there is a severe ticking coming from my engine. the higher rpms, the faster the tick. the odd thing, is that it will come and go with no real pattern.
when it is ticking, it has a lack of power but when its not it seems normal.
one time i turned my heater on and it went away but this could have been coinsidence.
could this be an oil pump issue. any help will be appreciated, thanks.

 

I have heard of this before - something about the emissions i think

 

check if its coming from your distributer.does it backfire?

 

its coming from somewhere around the oil pan and low in the back of the engine. no backfires. theres no check engine light but i wonder if the check engine light is still working, may have burned out.

 

Use a long extension as a stephscope.
Touch parts of the block starting with the valve cover and work your way back, and then down the block to the oil pan sticking it to your ear listening for where it is the loudest.

Rod knock would not come and go typically, but a bad lifter could I guess and you would loose power as it starts missing.

Just a thought.

 

Check for exhaust leak - a leak draws O2 into the exhaust, the O2 sensor detects it, thinks the engine is too lean, and richens it way up, and retards the timing - the power problem.

 

Gauge cluster check is the first click of the ignition

 

If it comes and goes I would look at it being a bad lifter. try running some seafoam or marvel mystery to thin out the oil and possibly clean out any obstructions in the oiling system. My 90 has a similar tick as you described, and I've been driving on a bad lifter for 200--260,000 without any major issues. Just that when it starts to tick I either need to add oil or change my oil.

 

Check the torque converter bolts. They can back out and hit the inspection plate.