My 96 Formula has a bad ticking on the top end of the motor, It sounds like a collapsed lifter, but we put all new lifter's in it, and adjusted the rocker arms, and it is still there. I think the problem might be the oil pump. At start-up the car gets good oil pressure and the ticking is not present. But as it warms up, the car loses oil pressure, it sits at about 15 lbs on the highway in 6th. I am thinking that if the oil pump is going out or the screen is really clogged, then it could not be letting the heavier weight oil(5W 30) circulate through and keep the valvetrain noise down. I think it doesn't do it when it is cold because of the oil taking the viscosity of the 5W, but when it warms up the 30W can't be ciculated good enough. If anybody has any input or could justify maybe this being the problem. Please let me know. Thanks.

 

do u have roller rockers? They tend to be noisy

 

No soild rockers.