For the past 2 or 3 weeks ive had an exhaust leak on the passenger side around the manifold. today its makes a horrible flattering/flapping/ clanging noise, ill try and get some sound clips up later but ive had plenty of exhaust leaks in my day of owning over 25 cars and trucks and have never heard anything like this. Its coming from the same side. The really weird part is as soon as it warms up it completely goes away. Almost sounds like flapping metal or something hitting something when you rev it up.

edit: either way its gotta be fixed i just hope thats all it is is an exhaust leak, im wondering about headers though, i can get a set of pacesetter long tube headers for $300, are they any good? and would i need a tune with them cause ide probably have to bolt them up to the exhaust i have now until i can run true duals

 

Better make sure a plugs not on it's way out, sounds like you'll find out soon if you don't check..

 

yeah, plugs were changed on 3/06 by ford dealership...think i should still check them?

 

Definitely, at least the side you hear the leak from, it could very well be the problem..

My exhaust flange bolts rusted down to a pencils lead thickness before they broke , that was a fun fix - hope you have a drill doctor if that's the case..

 

Most likely you have some broken exhaust manifold studs. My '99 used to do that and it had 3 broken studs on the passenger side.
Take them out, replace them with the new style stainless studs and you should never have this problem again.

 

alright so im gonna check those today, also changing my fuel filter using the diy forum, i came across this..
*Webmasters Note* - You must release the fuel pressure in the fuel line or gas will literally spray everywhere. On the passengers side fuel rail (on the engine), there is a Schrader valve which you can depress and it will de-pressurize the lines. Sorry, I don't have a picture of it.

does anyone have a picture of that or can tell me what that is and how to properly de-pressurize the fuel lines. or is that exactly what it is. and after de-pressurizing and changing the filter is there anything i have to do to prep the lines or should it start right up.

 

One other thing worth noting is that it could be nothing more than piston slap. It was common in Triton engines of that era. During the winter months my truck has some wicked piston slap, but once you get a mile or 2 down the road, the engine starts to warm up the noise gets less and less and by the time the temp gauge just starts to come up into the normal range the noise is gone.
I would definetely check those studs though, thats a possible culprit. If you let the engine go with broken studs the rattling of the manifold can eventually crack the manifold or even worse damage the surface where the manifold seals to the engine and then you have an expensive fix.

 

well plugs are tight, fuel filter is changed. Must be the exhaust or piston slap or what not. ive heard also not to let it go to long or it can warp the surface. Happened to my dads old f250, never sealed right again, he had to have new gaskets put in bout every 2 months, it was ridiculous. i was hoping to wait for new headers but looks like that might be another week or 2, ill just go pay the $200 and have it fixed for now. thanks