I'd really check the exhaust manifold bolts first. They are a common problem on all Ford motors, I installed stainless Gibson headers at 33k so I wouldn't have that problem in the future

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that will be next....i may have to shoehorn the ford in the garage this weekend and start looking....are the injectors known for noises on these engines? im not ruling out anything.

 

My motor and ever mod motor I ever heard had a noise to it. They all have a light ticking time clock sound to them for some reason

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ill have to listen to some more 5.4 engines. a friend of mine has a 05 that sounds horrible. .he put 120000 miles on it since he had it, now has a total of 280000 miles on it and very proud of the fact the spark plugs have never been replaced......

 

bringing this thread back to life. i recorded the audio from the truck so you can hear how it sounds, i could not for the life of me get it to download direct from my iphone so click on the you tube link and it will take you to the page,
after having a few more mechanic friends of mine listening to it , seems were split on broken timing chain guide or lash adjuster .
this is from the passenger side of the truck and then from under the passenger side, sorry it was kinda dark when i recorded it last night.


IMG 0379 - YouTube

 

2000 ford f250 5.4 making rattling noise - YouTube


close enough

 

If you have a 2000 ford f250 5.4 lite its the same as my 99. I've gone through the plug issue twice with ticking continuing after the repair. I'm old school when I hear ticking first thing I think of is valve adjust.....wrong answer again. There is 0 valve lash with the overhead cam but I isisted on replacing the 16 CAM Followers......still tick tick tick...Using a stethoscope could hear ticking faintly around the timing cover up front but much distinct on top and below the heads. Hard to tell where it is really coming from but my money is on the exhaust or injectors..Good Luck

 

That doesn't sound like air escaping to me. I would look more towards a bad timing chain adjuster or guide.

 

i still feel like it is a bad timing chain guide. haven't gotten it fixed yet mainly b/c i never drive it. spend all my time in a 2011 ford e350 that has a mystery vacuum leak.

 

I actually just had this very problem. It turned out to be the air conditioning compressor. A quick $300 fix.