Took the 02 L with 37600 miles to the dealer today. Last week I started to hear a ticking – tic-tac noise coming from the engine. The noise appears to be coming from the driver's side cylinder head.
The tech heard it and said right away that it was a valve train noise. Got a call from the service department and they are recommending that I change the oil to 5-20 w and drive it for 1000 miles to see if the noise goes away. I told them that is what I have in the truck.

They said the next step is to open up the head and look at the lifters and replace to see if that stops the ticking noise. Wouldn’t they be able to tell with confidence if the lifter or rocker arm were bad once they open up the head? The way they explained it to me I’m not to confident about what they are saying to me. I also remember reading something on this board a wile back about some valve train problems with the L heads.

Any input would be much appreciated.

 

i would run far from that dealer. drive around for a 1000 miles and see if that fixes an unknown, maybe catostrophic failure.

the ticking could just be your injectors, they are noisey sons a bitches
it could also mean you are about to launch a plug. I would make sure all your plugs are tight. i would not drive it anymore if you have not checked that yet.

i am sure others will chime in on other stuff to check

hit the search button. ticking has come up many times here.


or it could be the time bomb in your wallet about to exploid from the price of super

 

check your plugs, and run the motor with the belts off to see if it is an idler or something like that.

 

As said, RUN
(most) Ford Dealership Mechanics are useless
And as also said CHECK YOUR SPARK PLUGS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE DRIVING THE TRUCK ONE MILI-INCH.
(most) of those idiots couldn't tell the diff between a normal injector tick, to a rod knock (EVEN IF IT WAS STICKING THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE MOTOR SQUIRTING OIL IN THEIR FACE)

Clearly the number one ticking noise ends up being a spark plug about to spit,
and in NUMEROUS cases Ford Delaership Mechanic's DID NOT pick it up when the Truck was brought in to check it, CHECK IT YOURSELF IMMEDIATELY and it'll be "0" to fix, but if it spits, even if Ford tells you it's something else, your screwed and out K's
You cant afford to NOT check it.

Good Luck Bro...

 

I’ve just gotten off the phone with my service advisor and told him to have the tech check the plugs. If they come back in good shape from what’s been suggested so far I’m then looking at a possible injector problem? Have not notice any hesitation/stalling problems so far.

 

Oh so it's still at Ford
Ok
I shouldnt stero type ALL Dealership mechanics, dont let me scare you.
(but let the record show I DID NOT, I wrote "MOST" in both cases)

LTN20, what we have seen here on the Forum MANY MANY times is someone bring it in to a Dealership with a ticking noise, funny enough I DEF remember others saying Ford told them the same thing, change the oil (SCARY I TELL YA)
and in more than a couple of ocassions, Ford never even thought to check the plugs EVEN KNOW IT'S AN EXTREMELY LONG DOCUMENTED PROBLEM,
(but thats because they choice to turn their backs on most known problems)
WAM a plug spit and the L owner was out thousands (even know they brought it in for that issue)

As long as you get a reciept SHOWING THEY CHECKED THE PLUGS, that possibility can be put behind you, and then you can look for something else.
If your saying it runs perfect, hasnt changed at all, and is just ticking, and you feel the sound is near the head, I'm putting my money on the plugs,
and would love to hit someone in the back of the head with a 2x4 for NOT checking that immediately at the Dealership. They know dam well that THOUSANDS of L's have spit plugs.

Maybe I'm wrong, but if checking the plugs can save you from doing new heads, it was worth stressing this point to you, and hopefully that phone call just saved you thousands

 

Have you checked to see if it might be an exhaust leak either from a cracked exhaust manifold or a leak by the gasket. I've heard ticking on my 5.4L passenger side and bought a scope at AutoZone for $10 and listened all around the head and exhaust. I opened the valve cover cap and lowered the tip down near the valve train - no noise at all, just ticking by the exhaust manifold; sounds like air escaping too. I've checked all the plugs too - nothing.

Good luck and let us know if it's an exhaust leak - more common than you think!

 

Check The Plugs!!!!!!

 

I'm not a betting man.. but if I were I'd bet you have a loose sparkplug.

**explicitly** ask them to check the plugs torque! And don't let them brush you off either as not knowing what your talking about. These things were not properly torqued from the factory.

Rich

 

CHECK THE PLUGS MAN!!!! I didn't and it cost me $3000.00. LISTEN to these guys. CHECK THE PLUGS! Say it over and over again. Even after I had mine fixed, I still check them every month, (and I still here those words, CHECK THE PLUGS)!