So I just want to pick your brains here. I have a 2011 F150 5.0L that I bout used a little over a year ago. It has 135,000 miles on it now. Recently I started getting a ticking tapping noise from the engine compartment. It doesn’t do it when I first start the truck or even when I first start driving but after it warms up the noise starts. Also it’s not noticeable except at lower RPMs. Idle it’s a steady tick around 500 RPMs and up to 1500 where it gets faster but then around 2000 seems non existent. Also if I barely touch the gas petal I notice it but if I give it more gas seems to disappear. Where should I start to diagnose/fix this problem, what should I expect to be the problem. Also no engine performance issues, temp stays good, oil pressure is good, no hesitation when stepping on the gas. I’ll say nothing very noticeable.

 

Buy a mechanic's stethoscope and start probing. You should be able to isolate the source pretty quickly. I would start at the heads and covers.

 

thank you I will do that.

 

No worries. Ill keep an eye out and see what you find.

 

What oil are you using? (5w20, 30?)

What is the oil level at?

 

Welcome to the club, my 2013 5.0 is tapping at 50k miles.

injector? Don’t know, but my 1995 4.9 was always quiet at 125K miles when I stupidly “upgraded” to my 2013. It’s been a big disappointment.

 

yeah oil in it is 5w-20 and oil level is still good. Just had oil change recently and even they said it was at good level.

 

Yeah I read a lot of people claim injector but I don’t know yet. Sucky thing is I’m away from home at work about 7 hours away. I don’t go home until Sunday. I don’t want to work on it out here because if something else happens I’d rather it be sitting at me house.

 

Bad timing i know, but put some 5w30 in it - this is only happening when hot, when a 5w20 is running thinner than a 5w30.

 

Mine tapped all the way to 400 when dealer killed my truck. I wouldn't worry as majority of '11-'12 trucks did it.