1999 Toyota Corolla tapping valves?

1999 TOYOTA COROLLA
135,500 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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BTOYCOR
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About 3 weeks ago the engine was getting progressively noisier (tapping valves?) and realized that the oil was a hair below the low mark. The engine quieted down quite a bit after adding oil. But, then the noise came back.

Then I had the car inspected and oil/filter changed last Thursday and mentioned the noise to the mechanic: he said that probably was due to low oil and that they didn't hear any unusual noise.

However, soon enough the noise came back gradually, and louder than ever, after driving some 140 miles since the oil change.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Sep 16, 2008 at 6:22 AM
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2CARPRO JACK
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Try using the correct weight oil (on filler cap) and an OE filter. Might also want to have a shop install a manual gauge to verify good oil pressure. Has the warning light ever come on?
Sep 16, 2008 at 8:02 AM
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BTOYCOR
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Hi there,

In reference to your reply please note as follows.

This has been a weird experinece: The engine did not make any noise when I started it this am; however, the noise came back after driving for about 5 miles at under 40 mph. I also noticed that the pitch of the noise didn't change when driving (say between 800 and 2000 rpm); also, the noise started to fade in and out.

I then drove at 50-60 mph for about 20 minutes and strangely the noise was gone! And the noise hasn't come back since then, and after driving over 40 miles in the highway and the city, and making a couple of stops.

Any gusses?

Thanks.
Sep 16, 2008 at 10:19 AM
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2CARPRO JACK
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I had a Geo with the same engine mysteriously lose compression on me and I never did find out why, it just quit doing it.Replaced the oil pump, tried everything I could think of and it would just lose it for no reason. Migth want to stop by a shop to get verification of where th enoise is coming from, could be a sticky oil pressure relief valve
Sep 17, 2008 at 7:57 AM