OK.
for starters I have just over 51K miles.

At lunch I checked the oil. it didn't even register to mark the add section of the stick. So, freaking out I dashed around to get an oil change. It just happend to be about the right time anyway and I had been thinking of it.

So, I pull in (no waiting, yeah! That helps when your freaking out.) I tell these guys my story before we get started so they can observe and make any recomendations. I loaded up with Casrtol synthetic and some gooey additive.

It turns out I had only about a quart and a half come out black as tar. Now I furious at the last place I took it to (White Glove on Clyborn). I was suckered in by the free car wash.

Now the noise is gone except I can hear it once in a while if I strain and it's about 15% as loud as it was.

So, I'm still nervous. Is it a ticking time bomb?