Hey guys this is the first post ive done. And i got a weird question to ask. I have a 2000 single cab F-150 with a 4.2 V6 with 119,000 miles and i was wanting to know. Has anybody else had a tapping noise come from there engine only when its in gear. When ever i has my truck in park my engine purrs just fine. But when its in gear it make a tapping noise. After it warms up it dont do it. I' Please keep in mind i have a Shade Tree Mechanic skill level. I just thought ied ask cuz even the guys at autozone didnt even know. Any advice would be great .
Thanks

 

Is it more like a ticking? Maybe exhaust leak somewhere?

 

Any chance on recording a video of the sound? If it goes away after heated up, it could be a few things. Could be a very minor exhaust manifold leak. Could be something in the top end of the motor.

 

I've got the same issue with my 4.2l just started as the weather has gotten cold. First 10 minutes when the truck is under a "load" condition, accilerating I hear a distinct tappet (although it's not as "tappety" as my Durango, more like plastic rather than metal sound). It goes away once warmed up. Latest maintenance I've done was a coolent flush (shouldn't have any bearing) and an oil change (Fram filter but used synthetic oil). I'm wondering if the more fluid nature of the 5w30 synth oil (Orielly brand) is causing it to drain out of the upper part of the engine....any wisdom out there?

Rusty Irons (better me than my f150!)

 

Check and make sure there's oil in the thing, my 4.2 dropped a lot of oil and had a ticking noise pretty bad. I know that's probably the first thing to check but better safe than sorry

 

Oil is full...still wondering if I should pull the synthetic out...

 

If it's a ticking noise it's normal in the 4.2, just something you have to get use to.

 

Yeah it's more like a ticking noise not a rod knocking I've only had the truck since April and it started doing it since the weather started changing and my oil level is fine . So if it a normal trait then I guess it's fine now if I can just figure out the egr problem on my wife's windstar
Thanks