2003 5.4 tick, tick, tick
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2003 5.4 tick, tick, tick
I have a 2003 5.4 that is driving me nuts! It has this anoying tick coming from the passanger side wheel well. I just replaced all the exhast manifold studs and the gasket, but its still has this noise. What is causing it? Im thinking it valve related? I first thought a cam phaser, but its a 03 not a 04. Thanks
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Joined: Feb 2007
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My '99 5.4 has had lifter noise for over 100k miles (217k now). Worst coasting downhill in the mountains. Went to 20w50, that helped.
I wouldn't worry about it, mine started about 110k. That's about 5 years, hasn't blown up yet.
I wouldn't worry about it, mine started about 110k. That's about 5 years, hasn't blown up yet.
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This is pretty common, mine does it too, so did my brothers. I think it is almost always the exhaust manifold gasket. I just haven't replaced it because everyone says the rusty studs break off into the head. I did, however, put a louder exhaust on for the sole purpose to drown it out. 
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Modular engines do not have lifters, yours is probably the manifold gasket also.
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From: in the fast lane
I had 2002 with 5.4 that had a tick, I finally found out what it was when it blew the sparkplug out striping the threads. I thought it was a manifold gasket leaking.
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Senior User
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You should consider going to another shop, the sohc 5.4 is a modular engine, no lifters, no pushrods.
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It's funny my brothers '00 5.4 was the posterchild to common 5.4 problems and the manifold gasket problem and spark plug problem sound very similar until his spark plug blew out of the head which made it very obvious.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Pa
Broken exhaust manifold studs which cause an exhaust leak is common on the 99'-04' SDs with 2V modulars. It seems 1 out of 3 trucks in my area between those years with that engine have an exhaust leak you can easily hear. Some are really bad but the owners do not seem to care and just keep driving. On a carbureted engine an exhaust leak isn't a huge deal but its a different story on FI vehicles with O2s sensors.
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thanks good to know. i wasnt very happy with them anyways. 99% of the time i do all the work and maintenence myself but i just couldnt figure out that tick sound
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