I have a 2007 F150 with a 5.4L with 159,000 miles. I just changed the oil today and the tick and sound has gotten worse. I use motorcraft oil and filter. It is full on oil and the tick was never this bad. This video illustrates the sound after the oil change and after driving it about 10-15 minutes. The rattle is what I am concerned with, I'm guessing the tick is associated with it.

I have changed the plugs and coils. I don't know if the truck has had the phasers or anything changed. Thanks!

 

Good news is it doesn't sound like phasers to me and I had a phaser problem. That sound will usually go away when the rpms go up. I could still hear it as the rpms increased. No codes? Any other problems or maintenance? Did you do anything else when you changed the oil?

 

No codes. No other issues. Used the same oil and filter as always. The rattle started after the oil change. I can't tell if it is chain slap, VCT, or manifold? I don't know

 

With the engine running get your ear close to the driver fender well then do the same at the passenger fender well. If the ticking is louder on one side or the other you probably have a manifold leak. You can visually inspect for soot buildup at a point around the manifold. Chains/tensioners would be more towards the front of the engine and wouldn't vary depending on side.

 

If thats' not it, take a mechanic's stethoscope or long screw driver and listen to different parts of the front cover. Can't really tell what it is from the vid, but hope it's not chains/tensioners.

 

The sound is louder in the wheel wells. I have looked at the manifolds and they look intact but I am unable to tell first hand. I do have a tick which is loud. Are the sounds related, the tick and the rattle? I found another video with a sound close to mine. It said a bad VCT. That is why I was thinking the VCT or the manifold.

 

You'll definitely hear the VCT as a 'thunk' sound if yo put a screwdriver up against the running engine, and your ear against the other end. It's pretty definite.

Passenger side seems to be the one that goes first.

 

So is that what I have here? I can't tell if it is a manifold leak, or a VCT? I don't know which is which and hate to throw money at the problem

 

Exhaust manifold leak is horrible for about 10-15 seconds after start-up, then kinda goes away. You might hear it on the highway when you accelerate.

VCT/Phasers get worse as the oil warms up. If it's bad enough, your engine will freak-out hot, at idle, possibly in reverse or drive with the brakes on. Goes away when you rev to 1,500rpm.

Tensioners have a dry-start rattle for about 1 or 2 seconds immediately after start-up.

 

The sound doesn't go away after 10-15 seconds. It sounds like a heat shield is loose when you rev it up til about 1500 rpms. Truck doesn't over heat at all. Pulls my camper with no issues. Is there something I'm missing? I was thinking of changing the VCT anyways to look in the engine and see what it all looks like in there. I'm looking at getting rid of it come February and want to make sure it will not only last, put still pull my camper and get me around town when needed.