Tick, Tick, Tick - Thicker Oil or Motor Flush?

[intelisevil]

I have what sounds like a stuck lifter in the front passenger side of the engine.

A couple of nights ago I started my car and the sound was gone! After a couple of minutes it was back.

The air temperature was 31 degrees when I started the car so the oil was nice and thick, as the engine warmed up the oil thinned down.

I'm currently running 10/40 oil, what is the thickest oil I should try to run to keep that darn lifter pumped up? I know I'll lose some mpg, but that'll hurt less than an engine tear down to replace the lifter.

Should I use some sort of engine cleaner to hopefully flush out whatever is in the lifter?

Thanks in Advance,