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I'm glad to hear that oil maintenance does not seem to be a contributing factor to your problem. In fact, it sounds like that engine has been quite well maintained. The B234F is still well known for lifter ticking (it's even mentioned in the owner's manual) so I would not discount valve train issues. If you have a particularly high mileage engine then it could even be a worn camshaft. Based on what you're saying, though, the problem is just as likely elsewhere.
I assume we're talking about a ticking that directly changes with rpm. Is it a hard ticking (like a mechanical open/shut noise -valves, injectors, solenoids, relays) or a soft ticking (like a drive belt)? Perhaps a stethoscope (a rod held cupped to your ear will do) can help you isolate it. Listen at each injector, at the front and rear of the block, at the distributer cap, to the alternator and A/C compressor bodies, and most importantly around the edge of the timing belt cover. As I recall, there's also a solenoid up by the rad on the driver's side that can also make a ticking noise.
For obvious reasons for those who know the B234F, I would want to be absolutely certain that this ticking sound is not related to the timing belts, either a belt that is starting to break, an older style balance belt tensioner (see FAQ) that is starting to disintegerate, a failing idler/tensioner pulley bearing, or a failing oil pump pulley. Other than bearings, these all tend to fail rather suddenly under torque rather than gradually. Like you, I also understand a failing oil pump can result in a ticking sound, although you'd think they'd have designed an oil pressure sensor that would trigger before that happens. For a softer ticking noise, I would be more inclined to start by checking the drive belts for abnormalities like the tips of the belt splicing starting to separate.
There's certainly more possibilities I've overlooked or am not aware of so listen to the advice of others.
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Dave -not to be confused with a real expert
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