Hey guys -
It has been a while since I have needed your advice, but this morning my mechanic told me that my 240 wagon needs a new engine. The car is a 1991 and has ~250,000 miles. The car in not as strong as it once was, but it still gets a steady at ~24 mpg. The car recently began making a metallic ticking sound when I start the engine (it’s a wicked, load sound that goes away once the car warms up), it's also blowing oil when the oil cap is removed, and when a piece of paper is held to the exhaust pipe - the paper is sucked back into the exhaust. It's going to cost $3000-4000 to replace the engine. If I have to I will replace the engine (getting rid of the car is not an option - I have an unreasonable attachment to the car), but is there other options other than replacing the engine?
Many thanks for your help -