3.0L light tapping sound form engine???

[1993MTXSHO]

hey guys I have a 93 mtx with almost 99k miles and i have a slight tappign sound its nto a knock and it been liek this for abotu 1k miles. It does go up with engine rpm and I listened to the valve covers with a screwdriver to see if it was a valve tap and it sounded normal. I also gutted my cats becasue i though they were rattling which they were, so thats now clean. Is it possible that its my rod bearings? I have driven 1k miles with it like this and have not gone easy on the car, becasue i thought it went away when i changed my clutch and gutted the cats, but apperently i hear it again. I was thinking maybe the water pump bearings I was reading trying to figure out what it was but I really cant figure it out. I think i have a blow piston ring becasue im burning abotu 4 qts of oil every 3k miles could that cause a slight tapping? HJow fast to rod bearings go bad if i herd this 1kmiesl ago woudl they have spun on my already?

 

[sho_me92]

replaceing the rod berings wouldnt hurt. i recomend it

 

[SeanMc]

If it's a tap, it could be the timing belt tensioner or the cam chain tensioner. If it's a knock, well, that's been answered.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

If it's a tap, it could be the timing belt tensioner or the cam chain tensioner. If it's a knock, well, that's been answered.

yeah its more of a tap its not very loud and its been this way. Where are those that I can check it both under the valve cover, because I did listen to the valve cover and it soundedn ormal buty I guess it can hurt to take a look. What does it mean if I have oil in the plug wells i think there dry but Havent check recently would that indicat anything. the car did have the 60k done at 60k btw.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

replaceing the rod berings wouldnt hurt. i recomend it

I did want to replace them this summer but if im correct about the blown ring I dont really want to put more money into it becasue I have plans to rebuild it when i get money but that could be a few years. Although id hate to have a rod bearing go. Ill check into threads on changeing them and maybe ill do it.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

well hopefully this isnt a major problem aka rod bearigns becasue im going to make another bad decision and go race the car tomorrw I dont think this is a major problem and if the engien blows up hell0 93 3.3L s/c mtx.