When I go into the engine bay, I can hear a lot of noise like a tick tick tick. Its coming from the valve cover area or below. I'm having work done on it this weekend but my mechanic thinks is the rockers aren't tightened all the way, but I got a second opinion and the guy said the top end isn't getting enough oil and the lifters are making the noise. When its running, there is oil in the valve covers, enough oil to barely touch the springs, is that how much there is supposed to be? or is that low on the top end?

 

The oil should be squirting up from the rockers when you take the valve covers off.

 

I wouldn't say squirting, I can see a little stream at the bottom in the corner. But nothing big.

 

I looked to make sure how much oil I get in the valve covers while its running and the oil gets up to the bottom of the springs, is that enough oil up top?

 

Couldn't you just pop the valve covers off...poor some oil over all the rockers and see if the noise goes away?

 

I think the noise is coming from the lifters, not the rockers, because when I had the engine taken apart the mechanic told me some of the lifters were sagging, but he thought they might've lost pressure. I think they are just old and need replacing, we'll see when he goes back and checks for me (warranty ). I was just asking how much oil is supposed to be under the valve covers while running so I can determine if my oil is low on the top end.