6.2 tapping noise
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2019
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6.2 tapping noise
So my truck (2013 f150 6.2) will make this noise sometimes on startup. Doesn’t do it all the time and mainly seems to be cold starts. Sounds like a metallic tap, also seems a little louder at the back of the engine than the front. Is this the infamous 6.2 tick with nothing to worry about or something else?
https://youtube.com/shorts/8msBOB3Dd0Q?feature=share
https://youtube.com/shorts/8msBOB3Dd0Q?feature=share
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2019
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interesting, I am running 5w-20 right now as it’s the factory spec but I’ve considered switching to 5w-30 at the next oil change anyways
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From: Home Base Nebraska
Drive throughs can make a great sound chamber so you can hear sounds you don't normally hear. I would try changing to 5w-30 and see if it makes a difference, it could be just a part in the valve train getting out of spec from miles. Ford changed the 6.2 to 5w-30 I think in 16 or 17 without any major changes to the motor and like I said I changed to it a few years ago.
Denny
Denny
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Tuned
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Drive throughs can make a great sound chamber so you can hear sounds you don't normally hear. I would try changing to 5w-30 and see if it makes a difference, it could be just a part in the valve train getting out of spec from miles. Ford changed the 6.2 to 5w-30 I think in 16 or 17 without any major changes to the motor and like I said I changed to it a few years ago.
Denny
Denny
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From: Home Base Nebraska
What you really need to do is get 16 new plugs (2 per cylinder) new wires and boots before you start throwing any major parts or time at it. 185K without knowing what's been done to it start with a good tuneup. Pay attention to the plugs when you remove them so if you can see if any one cylinder has a problem. If it keeps on nocking on acceleration replace the nock sensors.
Denny
Denny
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Tuned
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What you really need to do is get 16 new plugs (2 per cylinder) new wires and boots before you start throwing any major parts or time at it. 185K without knowing what's been done to it start with a good tuneup. Pay attention to the plugs when you remove them so if you can see if any one cylinder has a problem. If it keeps on nocking on acceleration replace the nock sensors.
Denny
Denny
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From: Home Base Nebraska
Put your truck in a dark building or go out at night and look under the hood when idling and see if you have any arching at the coil packs, they have been known to break down and start arching.
Denny
Denny
Tuned
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Chances are at that mileage some coils will be trashed, and you can't put a boot or resistor. Replace with Denso or Motorcraft.
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Tuned
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Is there a way to test for a bad coil, other than see them arcing at night? I’ve read there’s no need to replace coils unless they fail.
Fleet Mechanic
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All my 6.2L trucks with over 100k miles have arcing coils to some degree. Not worth replacing them unless you cant stand the noise.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2012
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You can identify an arcing coil very easily. You can see it day or night and it makes an identifiable snapping sound just like if you were to be zapped by static electricity. Nothing else in the engine bay sounds like that so it cant be mistaken. There really is no testing that can be done as the coil is still functioning and providing enough voltage to the spark plug and what's escaping through the arc is minimal.
All my 6.2L trucks with over 100k miles have arcing coils to some degree. Not worth replacing them unless you cant stand the noise.
All my 6.2L trucks with over 100k miles have arcing coils to some degree. Not worth replacing them unless you cant stand the noise.
The cheap coils were another story.
When you take the coils apart, you can see broken tabs where the resistor sits, and daylight thru some of them - that is how you know it is spent. The resistor will come out like a carbon powder.