acctually I don't think you should hear a tick with the windows up... it's really high pitched and should only be heard on the outside if it's lifters. I've noticed on some occasions an ever so slight knock I can hear on the inside.... buddy let me tell ya... I'm SO picky it's not even funny, and this one doesn't bother me. Keep in mind that it could be tons of little things that don't matter one bit. Just embrace it lol. OIL CHANGE: I'm going to do mine every 3k PERIOD. I drive in the city stop and go mostly, so I need to change a lot. If all you do is drive on the highway, then maybe 10k is ok. I also run 5-30 in my car, not 5-20. 5-20 is a lighter oil... they do this because you get better milage with lighter oil (keep in mind they are taxed based on milage ratinging, so if they spec 5-20 and get 1 mile per gallon better it makes a big difference to them), however, it doesn't protect as well in really hot conditions. The truth is that if you change it every 5k no matter what the condtions are it will probably last 200k anyway... the rest of the car will fall apart around the engine.