The high oil pressure combined with a ticking noise points to several potential, serious issues:
* Faulty Oil Pressure Sensor/Gauge: The most optimistic explanation is a faulty oil pressure sensor or gauge itself. It's giving a false reading. This should be checked first. You can try borrowing a known-good pressure gauge and connecting it directly to the engine to get an accurate reading.
* Oil Too Thick (Incorrect Viscosity): Using oil that's too thick (higher viscosity than recommended for your engine and climate) can cause extremely high pressure. Check your owner's manual to make sure you used the correct weight oil (typically 10W-30 or 10W-40, but check the manual).
* Mechanical Issues: This is the more worrying possibility. High oil pressure and a ticking noise can be caused by:
* Clogged Oil Filter: A severely restricted oil filter can cause high pressure. This is less likely if you just changed the filter, but it's worth considering if you didn't use a genuine or high-quality filter.
* Problems with the Oil Pump: A faulty oil pump, such as a worn gear or internal blockage, can force oil through the system at excessive pressure. This would likely be accompanied by other serious engine issues.
* Connecting Rod Bearing Failure (Ticking Noise): The ticking could be indicative of failing connecting rod bearings. This is a serious issue and requires immediate attention. The high pressure could be the oil trying to compensate.
* Other Internal Engine Damage: There could be other internal engine damage causing the high pressure.
What to do immediately:
1. Turn off the engine immediately. Running the engine with excessively high oil pressure can cause serious damage.
2. Check the oil pressure using a known-good mechanical gauge. Don't rely solely on the vehicle's gauge.
3. Verify that you used the correct weight oil.
4. If the oil pressure remains high, do not attempt to run the engine again. Tow it to a qualified mechanic for diagnosis and repair. Ignoring this problem could lead to catastrophic engine failure.
The ticking noise and extremely high oil pressure are serious symptoms and warrant immediate professional attention. Delaying action could cause significant and expensive engine damage.
