2003 pontiac sunfire makes clanking sound from engine, sounds like valves? lifters make more of a ticking sound...right?

Ticking sound is typical of slack in the valve train. Try using a wood dowell "stethescope" and touch it to the rocker arm cover over each cylinder. If a rocker arm adjustment is too slack, you'll hear a clicking sound rather than a muted murmur. If you find the noisy lifter you will need to remove the rocker arm cover and adjust it. CAUTION NOTE - It is possible that a hydraulic lifter may have some grit in the internal valve. That would stop the lifter from functioning properly.

Better get a mechanic to check it out before you drive it very much.
Could be a lifter or piston pin with no oil.

Could be a dozen things. Sounds like you are not getting enough pressure. I'd have to hear it. Could have been ran too low on oil, n need new rings or seals, etc. Check ur fluids or it could be a dead cylinder... Standard or automatic

If you ran it low find out where the oil is going leaks seal's put a large piece of card board under your vehicle tonite and check in the morning.do not move until you check.As far as the tick that sounds like a bad valve lifter or damage to your engine.

sounds like possible lifter ticking due to lack of service. offer to pay for an oil change and drive the car for a couple of days to see if ticking noise quietens down. if it doesn't you may be looking at replacing the lifters.

Thanks for choosing FixYa and welcome. That is possible. More then likely, it is a associated with the valve lifter. If it was a rod, you would hear a knocking sound compared to the ticking sounds a bad lifter gives off. As far as which lifter it is, the only way to know for sure if by taking off the valve cover and examining the lifters. You are in the right area though. Check your lifters and you should fine what is causing the ticking. Put all your focus on that area. Your friend sounds like he knows what he is talking about so he may be able to help you work on it if you are not able.

The 'light tick' is most probably a valve lifter. The valve lifters in the engine are hydraulic, and are pressurized by the engine's oil pump.
When the engine gets some mileage, say 60 or 70 thousand miles or more, the engine is just not as tight as it once was. What happens is that the lifter loses its pressure when the engine is not running, because there is some wear. When you start the engine, the lifter takes a few moments to pressurize, and makers a ticking noise until it does. The 'ticking' is the sound of the valve being hit by the push rod, which is being pushed by the lifter. Once the lifter is pressurized, the 'ticking' sound stops. This is a very common thing for engines, it will eventually happen to nearly every one.
Sometimes, thin, old oil can cause this. If you have not changed the oil/filter in a while, you should do it now.

This is nothing to really worry about right now, but it is a sign of engine wear. Just be sure to run the proper oil in the engine, and do all the proper maintenance.

Worn valve lifter, or the rocker arm needs to be tightened a little.
Have to remove valve covers to see if one is loose.
If it is the lifter, the whole top part of the engine has to be taken off to get at it.

If it's a ticking noise that speeds up with the speed of the engine, it's a worn valve lifter.
You can try tightening it down by taking the valve cover off and tightening the bolt on the rocker arm, but don't tighten it too much, you will end up with other problems.

check your oil, may be low and check the radiator level...