intermittent egr vapor smell accompanied by possible lifter noise

my 2013 Prius V, Ive used this for rural mail delivery since new, 212,000 miles as of now. Head gasket was replaced at 198,000, head was milled, valves removed and cleaned, new valve seals, valves and seats resurfaced, new intake manifold at 175,000. I don't know if the egr valve and pipe were cleaned.
Here's what it's doing. Intermittent crankcase vapor smell from under hood only when I hear a ticking noise. By intermittent, I mean usually once during a 5000 mile oil change cycle, I'll get the noise and smell for maybe 500 miles, then the sound and smell go away. It sounds like a bad hydraulic lash adjuster (lifter), but why would that cause the crank case/egr smell? Is it not a leaking lifter but a little exhaust leak?
FYI, before the headgasket pcv valve repair, it would use .5 quart of oil in 1500 miles. after the repairs, it was reduced to .5 quart in 5000 miles. compression check before repairs was not good, around 100 psi in 2 cylinders, up to 160 in other 2. After repairs, 160 psi for all 4

 

The work was do by my regular mechanic, not a Toyota dealer. They are a solid shop but this was their first Prius head gasket replacement. I did take it back and they checked everything over with the egr for tightness. they didn't find anything. Maybe time for someone else to look at it