I have a 97 w/ the 4.6 engine and 230K on the clock. I always taken care of engine oil and maintenance items etc. Anyway I started it up yesterday and heard a loud ticking from the engine. I have been smelling antifreeze for a few months, but no noticeable usage and dripping from exhaust other than condensation. I cannot tell where it is coming from. I am thinking it may gave been a rod bearing? The truck still starts and runs smooth, just that loud ticking. Any thoughts?

 

It could be a faulty Roller Lifter/Valve Tappet. Are you still using 5W20? You should use a more ticker viscosity to properly lubricate the bearings.

 

The same thing happened to me. A few days later plug in cylinder 6 blew out. Ive got a 5.4 so just thought I'd say something

 

Maybe it's an EGR problem or Your Intake Manifold is flooded with oil. Automotive Engine oil is full of Detergents & Additives that absorb moisture. If your not driving the vehicle long enough in a highway the Dipstick reading is inaccurate. If the Oil is not near the maximum level after driving it on a highway for few miles the oil in the dipstick could drop below minimum.

 

I have a 2001 supercrew with 5.4 with 203,000 I noticed my truck started ticking and one of the plugs blew out may be something to look at.

 

Ethanol Fuel Burns Hotter causing Oil to Vaporize and being suck by the PCV going to the Intake Manifold.

 

I am using a 10w/30 oil and change it every 3k miles and usually drive the truck a decent distance to warm it up... Hell a few days before this I towed a boat 5800lbs around 130miles. I don't think there is oil flooded the manifold and I check all the plugs and made sure they didn't pop

 

Check where the Noise is coming from. If you don't have stethoscope. Make one using screwdriver hadle inserted to a hose. It will be easier if you know exactly where the noise comes from. Is it from the Cam Cover, Cylinder Block, Front cover etc.?

 

I'll try the screwdriver handle trick and see if I can narrow it down... Might pull the oil pan and look at rotating assembly

 

Still cant quite determine where the noise is coming from, but i am at the viewpoint just to replace the engine... It has 230K on it and for the last 6Mo i have been smelling burning antifreeze. So i think i would be putting a bandaide over a wound that needed stiches by trying to fix it. BTW anybody replace an engine on a standard truck without removing the trans? Not sure how hard it is to line up everything. I have done several auto's before.