dukedkt442

An exhaust manifold leak should be easy to discern. Often exhaust manifold leaks go away as it warms up, as the gasket expands and seals it. Check for missing/broken manifold studs; even more telling is black soot at the site of the exhaust leak. I have one on the top rear-middle of the driver's manifold that I temporarily sealed with JB weld a year ago, planning on replacing that manifold over memorial day weekend.

Roadblock007

I still suspect it's something else. The tick doesn't go away after being warm and it seems to stop at 1200 rpm's and above which would indicate the phaser. Although I can't tell if the engine noise just overpowers it or not.

The stethoscope is telling me that the tick isn't at the head or valve cover or intake when I touch them. I would have thought the phaser would be evident at the front of the head but it's not where the sound is from.

I have a hole in the pipe just before the muffler so I can't pressurize it right now to diagnose the manifold.

Roadblock007

I was looking over the service history again. The timing job including phasers and new lifters was done at Ford 25000km ago. Should I just get a new head and be done with it?

LariatDude

Can we get a video with sound? Kind of hard to discern it by just reading

Roadblock007

Here is a clip.

ShirBlackspots

Where's the clip?

Roadblock007

Damn. How do I post a clip? It won't let me. The "post" button doesn't light up after I select the file.

Roadblock007

Still trying to upload a video.

Roadblock007

Try this one.

ShirBlackspots

Sounds a bit like an exhaust leak. Its certainly not the cam phasers, which make a completely different sound.