I've been noticing a slight ticking noise when I first get going. I don't hear it when I start it up exactly, but once I start heading down the road, I can hear a slight tick. Gets a little louder the more I stomp the gas. But after the truck warms up, about 3-5 mins, it stops, and I don't hear it anymore unless there is a long period inbetween truck running.

Any ideas???

 

How is the oil pressure? and are you running multi-grade oil like you are supposed to?
No fram filter-right?

 

Motorcraft 5w20 and motorcraft 820s filter.

 

possible exhaust leak my best guess check around manifold.

 

I had that ticking noise, too. I replaced my exhause manifolds because they were completley rotted out. (It was a good excuse to get headers, and my second F150 to have that problem!) I also had two bad injectors, and one bad coil pack later. Depending on your tick, I'd start with those.

 

try some injector cleaner and higher octane fuel before you rip into your eng

 

If I let my truck warm up for about 2 min, then it doesn't make the noise, so that has me wondering.

I bought all new plug, and coil, just haven't put them on b/c it looks ALOT harder then I thought.

 

If it goes away once warmed up, more than likely it has a cracked exhaust manifold. The crack seals once the manifold expands from the heat. Bad oil filter (laack of got anti-drainback valve would be a 1-2 second clatter at start-up.

 

Make sure you don't have a plug that has backed out a little.

 

my expy does the same thing it's a broken exhaust manifold bolt on mine. Mine also goes away after it's warmed up.

 

So, if it is a broken manifold, then I would assume that it would need to be replace soon. But what if it is just a bolt? Is that something I should worry about, or keep an eye on?
I'm gonna go look around the manifolds tomorrow. Shouldn't I be able to see some soot or black area around any crack or broken bolt?

 

Bumping this back up for advice on my next step. And advice on how to tell wether it is a bolt, or manifold.

 

if its a bolt the hole where the bolt goes will be empty. It sounds like an exhaust leak to me. Best way I have found to find it is get a piece of vacuum line (or similar small diameter flexible hosing), put one end up to your ear and run the other around the manifold right after a cold start.

Even a smallest leaks will about blow your eardrum out so be careful!

 

I had to get a mirror and a flashlight. You should be able to see/hear where the leak is. Start with the side that it's louder on. Then take the mirror and carefully look around. Usually, you can see where there is a spot of gasket missing, or even sticking out. It may only be a tiny piece on one cylinder making all that noise. I had another gasket go yesterday (my cats are clogged...ugh.) The only thing I found was a 1/2" empty spot at the top of cylinder 5. If it's louder while you've got your head down there, I'd go ahead and replace them. Just make sure you get the aluminum 3 layered kind, like they sell on Summit Racing or from FoMoCo, because I tried the paper gaskets TWICE and they blew out each time.... good luck! And it helps to have the Haynes book handy.

 

The exhaust manifolds are cast iron and its a common problem in these trucks for them to crack ive had to replace one of them on my truck, unfortunatly when it happened i was out of work and couldnt afford headers maybe when the other side cracks ill get headers