you want, change the oil, but use 1 quart transmission oil in place of 1 quart of oil when you do it. CHANGE the oil every 1000 miles with a filter.
Every 1000, pull the valve cover and inspect the top end to see how much crap is taken away.
Trans fluid has a lot of detergents and is light enough to work with your oil. It will clean the internals and not harm your engine like a motor flush.
I'm sure there will be comments about this procedure.

 

Worth a try at 200K.

17 MPG is half what it could be, unless you are talking all city, lots of idling.

 

Don
I've done this before with engines with like this. It's old school and can help. Not to say it will make it 100%.
Like you sir, I've been around the block a few times.
I can see how this can be more effective with the HHR, as coolant temperatures are higher than cars/engines of earlier years.

 

OK I will give it a shot thank you all

 

Please keep us up to date with this. There are other people that might be in the same boat as you.

 

That transmission fluid trick has worked for me , not only in many cars I’ve bought and resold and in my 2.2, it was sucking oil out the vent hose into the throttle body, I even installed an oil catch tank to catch the oil before it got to the tb.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/2-2l...ormance-58332/

 

Ok I will keep you all posted thanks for all advice and help guys I will update after I try trans fluid