fuel problems?

I was hoping somebody could try to give me a bit of a diagnosis. recently my car wouldn't start, there was something that looked like oil or tainted gasoline covering the spark plugs and pooled at the bottom of their housing. I managed to get it started by using some ether and have since replaced the spark plugs and wires, however it is still a little tempermental. I will start it and it'll just die again unless I give it a little gas. I've been told it may be the piston rings, (it smells like it's burning a little oil)  but I'm also thinking that it's got a bad fuel pump/filter/ or injectors. I know it would be hard to diagnose just from a brief description, but any and all help is appreciated.

   Thanks a lot
       Grenade