The engine tapping is nothing more than valve noise. Most of the cars do it, but some do it so quietly, it's hard to hear it.
Get an old water hose and cut off about 2 feet of it. Put one end of it on the valve covers and the other end of it to your ear. You should be able to identify where the noise is coming from. If it's coming from under the valve covers, I wouldn't worry about it. Its normal!
As for the coolant, if there's water in the oil, but no steam in the exhaust, it's probably nothing more than a intake gasket. Fairly easy to change out, only if you have the right materials (torque wrenches, air tools, manuals, etc..)