Ticking sound from engine??

["Steinbrueck, GL" <steinbru@VNET.IBM.COM>]

   "...it sounds like a ticking noise and increases or decreases
   accordingly with engine rpms...thinking valves..."

Yep, you should change the oil if it's been awhile to see if it changes
the symptom.  Note if you have changed brands or viscosity range recently.
That's how my '86 5ks reminds me that I've travelled nearly 3000 miles
since last change.  There have been some excellent posts on this subject
here in the recent past if the problem continues or worsens.

   "...has anyone ever had a car checked before buying by those "mobile"
   diagnostics services..."

I had one of the mobile services look at a '92 honda.  The guy spent an
hour on the car and did a fairly credible job, pulled wheels, checked
fluids (but did not test for contamination as hinted in his ad), confirmed
my evaluation of prior 'fender bender damage', but only did compression on
one cylinder until I insisted, did not check the front brake pads because
he could not get the wheel off (I did later...) and did a bunch of mumbo
jumbo with an engine analyzer that basically looked like it shut off one
cylinder at a time to check change in rpm.  It was $75 and I probably
would not do it again.  I have also had AAA in St.Louis go over a used
Pontiac and they told me everything, right down to the chassis dyno
results and the incipient corrosion on the battery terminals.  I don't
know what the current charges are, but THAT was well worth it.

G.
86 5ks by the Hudson
92accord,86civic,80rabbit,79sunbird,75midget,72jeep,83nighthawk650...