HI I am new here . I just got a 98SC XLT with a 4.6 auto. The truck has just turned 66000. Its running fine but a little while after getting the oil changed (10/30 castrol gtx) I started getting a tick mosty at idle. I just started last night. The guy who owned it let it sit because he got a comany car. He used one the week ends.It was a lease but it seems taken care of . He had oil change records.I had a garage put it on the lift and go over it also and we didnt hear any ticking.The tick seems like its on the pass side mostly at idle it picks up for a little bit but seems gone around 1000 rpms.I did the search and read most of the threds that sounded similar.It started about 600 miles after the oil change. I have been running the hiway to work around 35 miles one way at around 65-75 mph. This is bumming me out it still has a temp tag! I know this comes up a lot but I would relly appreciate any thoughts or suggestions Thanks BOB

PS. It seems to do it when its hot after running a while not at cold start up

 

got any codes?

 

Does it go away when the motor warms up? If i were you, i would change the oil again with a good name brand (MObil 1 synthetic) with a good filter (Motorcraft) and see if it still ticks. Castroil sucks anyways get that chit out of your motor. 66,000 miles should NOT be ticking with internal problems. Good luck hope its somthing minor.

 

and ford recommends the use of 5w20 in almost all of their motors now.

so if it happened right after an oil change i would change oil again with some different brand and the 5w20 to see if it goes away.

 

Thanks for the help . The tick isnt there when its cold, only after getting hot. I checked the codes at Auto zone none found.When I had the oil changed I was not sure which weight to use. The old oil change sticker said 10/30 the owners manual said 5/30 and I looked here and alot of people said they are using 10/30. I am going to change it tonight. Should I go 5/30 or the 5/20 ? I see Ford recomends the 5/20 in newer trucks . Thanks again for the help! Bob

 

I would go with a good synthetic in 5w-30. Like the owners manual suggests for 1998 models.

Good Luck.

 

possible exhaust leak?? I would check around the manifolds and doughnut gaskets first. they sometimes make a ticking noise, and they will do it more less when the get warm or cold due to the metal temerature and it expanding/contracting I have seen one do something like what you are describing before. might just be a gasket or small crack that opens up when it gets hot.

 

My 97 4.6L runs best with Castrol GTX 5W30. I actually got my best gas mileage when running Havoline 5W30. The 10W30 makes my engine run sluggish and lessens my gas mileage. Don't waste your money on sythetic oil.

My truck also has a ticking sound on the passenger side when it gets hot. It's the A/C compressor clutch. It clicks a lot at idle if I haven't run the A/C in a while. After running the A/C for a few weeks, it goes away until next year.

 

I had a tick on the passenger side, it was a bad PCV valve.
I replaced the valve and the tick went away

 

No one even mentioned injectors. The fuel injectors can and do "tick" without causing a problem.

Being that you heard the tick right after an oil change, injectors might not be the first thing to check. If the tick persist after changing the oil you might want to check the injectors.

 

I use to own a Nissan 4 banger that did the same thing.. for the 1st month or 2 after changing the oil I would get a ticking sound, after the oil wore down a bit it would go away.. This all started occuring after I tiped the truck & one of the valves lost sufficent oil for a few minutes. Dont know what damage it ever caused, truck still runs great today 8 years after the fact.

 

Sorry I have not had time to reply. The tick stopped . I didnt do anything and it stopped. It must be somthing not internal on the motor. It rained a lot here and it stopped. I am changing the oil asap.Also going to go everything this week. I need a manual.I looked a the CHILTONS any other suggestions?thanks for all the help!!! Bob