Hello everyone. I am new to the forum, but I have benefited in the past from it, particularly when replacing my fuel pump last year, so right off I'd like to thank everyone for sharing what you know!
Now the problem...I've owned my 1994 Volvo 850 for well over a year now, and its leaked oil at a slow but consistent pace. A couple months ago I got it into my head that I should do a valve cover seal on it, and looking up the how to on another website proceeded to. The first problem was after I got what thought was the valve cover off (actually a Cam cover, but I am well known for being the sort of person to rush into things half cocked) the Cam cover chipped, enough that when I put it all back together it spewed oil all over the timing belt casing. So I took it back apart, and went to the local junkyard, dismantling four more Volvos until I came out with one that didn't chip in the same spot.
It's all back together now, but now I have an obnoxious ticking that I've read is from the lifters, or a stuck valve. On top of that one of the bolts in between the first and second plugs stripped, and leaked oil at a rapid rate, and when RTV didn't seal it a had to put a bigger bolt in. Now If the car is driven for a longish period of time (45 minutes to an hour) when I come to a stop sign the check oil light will flicker, only when the car is idling.
So in a nutshell, I'm wondering what I can do to stop the lifters from ticking, why the oil light is coming on, and have I ruined the cylinder head by putting a bigger bolt in the top? I am reluctant to sell the car, because she really is a reliable beast, with the only problem being me, and my willingness to try something without proper research. On the flip side, it is no longer leaking oil, for as much good that does me.

 

There is a oil light flicker thread somewhere. Maybe your oil pump is going out. How many miles do you have?

 

The odometer is broken, reads 149xxx, but it probably has closer to 160k. I guess it could be the pump, but it started only after I fiddled with the cam cover

 

I guess you have changed the oil and filter since?

 

Yea, it's due for another, but I'm in between jobs at the moment. Further, I replaced the plugs and wires, and did a fuel pump last year. Aside from doing the trick with the airbox, ball joints and crontrol arms, and putting an aftermarket muffler on, that's all I've done to the car.
Another question. Is the PCV valve supposed to be inhaling when you unplug it from the cam cover? I read something about pulling it off and using a finger to see if there's any suction. Absolutely none, no suction at all. This is a sign the PCV valve is bad, right? could it be part of the problem?