This just started this weekend, at start ups and under acceleration I have a loud ticking sound, you can hear it inside the truck with windows down while driving or out near the right front wheel while idling.
I night dropped the truck at the dealer this evening but wondered if any of you had an answer as to what this could be.
I have no drive ability issues, in fact I was on vacation this weekend towing my trailer.

 

ticking noise + towing = an exhaust leak IMO

most likely the cause

 

As in around the headers? that is where the noise is coming from, right behind the passenger side tire.

 

If it follows the RPM of the motor, you may have something going on. Serch my posts about my father's failed rocker arm. Funny thing was that it sounded like it was coming from the center of the engine when leaning over the engine and sounded loudest from underneath or near the rear of the front wheel wells when outside the truck with the hood closed.

If it goes away with the motor unloaded and some slight rpm, I agree that sounds like an exhaust leak.

 

i have the same noise. i have a 04 4.6l and i think it is an exhaust leak its on the right passenger side right behind the tire. but it goes away once i give it some gas. havent had any time to check it out but thats where im looking first.

 

Mine gets louder as you give it gas, when the windows are down and you accelerate you can hear it, more so when next to something on the road to echo the sound, like another vehicle or guardrail.

 

cam phasers?

 

that is classic exhaust leak symptoms.


run your hand by each exhuast port on the head. it may help to have someone hold the revs to 1,000 to 2,000 rpms. for noise and extra exhaust flow. if there is a leak, you'll find it pretty quickly

be carefull not to burn yourself


it could also be underneath the truck. exhaust leaks are tricky little mothers to track down. look for what looks like black staining around joints

 

Dealer just called me the problem was the manifold bolt had broken off. They are going to retap and reinstall.

 

ouch, under warranty?

 

Yes

 

this seems to be pretty common. mine was diagnosed as the same thing last month during inspection. i have not had it in yet since i have been riding the max to work most days. seems as though ford should step up and offer
some assistance for this common problem? who is to say it won't happen again? does the dealer warranty this fix? just curious.....mine is long past the warranty stage.

jim

 

I started getting this same sound from my 2010 F150 4.6L. I am still under warranty so I took it to my dealer. They new what the problem was. After sending photos to Ford showing no engine sludge, and telling ford motor company that I do my oil changes every 3 moths or 3000 mile at the Ford dealer, Ford warranted and replaced the parts that were making the noise.

The parts they replace were two VCT solenoids that where making the ticking sound. It has been two months since they replaced them and the noise has not returned.

 

I know the OP has an 06 truck but this has been very common with the trucks at my work. We run a bunch of 07 and up Expeditions and F250's with the 5.4 and cracked manifolds starting on the passenger side seem to be the norm. Just got mine back last week from the dealer (not my choice for repair but not my company) cracked manifold and two broken studs on the passenger side and the start of a crack on the driver's side. A little over $500 in parts and a grand in labor that was not under warranty.

 

Damn that seems like an awful lot for labor. I had my head off in which of course I had to take the manifold off and it did not seem like that big of an undertaking. I did my passenger so maybe the driver side is more intrusive?