Pontiac Repair: oil pump, piston slap, pontiac grand prix

Question
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix 3.1L
i've heard a tapping niose in engine not low on oil but sounded like a loose rocker arm or nut i took off valve covers everything was fine but kinda dry is itpossible my oil pump went out & how do i check before pulling pan off? if thats not what you think it is whats your opinion.

Answer
You will have to check the oil pressure with a gauge. I haven't seen any problems with the oil pumps on the 3100 engine, but some of them had some piston slapping noises in the late 90s to early 2000's. If the noise goes away as the engine warms up, it is probably piston slap or lifters that bled down, both of which will not cause any problems other than the noise. If the noise stays the same or gets worse as it warms up, check the oil pressure or have the noise diagnosed by a pro.