Sledhead24-7

I have a 2001 ford f150 5.4L ever since I bought it. It has had a tick that makes it sound like crap just had it in the shop new exhaust manifold gaskets,new ball joints,checked everything over real good. The only thing I could think of is maybe a crack or something in the y pipe? Or cats screwed up, I don't know but sounds horrid. Instead of hearing the nice exhaust rumble when idling its tick,tick, tick and does it a slow speeds but once you get going it seems to go away?

Sledhead24-7

Anyone?

jferg92

Exhaust manifold stud probably

Sinnned18

Check your spark plugs. I had a similar situation recently and 2 spark plugs were loose

Mike.357

my old truck with a 4.2 used to make this sound. Started around 180K or so. Dunno what it was. I always figured something to do with the exhaust as it still ran like a scalded dog.

Sledhead24-7

Yes runs great, just ticks and shop said no broken studs on manifold is there anyway to test?

FordTruckMotorsport

This is not because you dont have broken bolt that your manifold could not be ''leaking'', remember there a gasket between the manifold and the motor, mine is doin the same, for sure, i know 2 bolt are missing, 1 on each side. But you should chek out for the gasket.

I am wondering, the gasket is done, at 200k, if i had to change the gasket, should i change the manifold as well ?? pretty rusted, but ive seen worst...

Sledhead24-7

Mine has a brand new gasket

ford4life.

You could have the slightest pin hole in the mini fold that will make it do that

f-onefitty

I had the same problem for a really long time, rust ate a hole in the exhaust manifold. Exhaust leak like this is probably the most likely cause, followed by a loose spark plug maybe