Engine oiling problem

[sleeperstang]

Hello all,

My engine has approximately 3500 miles on it. At approximately 2100 miles I took it to Vegas from Los Angeles. It made the trip there fine, but on the way back my oil pressure gauge started jumping. I checked the oil and it was low.

Up to that point it had never showed any signs of oil consumption, no white smoke, no burnt oil smell, nothing. Not even on the way there. I filled the engine up and got home with no problems.

It's December, a month after the trip and I just added another quart of oil, but again I didn't see any symptoms of oil burning, until this morning. I was going up slope in third gear when the engine started to knock (rpm too low), so I shift into second and the engine revs up. I stepped on it so I could get the rpms up and as I look back I see white smoke. Soon after I get the smell of burning oil.

What course of action should I take here. What suggestions do you all have on the possible cause of this problem. By the way, I also have a lifter noise that does not go away. I tried adjusting the rockers last night and I got rid of nothing. As far as I can tell, it's my #5 Intake valve where the noise is coming from. Could this be the cause of the oil passing through? Enlighten me please!