Is there a way to tell the difference?

Everyone I ask tells me it is stuck lifter(s).
Everything I read says slipped sleeve.

I change oil frequently, and never see milky oil (IE: no mixture of coolant and oil).

 

how about pulling the rocker covers? then you would be able rule out the lifters, wouldnt you

 

And if the noise is right away at start up, that is more likely valve train than sleeve, most sleeve noise seems to be posted about starting when warmed up. And you can listen to valve covers with a broom handle (get authorization from SWMBO as to which one is not on flight status); or long screw driver, held to your ear. May even point to where in the rocker cover the noise is most earnest. You'll be impressed with what you can hear. And it keeps your dreadlocks out of the serpanitine belt....

Or you can buy a mechanic's stethoscope...

 

Thanks... So take a broom stick, place on valve covers and listen?
Removing the valve covers is a pai, mainly because the IM has to come off... Not a terrible job, but with SAI its a pain to get that damn rear bracket back on.

 

Just swapped the lifters in mine this weekend but didn't stop the loud loud noise. I wanted to have a look inside anyway so it wasn't a complete waste of time. Gonna pull the oil pan off next weekend and look at the bottom end.