I have a ticking sound coming from the cylinder head, I'm not sure if its a valve spring of lifter or what, I'm having trouble finding a diagram of the head an parts listings so I know what's all involved in the valve system. Its gets louder an faster with higher rpm. Any info would help, thank you.

Most engines now use hydraulic lifters and they can leak a little, this causes space between then lifter and the push rod. This results in a tapping noise that goes away when they get warm or fill back up.

Hello Francois, the tapping sound you hear might be coming from a bad valve lifter, a bad camshaft lobe, a bent push rod, a broken valve spring, a broken rocker arm or the valves may need to be adjusted.

The noise is lifters, the smoke is valve seals. This engine is showing signs of wear on the top end.

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.

sounds like the lifters ticking,is it low on oil?are you using to thick of an oil for car?sounds like could possibly be a lifter problem.

If it's from top side and you're SURE it's not lifters, it's probably a bad valve(s) or a "wrist pin" that holds piston to rod.

not a valve, but a lifter. I will paste procedure below. You judge if you can do it or not. Recommend you replace them all while you're in there. If you let this go, the lifter will wear out the camshaft. Lifters are $22 each, and you have 8 of them. You will also need a new valve cover gasket.
Please let me know if you have questions, and thanks for using FixYa.

2.0L Engine
SOHC engine
See Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9

1. Disconnect the engine air cleaner-to-valve cover hose from the cover by compressing the hose clamp with pliers and sliding the clamp back, then separate the hose from the cover.
2. Remove the spark plug wire separators from the valve cover and set the wire assemblies aside.
3. Unfasten the three valve cover retaining bolts.
4. Remove the valve cover and gasket from the cylinder head.
   

WARNING Do not use any abrasive grinding discs to remove gasket material. Use a plastic manual gasket scraper to remove the gasket residue. Be careful not to scratch or gouge the aluminum sealing surfaces when cleaning them.

1. Remove the old gasket material from the cylinder head and valve cover mating surfaces.

Fig. Fig. 6: Remove the spark plug wire separators from the valve cover

Fig. Fig. 7: Compress the engine air cleaner-to-valve cover hose clamp with pliers, and slide the clamp back ...

Fig. Fig. 8: ... then disconnect the hose from the valve cover

Fig. Fig. 9: Unfasten the valve cover retainers and remove the valve cover-2.0L SOHC engine

If removing more than one valve lifter (tappet), mark the lifters and their locations as they must be installed in their original bores.

1. Remove the rocker arm(s).
2. Unfasten the lifter guide plate retainer.
3. Remove the guide plate and the lifter.

To install:

1. The oil feed hole in the lifter must face away from the oil feed hole in the cylinder head.
2. Lubricate the lifter(s) with clean 5W-30 engine oil and install them in their original bores.

Make sure the lifter guide plate retainer tabs are towards the rear of the cylinder head, and the lifter guide plate tabs are towards the front of the cylinder head.

1. Install the lifter guide plate and tighten the retainer.
2. Install the rocker arms.
   

Do not use any sealer with a silicone type gasket.

1. Install a new gasket and the valve cover.
2. Install and tighten the valve cover retainers to 71-97 inch lbs. (8-11.5 Nm).
3. Attach the spark plug wire separators to the cylinder head.
4. Connect the engine air cleaner-to-valve cover hose and engage the hose clamp

Get the heads worked on or replaced it might need a valve lashment.

lifters tick and noise is upper end of engine if lifters are making noise could be from a bad valve,bad lifter ,push rod ,oil pressure,rocker arm - need to take do compression test find out if valve problem and which cylinder is problem also take off valve cover and check for proper oiling of valve head and look to see if and are damaged or loose-------a knocking sound usually comes from lower end of engine,rod knock etc.and thats usually rebuild of engine

You might have a bad hydraulic valve lifter (assuming this engine has them)... you could try an aftermarket product designed to unstick valve lifters.... any auto parts store carries them.