Have a 92 F-150 with the 4.9L, Auto, A/C, 72,000 miles. Just recently has begun having a ticking sound toward the rear of the engine. It has always been alittle noisy, but this is new. I am thinking it is probably a lifter, but the ticking sound is only about 3 per sec, or around 180 a minute. This engine idles at about 750 rpm. If this noise was a lifter wouldn't the sound be more frequent? Do injectors make a ticking sound as they wear? Also if it is a lifter would it hurt anything to try a cleaner like Marvel Mystery Oil? If needed is it difficult to replace a lifter? This truck has EFI. Thanks for your time.

 

Does it make this noise at idle, or only under load/while driving?

 

Could be the sound of a leaking exhaust manifold or the EGR tube (if rusty).

 

It is hard to tell if it ticks while driving, but it does at idle, both slow and fast idle. The EGR valve is still pretty new, a couple of years old, I will have to check out the exhaust system. Thanks

 

Check for a loose spark plug. Sounds like lifter tick.

 

That didn't come out right, I meat to say, a loose plug sounds like lifter tick

 

Thanks will check out the spark plugs.

 

It could also be the PCV valve. It's towards the firewall right behind the valve cover. Mine's kinda loud and it took me quite a while to figure out what was making all the noise. Just something to check out.

 

just replaced the oil breather(did not seal) new pvc valve and one of the sparkplugs was kind of loose. going to try it tonight see if the sound went away.

 

the injectors do make a ticking noise. the normal noisiness you mentioned is the timing gear setup. it doesn't have chain. its gear driven. also ford truck powersteering pumps make noise.

 

Wik

You are the man, finally had time to really investigate the ticking noise. I can't believe it, but it was a loose sparkplug. I was all ready to start taking off the air induction system to get to the valve cover tonight, when I found that loose sparkplug. What a sweet noise to hear that rumbling six without that dang tick. Thanks to all that responded, but Wik you were right, a loose sparkplug does sound like a lifter tick.

 

I actually drew that idea from previous posts, and my wife. Glad I could finally contribute.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

 

could it also be caused by an exhaust leak?

 

The bombs got some weird noises coming from it too. I get some tick too, but i suspect its the the injector(s) that got a bad case of the squirts. I get a little gas in there too, gotta change em soon. The valves get a bit a noice from time to time, like a startup or once wormed up like at a stoplight its gets a slower raaat raaat raaat raaat noise kind of like a diesel. Sounds like a well broken 300 with sawdust ticks and rats.