Loud a** ticking, scaring the crap outta me

[180sx_dreams]

I have this really loud tick coming from somewhere at the top of my valve cover I wasnt abusing the car when this started happening. It's pretty loud and I hope it doesn't turn into a knocking sound, I know this is very little info so any comment or advise is very helpful my oil light is on I just replaced my oil, my filter, and spark plugs and oil ligh is still on. oil burns from around the valve cover, I'm assuming the burning oil is just a bad gasket. But that ticking noise is what's scaring me. Like I said any Input would be helpful.

Car Info:
1990 single cam hatch
119000 miles

[2_Liter_Turbo]

If the oil light is on, you're not getting any oil pressure, so the internals are not getting properly lubricated. This is the cause of the noise and if you keep running it, you'll have an engine failure. You need to figure out why you aren't getting oil pressure.

[180sx_dreams]

Thanks 2_liter_turbo

I was thinkin and one of my reasonable conclusions is water got into my engine and that's what's causing the noise. When I pull the dipstick out it look like chocolate milk, any ideas anyone?
Time for a dual cam swap?

[2_Liter_Turbo]

If it looks like that, it definitely has water in the oil. It would honestly be less hassle to just throw a different used (good running condition of course) motor in there.

[Awgdawg]

Sounds like you need to replace the head gasket if you're getting water in the oil but if youre gonna do that you might as well change all the timing stuff too but since its a single slammer get a dual cam.

[BriceYarbrough]

could be improper lubrication to the cams and they could be "knocking" or scrapping against lifters. is there metal flakes in the oil?

[BriceYarbrough]

like little tiny specks or sparkle

[corey170]

blown head gasket probably. At least you only have one cam to take off. the sound is probably cams slapping the lifters, so when you put the cam back on, check your shims.

Or, better yet: engine swap

[180sx_dreams]

Thanks everyone, you guys basically confirmed what I had expected so now it's time for dual cam swap!

Any one have or know of one for sale

Location: LOS ANGELES, CA

[Onevia1]

End up Diagnosing??