Looking for the "Trails of tiny bubbles" is the most retarded way of identifying a bad head gasket issue (its NEVER accurate) contradictory to the popular belief. I've changed more then a dozen head gaskets on many different kinds of cars and the most recently on recently purchased Civic. If you want it done once and want it done correctly... pay attention.
*People have a bad habit of replacing expensive radiators, head gaskets and getting expensive engine rebuilds done before replacing a simple inexpensive radiator cap which will cause your symptoms, get that done first.
*If your head gasket is out or potentially on its way out... first do the following as a last ditch effort of saving loads of money... verify through a GOOD REPUTABLE mechanic with more then just screwdrivers as a part of his tools collection that the current head bolts are actually torqed down to factory specs (odds are they're not). Without getting anything more done, AGAINST the mechanics advice (I'm sure) get the head bolts re-torqed down to factory specs. Verify that he's using a torque wrench and not "tukka" tightening technique. Give that a little time to see if that resolves your problem or not. This is the key to a good HG repair.
*I dont give a flying f**k who's telling you otherwise... if the head is coming off because of a potential head gasket failure issue... get the head resurfaced PERIOD. People that will tell you otherwise are used to getting their head gaskets replaced once a year and think that its a normal practice, its NOT! <-this is the single most important step, if you dont get this done... you deserve all the problems coming your way.
*Another thing that I bet NO ONE on this boards is aware of is everytime your head is removed, your head bolts have to be replaced with new ones. They are NOT re-usable, re-torquing the old head bolts causes them to stretch giving way. This is not an "advice", this is a FACT, contradictory to what your chacha's mamoo's uncle's fiance's cousin told you. I always use this practice and has ever failed me. I have 300k MILES (not km) on most of my cars and still run like champs. HOWEVER, if you HAVE to use the same head bolts again, it will be to your benefit to torque them 5-10ft-lb over.
*Do not use old head gaskets (that one is not so obvious for all of us).
*Depending on the severity, get the block decked aswell.
What is listed above are words of wisdom, I've gone through all the shortcuts you can think of and each has failed me at one point or another. Instead of me trashing out my engine, my time, and more money... I take my time, gather all the right parts and do it right once and for all. I've put a little over 12k km's on the Civic that I'm currently driving after the head gasket change and couldn't be more happier with it. I've not had to check or fill the radiator ONCE in the past 5 months. I drive approx a 100km a day with a heavy foot always hovering in-between 80-100 kmph with the A/C full blasting.
As far as the oil disappearing issue... I always run 10w40 weight oil and always run a good brand, the cheap ones have a tendency of disappearing. Switch to better oil before spending the big bucks changing out the rings. Btw, checking the rings by moving the piston back and forth is a very archaic way of checking for compression. Go to someone who's got a compression tester, takes about fifteen mins and will tell you the health of your engine/ rings/ compression.
I grew up working on Supras, 3000GTs and other heavy sports cars, my back ground is not weak and I'm not a shade tree mechanic, everything I "recommend" is coming from first hand experience. I'm only back in Pakistan for a little while and am trying my best to share all my knowledge with you guys to help you come out of this stone age of thinking everyone seems to be stuck in. This info I've taken time to post here should be posted on a sticky in the mods/ performance section so that we can get rid of all these misnomers out there.
Kruso
ps... whats a guy got to do to become a Moderator over in this place?
