Ok so a little info here first. This has only happened 2 times ever in the history of me having this truck. Both were within the last 3 weeks. Upon start-up the truck sounded just fine. No noise, nothing out of the ordinary. However, once it had been running for about 20 seconds the ticking began. It increases with RPM and is coming from the driver side valve cover. Here is where it gets odd. After about 1 minute the noise just stopped. It didn't fade out, rather just stopped all of a sudden. When this first happened about 3 weeks ago I didn't really know what it was as I was inside the cab. I out it into gear then and it went away. It never came back so I didn't out much thought into it.

Truck has been running 5W-40 Shell Rotella T6 Synthetic for a little over a year now with no issue. At cold idle, when the noise was noticeable, the truck makes ~65psi of oil pressure. At hot idle it sits at ~22psi and runs down the highway at ~45psi so I know there isn't an oil pressure issue. However, the engine was neglected by my Dad before I got the truck. I can tell there is some buildup in the engine due to the fact that oil is black within 1200 miles of an oil change.

From what I have read this could be a sticking lifter. I'm thinking there is a chance that the oil I am running right now that is really good at cleaning old deposits out of the engine might have loosened up some chunks and they might be getting into a lifter. However, I am no expert so I went ahead and grabbed a video of the sound for you guys to listen to.

 

Sounds like a lifter, I would get a long screwdriver or stethoscope and listen around the area to be sure, but sounds like lifter to me. In the old days we would put a can of ATF in place of 1 qt. of oil at oil change and a lot of times that would cure the problem. But with modern oils, that might not have any effect. You likely correct, oil is loosening deposits, this an annoying noise, but not serious.

 

I'm gonna try and find a friend or family member with an extra car to see if I can borrow it. If I can I'm just gonna pull the motor and address some issues I'm having all at once...

 

One thing you might try. Remove the Drive belt/belts and see if the sound goes away, or changes. That way you know for sure that it is coming from the engine and not some piece of rotating equipment.

 

I did the screwdriver check . It's coming from the Driverside valve train...

 

Sea Foam or Marvel Mystery Oil and a 50 mile run have helped me a couple times with sticking lifters before.

 

I'm gonna try that next. Just had to replace a tire today so money is even tighter now... Nothing like getting punched in the face when your already on the ground...

 

Tried some MMO in the oil. Ran it for about 100 miles and just changed the oil today. No luck, it is still sticking intermittently. Before I make a final call on a bad lifter, is there any way I can determine it is a lifter without actually removing the lifters? If I pull the valve cover could I just check for movement of the rocker arms and if so would that indicate a bad lifter?

 

Anybody? Any input?

 

Could be a worn pushrod or rocker arm along with a slightly worn lifter.

If you pull the cover you can use a pry bar or large screwdriver to push against rocker arm while the engine is idling… this would tighten the clearance between the lifter pushrod seat and the pushrod and would quiet it down.

Narrrow down what cyl. is noisy and replace the lifter. I'd be using a heavier grade oil in that engine but that's just me. I don't want to get into an oil bashing thread here… good luck.

 

I agree Krooser about the oil battle royale. That being said i would find a high detergent oil and throw sone seafoam in it and run it for a little while and see if that helps clean things up.

 

I ran marvel mystery oil through it for 100 miles. It was mixed with Shell Rotella T6. Fr what I am observing, it only occurs when cold. Once the engine is fully warmed up it doesn't do it. I am currently running 5W-30 Motorcraft as of 2 days ago. I'm thinking a 10W-40 might help but it will only be a bandaid.

 

Marvel's is unsurpassed in this application in my experience, but it needs to be installed in both the fuel and oil. Replace 1 quart of oil with the MMO, and about 4 oz. per 10 gallons of fuel.