Engine started to make a sort whirring, ticking sound consistent with rpms (as revs increase, ticking gets faster, louder).

Got the oil changed and flushed, but ticking was still there.

I notice when the oil gets low the ticking gets a bit louder; when I top it up the ticking is noticably quieter. This leads me to believe it's something with the valves, but I'm no expert. I have read that it may be the timing belt tensioner pulley bearing???

I am due to replace my timing belt, but I don't know if that will take the ticking away. I'd like to have some idea of what it is before replacing the timing belt though.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

does the motor sound like a desial motor? like not the noise but you know how when you drive an older truck it makes that thud thud thud thud sound sorry for the spelling its like 3am lol if so it could be your tap-its in the oil pan

 

Haven't posted regarding this in awhile, but after getting the timing belt changed, I was informed by my mechanic that:

1) the engine doesn't have tap-its, only hydraulic lifters
2) the sound is coming from the bottom pan, possibly a connecting rod bearing

Mechanic says the engine is "on its way out". I'm afraid to drive it now. I'm not really sure what I'll be getting into if I take the bottom pan off. Does anybody know more about this? A million thanks in advance!