clacking on 99?

I was doing general looking-over of my girl's Escort the other day (whilst doing some fixing) and noticed that the car's engine tends to clack quite a bit. I don't know which exact engine it is, as my parents have owned mostly GM cars, and I've had only one, a 1991 V6 Chevy Z24. I DO know it's around 2L and OHC. I know little about OHC engines, and what would cause clacking. On an OHV engine, I would expect the valve lifters.

Can anyone help? The car has 114 K miles on it.

I was doing general looking-over of my girl's Escort the other day (whilst doing some fixing) and noticed that the car's engine tends to clack quite a bit. I don't know which exact engine it is, as my parents have owned mostly GM cars, and I've had only one, a 1991 V6 Chevy Z24. I DO know it's around 2L and OHC. I know little about OHC engines, and what would cause clacking. On an OHV engine, I would expect the valve lifters.

Can anyone help? The car has 114 K miles on it.

Have you changed the oil? If not may be a good idea could try a high miles oil or a thicker oil.