I tried searching for the exact symptoms of what my car is doing and didn’t find exactly what I was looking for. Sorry If I am starting a new thread on what probably is a typical problem.

I just picked up a 93 190e 2.3L. The car runs fine, starts fine, etc. At start up the engine sounds good. After it warms up I will get an intermittent tapping sound from under the valve cover. As soon as it comes it will disappear. I can rev up the engine and the tapping is still there for a moment, then it will go away. Sometimes after I start it, the tapping starts and then goes away instantly, even at idle rpms.

I check oil pressure and it says about 2 on the guage at idle and goes to 3 when when I rev it up a bit. The oil pressure doesn’t fluctuate on the guage between when the tapping starts and stops.

I assume a sticky lifter. I tried using some tranny fluid with the oil to flush things out. Didn’t work. Changed the oil and filter. Then I tried Wynn’s engine cleaner. Didn’t work. An engine flush and new oil and filter. It’s still the same. It doesn’t sound like the timing chain slap sound, however, I could be wrong. This is my first Benz so I am learning.

What I question is how intermittent the problem is. It just comes and goes at free will. Next step is to take the valve cover off and look into it further.