I'm still new with cars, so bare me the judgment
My engine is giving off a rapid ticking sound, and releasing a more than unpleasant odor. I was driving home from school and noticed that my throttle response was becoming worse by the second, and the engine was having trouble staying started and my RPMS were very erratic and would drop from 1000 at idle to 500 and back up to close to 2000. I pulled over to take a look and the smoke started rolling. when I looked, the smoke was coming from the bottom side of the engine around the pulleys and belt. My friend said it was the Lifters. I checked my oil and it was fine, filled my radiator with water just incase, and decided to finish the minute drive back to my house. It had stopped smoking by then, but the ticking got worse and made a slight griding noise as i drove. I'm just wondering what possibilities could be wrong with it.
My engine is giving off a rapid ticking sound, and releasing a more than unpleasant odor. I was driving home from school and noticed that my throttle response was becoming worse by the second, and the engine was having trouble staying started and my RPMS were very erratic and would drop from 1000 at idle to 500 and back up to close to 2000. I pulled over to take a look and the smoke started rolling. when I looked, the smoke was coming from the bottom side of the engine around the pulleys and belt. My friend said it was the Lifters. I checked my oil and it was fine, filled my radiator with water just incase, and decided to finish the minute drive back to my house. It had stopped smoking by then, but the ticking got worse and made a slight griding noise as i drove. I'm just wondering what possibilities could be wrong with it.

