Strange Ticking

[KillNThrill24]

I've noticed the past few weeks that I have a ticking of some sort. Initially I thought it was an exhaust leak coming from the manifold but today I tore my exhaust all apart to shorten my intermediates to allow dumps and special hangers and upon reinstalling I snugged up my X pipe to try to eliminate that as the cause, and then fired it up. And the tick was still there. So I put my hand around the pipes where they have clamps/connectors and felt no air whatsoever. Then I popped the hood and sprayed the manifolds with a little water from a water bottle to check for leaks. I couldnt find any.

So then I grabbed a flashlight and started looking around the engine and listening to different locations and I swear it sounds like it's coming from under a valve cover or the timing cover but I can't confirm that. Anybody have anything similar happen to theirs? It's been getting louder the past few days too it seems.

 

[MustangChris]

what engine you got brotha?

could be a tensioner going out and vibrating/rocking (modular) or a lifter (push rod) or a wrist pin (all engine types) or a spark plug being pushed out (modular)

did you tighten up the header-to-engine bolts?

 

[ttocs]

funny enougg my 5.0 has had a similar noise the past week or so. It goes away after it warms up though so not sure what to think.

 

[sn95 bullitt]

Maybe the lifter under the valve cover. Take a long screw driver and put one side of the screw driver to your ear and to the valve cover. Start front to back and listen for the ticking.

 

[ttocs]

mine is pass side all the way by the firewall. Something I/we should watch or something I should stop driving?

 

[MustangChris]

if yours is a 5.0, i'd lean towards an exhaust leak or a lifter problem. If it changes with RPMs and maintains the same "tick" sound, lean more towards lifter. if its starts to "muffle" or "blend together" or all together stop, lean towards an exhaust leak. If you have a wideband and it starts reading lean, also lean towards exhaust leak (as the exhaust passing by the leak will scavenge fresh air into the exhaust and the gauge will read lean.)

 

[MustangChris]

its best to know what engine we are talking about, as 03/04 cobras tick from the factory. lol. I know his sig says 00 GT, but i've seen out-dated sigs before, and I could have sworn I saw his say he took his terminator out to the track in a thread somewhere. lol.

...

 

[ttocs]

sorry I am crappin it up and confusing everyone I will start my own post in the 5.0 section it just reminded me of mine. Sorry again.

 

[KillNThrill24]

Chris my man. Rockin the Modular 4.6 lol. But no sir I did not tighten those I haven't had the desire (yet) to try to get a socket in there to check those. At some point I will tho but for the sake of the fact that it hasn't bothered me to the point where I wont drive it, I'm not gonna risk snapping an old rusty manifold bolt and then being forced to not drive it if you get what I mean LOL...

Scott my noise unfortunately doesn't go away lol

SN I have a stethoscope haha but thanks for the idea in case I don't have one when I need it! I didn't think about doing that tho... That would tell me right away if it's engine related or not since using my hand didn't exactly help lol

 

[KillNThrill24]

and I could have sworn I saw his say he took his terminator out to the track in a thread somewhere. lol.

Hahahaha holy crap I wish!!! Nope my sig is up to date lol

 

[MustangChris]

oh.

who the eff has the silver cobra??// LOL.

 

[MustangChris]

keep in mind the sound can be a tricky *****.

i thought i had a vlavetrain problem, pulled my valve cover and nothing seems out of line....

 

[KillNThrill24]

That guy with the picture of him on (I'm assuming) his boat with the sunglasses lol. Real descriptive I know!

But anyways, you're very right about that. Initially I thought it was an exhaust leak (though I'm not totally convinced it's not) but after listening around I would guess the only way it could be an exhaust leak is if it's coming from where the manifold is bolted to the head. Hoping that's not the case, but then again that would just mean time for headers! Lol

 

[97_Mustang]

my old 2001 done the same thing. It went from a ticking to a loud knocking from the Rods. Had to replace the motor.

 

[KillNThrill24]

Ehhhhh please dont say that.... Lol

 

[MustangChris]

could be a vlave or a follower.... git a video??

 

[KillNThrill24]

Shoot if I had stayed up till 4 last night to see that I would have gone out and taken one before I went to work. I'll try to get one tomorrow before I go in!

 

[sn95jones]

I'm sure it's fine, our 4.6's naturally have a "tick" and all it is the motor doing what it does best
I wouldn't worry bud, I remember when I got my 98 and took a video I had the same concern, the members here informed me that it sounded healthy as can be. Hell take it to Ford and tell them you need someone to listen to your car real quick. They'll grab a mechanic who isn't busy and have them take a listen. They won't charge for that. I did that once too.

 

[KillNThrill24]

Yeah thanks Jones my buddy's dad has an F150 with a 4.6 and his has a similar tick, I just wanted to make sure it was nothing crazy bad. I'm still not super knowleged on these engines yet so when I hear something I hadn't always heard before I like to ask first lol

 

[Musturd]

Yea my 4.6 had the same tick I'm not sure if it still does it now that I 4v swapped it , but I wouldn't doubt it