Basics:
2008 3V V-10 F-350 stock with only 5-Star power tune
61,000 miles on it

Twice in the past two months it has produced a loud tick tick tick on startup--after about 30 seconds or so sound is gone (someone standing next to it the first time it did it said it sounded like lifter noise).

Now if I start it with the window down I can hear the tick very quietly but it only ticks about 3 times before stopping..

Otherwise truck runs great: Just pulled the camper over labor day 200+ miles purring nicely as always...

Obvious question: Is this an indication that something is going south and should be corrected (I'm sure the sooner the correction the less $$ will be involved than later...)

 

If it goes away, its probably just an exhaust leak. Once things heat up and expand it stops... That's what it is on mine anyway. Probably one (maybe more) broken exhaust manifold bolt.

 

Mine does the exact same thing. Has done since I bought it a year ago. Ticking goes away after the truck has warmed up for a couple of minutes. I think it's why the truck was so cheap because it sounds serious when you first fire it up. I'd recommend having a reputable exhaust shop look it over but a leak isn't the end of the world.

 

But the 3V doesn't have the exhaust leaks--at least that I'm aware of.
In addition, the ticking sounds very mechanical..

 

mine had been doing that off and on over the past 4 weeks or so. started doing it occasionally while driving and hot. then it spit out a spark plug. luckily it didn't wreck the threads in the head. replaced with a new plug and found 3 other loose plugs.

 

When I picked my truck up in June (08 350) it made a "ticking" noise that turned out to be broken/rotted exhaust manifold studs and I believe the manifold. Luckily I was still under warranty and thanks to Ford have a new exhaust manifold and stainless studs. The dealer tried to sell me on the "Oh Ford trucks are know for that noise, its the lifters." Nice lame excuse. After researching it and finding its covered under warranty I bought the truck and then had them fix and replace it.

The noise was constant on acceleration and driving though. Maybe yours is just starting or its something else.

 

my noise was a loose spark plug. went away after i replaced the one that got away.
I was suggesting that perhaps yours might be a loose spark plug

 

Samsdad02 - I dont think the 3V engine suffer the plug problems that your model year does. Ford changed the plugs in the 3V and now they get stuck in the head and break depending on when the truck was built. I believe trucks built after 10/07 got better plugs that don't seize in the head. But the 2V had the plugs come loose because there were only 3 threads or something.

 

the exhaust stud problem isnt any different between years. all the mod motors use studs that are simply to narrow..

eventualy rotting off.

im gunna bet you have at least 1 broken or loose stud...

 

Yeah, I gotta say, I've heard of the 3-valvers having broken studs too ... check them out.

 

Yes it's a exhaust stud, my '08 has 3 broken, 2 on the drivers side and one on the passenger side.

 

Finally got a break in the rain to look around some: Found one missing stud top drivers side all the way to the front. There are 10 each side right: 5 top, 5 bottom. I guess you have to crawl around underneath to see the bottom ones? I couldn't see any bottom ones due to the front axle (4x4) and the massive cross-member under there.

 

Mine sounds like it has a squirrel in it when starts cold. When hot there isn't any noise.

 

Killing myself laughing thinking about that!!! I can see that happening when mine was making the exhaust leak noise!!

 

Each engine has 10 squirrels... but the cylinders with broken studs lets out the sound of them scratching to get out...