Terrible chatter!

[kevbot]

Recently my 1997 Outback Limited, which typically runs quite strong, began to develop a terrible chatter! when I stopped to check, the sound (very loud clicking, that became worse with higher RPMs) seemed to be coming from even side crank-case, and was burning oil. After parking it over some snow I noticed about 5-6 drips each of oil and coolant. The noise (which went away after driving a while) only happens every 10-15 times I drive, and is otherwise fine. But the last time it happened, the car began to over heat, not bad, but the needle was in the upper third of the oil temp. gauge. After the first time, I added some Seafoam to the crank-case, and it ran smooth for quite a while, but the sound did come back with the additive. After my last oil change it has happened quite a few times, burning oil each time and then going away after driving a while. Could this be just a sticky valve, that needs more Seafoam or is this something worse? I am prepared for the worst, after all the car does have 222,228mi, but I know it has had quite a lot of work done on it.
I love this car and want to do every thing I can to keep it going strong, but I am worried! Please, don't post if your just going to try to scare me into doing an engine swap!
Thank you very much!
kev-bot

[green97gt]

any CEL? cause i would imagine a sticking valve would throw a misifre code.

does this chatter seem to be crank speed? or cam speed? or perhaps a pulley?

does it only do it while accelerating? or could you replicate it while standing with the hood open?

BTW that wagon in your avatar is sick.

[kevbot]

I have been having trouble with misfire CELs! This fall I started a post called "misfire #1-4," I was having a problem with ALL FOUR cylinders missing! My solution was new plugs, wires, fuel pump, fuel filter, air filter, battery charge, ethanol free premium fuel, and fuel injector cleaner...and that did the trick! But that was before all this chatter, though since this started I have pulled a "misfire #2" code. It seemed, at the time, that the plug wire (cheap!) had either rattled loose or had moisture in the connection, but either way it FELT like a misfire! But that was what I thought at the time, it could have been from a sticky valve. The sound was a very loud, rapid clicking (cam speed) that increased in speed, pitch, and loudness, the higher RPMs. It happens when the engine running whether I'm in it or not (remote start) and I don't think I have access to a video camera, so I can't put a clip on the net right now, also it happens only once for a little while, every 12-20 times i drive it! The wagon in the picture is the subject at hand, it's a real mean machine! I've got to fix this chatter! I have a few more pics of my wagon on member rides, but I don't have a digital camera so I haven't even put a pic of my new stainless steal (header-to-tip) modified Borla exaust yet!

Anyways thanks for the reply (and complement)!

Later
kev-bot