I took the passenger manifold completely off for the second time yesterday. This time I was going to use Copper RTV on the gaskets to seal them up. I cleaned both surfaces, put the RTV on generously, set the gaskets on, then bolted the manifolds up. Making sure it pulled even. Let it set overnight, fire it up this morning hoping for good things, but the mother ****ing tick is still there. If you remember last week, I put a mirror under the manifold and under exhuast port one, the tick was deflecting the mirror, meaning the tick would change sounds as i put the mirror under the manifold lip. I also feel warm air being expelled from that area. Now that I used the Copper sealant, I do no think the tick is coming from the manifold, I think it is coming from my head gasket. I think its worn and I'm having a compression loss between the deck and head.

any thoughts. . .


heres the tick again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZLvROc9uxM

 

well, if your hunch IS the head gasket, do a compression test on all cylinders and compare the #'s.

 

has anybody ever heard of a head gasket making a tick sound? I mean, I cant complain of a lack of power, cause thats what the 4six does best. But with sealing the thing twice and having the exact sound makes me believe it cannot be the manifold. I inspected it and havent seen any cracks. The surface from the head and deck is always moist also. I know Ford had a problem with these gaskets on the early 98's, and mine do indeed leak oil like they did off the factory floor, but I havent heard of ticks cause of compression lost.

I could do a comp test, when I get the gauge