Top-end noise and oil pressure change - advice?

[hut49]

I've read the threads on tappety noises and oil pressure but need guidance on whether to make a 400 mile round trip before an engine check.

Within the past 500 miles the engine's developed a tapping noise (not a clicking) that varies with rpm and sounds as though it is coming from the top of the cylinders on the driver's side. Also noticed that the oil pressure is taking a few extra seconds to rise after a cold start and that whereas it used to be around 55psi on the motorway it now seems to sit just above 45psi. At hot idle it's dropped from 40 to 30. The needle movement on the gauge also seems to be sluggish.

No change in performance, no loss of oil.

I can't be sure that these two events are linked, but then I don't beleive in fairies or coincidences either! Does anyone have any advice or thoughts?

Thanks

[trefor]

Get it to a garage for a check out. Could be you worrying too much and its just a leaky exhaust manifld gasket, but it could be much worse. Of course with a problem like this could it, the longer you leave it/the more you drive it, the more expensive the repair could be.

[hut49]

Good advice, heeded. Thanks Racing Green for the experienced !

Verdict was early signs of wear on one of the ally rockers/steel inserts. Seems to be a recognised fault on '99/'00 components. Diagnosis aided apparently because the noise almost disappears intermittently. Oil pressure observation was discounted as not significant since there was around 30psi on a hot engine at idle.

So I'll book it in and have the ally rockers replaced with steel ones and a general check over within the next month.