2001 Pathfinder, metal in oil, ticking noise

[Jgold2790]

Hey guys, need some help/advice.

Problems:
My pathfinder is making this loud ticking noise at the top of the engine. There are also metal shavings in the oil (firestone heard the ticking noise and noticed the metal when I had the oil changed). I changed the oil and also put lucas in it. I took it to a mechanic and he said I should put thicker oil in it along with lucas. I went back to him later that day so he could change it to the thicker oil, and on the way, it stopped ticking. He changed the oil, and then I drove 3 more miles and the ticking started again. I don't think the oil being changed is important here, the fact that the loud ticking stopped briefly is just odd. Anyone have these problems? The car has 130k miles on it. The mechanic said the same things the guys at Firestone said, metal in the oil is very bad and means that something is breaking apart in the motor and that I'll need a new motor.

The story:
I just bought it a week ago. The guy I bought it from flips cars on the side and used to own a dealership for 7 years. He had just put a bunch of money into the car and replaced a lot of new parts. I genuinely believe he didn't know that there was a problem with the car. It drove fine and there was nothing wrong with it when I test drove it. The ticking started 130 miles after I bought it with cash. I bought the car "as is" and it was all of my money. The mechanic I took it to is his mechanic and again my read is that he had no idea. He thinks it is going to need a new motor (~$1500 for the motor alone). The guys at firestone said the same thing before I went to the mechanic.


Has anyone had this problem before and does anyone have any advice?

[Slumpert]

Lots of people have had engines go out.

Whether it was a power valve screw getting sucked into a piston or camshaft valve issue you are looking at a very exensive repair that some just skip to buying a different used engine.

In my opinion you should not drive further than your willing to walk back from, those noises can exist for a long time, but visible metal in the oil never fixes itself.