My '95 F-150 generates a ticking noise when it is in gear. It's easily heard when traveling at 30mph or less, and goes away when I shift into neutral, even if I rev the engine slightly to simulate the RPMs used at that speed. The tech that worked on the truck at the local Ford dealer runs a F-150 from the same year, and identified the noise as 'Injector Noise' and recommended a cleaning.

I don't buy the diagnosis, and would appreciate any input on potential causes or remedies. The truck I have is a 1995 F-150, 5.0L, AOD transmission, 4WD, and ~105K on the clock. The noise sounds just like what I would identify as a stuck lifter or such, but only occurs when the truck is in gear, and becomes more pronounced under *light* acceleration. It's not a pinging noise, and from the frequency, sounds like it's only coming from one or two cylinders. Noise is more noticable from the right side.

Other symptoms include a thirst for gas (I get ~13-14MPG - and I don't drive like it's NASCAR - on the highway) and a penchant for downshifting to go up the slightest grade or headwind. Since I purchased the truck used about 2K miles ago, I don't have a whole lot of history to offer. However, I do have about 2K miles to go until the warranty expires, and would like to get the 'problem' fixed before then... Thanks for the help.

 

I had a "buzz" noise in my van like that, loud on accel and sounds like a "tick" at idle. It's just a sign of a wore out engine, blow-by... Look in your air filter box could be that the breather element needs changed causing a little higer crankcase pressures.

 

my 95 had that same noise i thought it was valve lifter sticking only occurred when in gear and climbing a grade or a heavy load on the engine. I though my engine was going saw that happen with my pops 302 at about 169000. . it turned out that mine was due to a restricted cat and after replacing the cat the noise left. it was casuing back pressure against the valves and lifters along with the intake system. also causes the pcm to pour in more fuel under loads

run a good fuel injector cleaner thur your engine bad injectors will tick i use dura lube fuel injector cleaner and my truck burns clean

have your cats pressure tested at a muff shop. this entails blowing a pin hole and inserting a gage at the hole. my 95 f 150 had two cats on the y pipe. I found a good system to replace it at www.preficientproformance.com it was much cheaper than what the muff shop wanted and it cost 831.00 for cats and a new muffler system all the way out and it was stainless steel. that hung on all the factory hangers and it bolted right in.

if you had a bad lifter you would hear it at all times in idle and it would most likely go away at higher rpms.

 

Check and see if you have an exhaust manifold and/or exhaust
manifold gasket leak...

 

Exhaust it is... Devil of a problem to locate - only makes the noise when in gear and in motion. Traced it to the 'Y' pipe, and since it's not life threatening, I'm not going to sweat it till is makes too much noise. Straight pipes won't do