Exhaust noise?
Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 11
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Exhaust noise?
Hey All,
Hoping someone can help me diagnose a sound I’m getting from my rear end passenger side where the exhaust tip is. First off I have a 2020 F250 XLT 6.2 gas. It’s hard to explain in words the sound but it’s like a howl/grinding/rattle and seems to be isolated to the passenger rear. It’s not constant and I mainly hear it under low throttle going uphill, low throttle under load like when I’m towing, just generally at low speeds. Once I let off the gas the sound goes away or at least significantly improves which leads me to think it’s exhaust flow or vibration related. It is the stock exhaust by the way. I’ve checked underneath and can’t find anything loose or leaks etc. Anyone have any ideas what this noise could be or what to check? It’s driving me crazy. Thanks in advance!
Hoping someone can help me diagnose a sound I’m getting from my rear end passenger side where the exhaust tip is. First off I have a 2020 F250 XLT 6.2 gas. It’s hard to explain in words the sound but it’s like a howl/grinding/rattle and seems to be isolated to the passenger rear. It’s not constant and I mainly hear it under low throttle going uphill, low throttle under load like when I’m towing, just generally at low speeds. Once I let off the gas the sound goes away or at least significantly improves which leads me to think it’s exhaust flow or vibration related. It is the stock exhaust by the way. I’ve checked underneath and can’t find anything loose or leaks etc. Anyone have any ideas what this noise could be or what to check? It’s driving me crazy. Thanks in advance!
Official Ford Pro Rep
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 1,349
Likes: 1,284
Hey All,
Hoping someone can help me diagnose a sound I’m getting from my rear end passenger side where the exhaust tip is. First off I have a 2020 F250 XLT 6.2 gas. It’s hard to explain in words the sound but it’s like a howl/grinding/rattle and seems to be isolated to the passenger rear. It’s not constant and I mainly hear it under low throttle going uphill, low throttle under load like when I’m towing, just generally at low speeds. Once I let off the gas the sound goes away or at least significantly improves which leads me to think it’s exhaust flow or vibration related. It is the stock exhaust by the way. I’ve checked underneath and can’t find anything loose or leaks etc. Anyone have any ideas what this noise could be or what to check? It’s driving me crazy. Thanks in advance!
Hoping someone can help me diagnose a sound I’m getting from my rear end passenger side where the exhaust tip is. First off I have a 2020 F250 XLT 6.2 gas. It’s hard to explain in words the sound but it’s like a howl/grinding/rattle and seems to be isolated to the passenger rear. It’s not constant and I mainly hear it under low throttle going uphill, low throttle under load like when I’m towing, just generally at low speeds. Once I let off the gas the sound goes away or at least significantly improves which leads me to think it’s exhaust flow or vibration related. It is the stock exhaust by the way. I’ve checked underneath and can’t find anything loose or leaks etc. Anyone have any ideas what this noise could be or what to check? It’s driving me crazy. Thanks in advance!
Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
no sir, I haven’t. I will definitely let you know if I do and please let me know if you figure yours out!
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
Think I found the issue!
This threads a bit inactive but I’ve been trying to troubleshoot this issue and am 90% confident that I found the culprit. Or at minimum, where it’s coming from.
Like OP, I get a low frequency vibration/growl/rattle coming from the rear passenger side. It typically happens when the tranny is under almost no load with the gas pedal being slightly engaged.
Yesterday, my truck was running and me and a buddy were standing near the rear passenger side wheel shooting the breeze when BAM, I started hearing a low volume version low frequency vibration/growl/rattle sound.
I immediately got on the ground and tracked it to the muffler area. I threw my boot under and pressed on the muffler and HOLY CRAP — the noise stopped. I’m not saying it’s a bad muffler but what I suspect is that it’s a lose muffler bracket or even the heat shield is lose that sits on top of the muffler.
I’m going to try to diagnose it more this week and will report back.
Like OP, I get a low frequency vibration/growl/rattle coming from the rear passenger side. It typically happens when the tranny is under almost no load with the gas pedal being slightly engaged.
Yesterday, my truck was running and me and a buddy were standing near the rear passenger side wheel shooting the breeze when BAM, I started hearing a low volume version low frequency vibration/growl/rattle sound.
I immediately got on the ground and tracked it to the muffler area. I threw my boot under and pressed on the muffler and HOLY CRAP — the noise stopped. I’m not saying it’s a bad muffler but what I suspect is that it’s a lose muffler bracket or even the heat shield is lose that sits on top of the muffler.
I’m going to try to diagnose it more this week and will report back.
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Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
This threads a bit inactive but I’ve been trying to troubleshoot this issue and am 90% confident that I found the culprit. Or at minimum, where it’s coming from.
Like OP, I get a low frequency vibration/growl/rattle coming from the rear passenger side. It typically happens when the tranny is under almost no load with the gas pedal being slightly engaged.
Yesterday, my truck was running and me and a buddy were standing near the rear passenger side wheel shooting the breeze when BAM, I started hearing a low volume version low frequency vibration/growl/rattle sound.
I immediately got on the ground and tracked it to the muffler area. I threw my boot under and pressed on the muffler and HOLY CRAP — the noise stopped. I’m not saying it’s a bad muffler but what I suspect is that it’s a lose muffler bracket or even the heat shield is lose that sits on top of the muffler.
I’m going to try to diagnose it more this week and will report back.
Like OP, I get a low frequency vibration/growl/rattle coming from the rear passenger side. It typically happens when the tranny is under almost no load with the gas pedal being slightly engaged.
Yesterday, my truck was running and me and a buddy were standing near the rear passenger side wheel shooting the breeze when BAM, I started hearing a low volume version low frequency vibration/growl/rattle sound.
I immediately got on the ground and tracked it to the muffler area. I threw my boot under and pressed on the muffler and HOLY CRAP — the noise stopped. I’m not saying it’s a bad muffler but what I suspect is that it’s a lose muffler bracket or even the heat shield is lose that sits on top of the muffler.
I’m going to try to diagnose it more this week and will report back.
Following up…did you figure it out?
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2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
**SOLVED**
After a ton of speculation from my regular shop, with no real definitive ideas on what this noise could be, I was told it could be the pinion bearing, drive shaft angle, u-joints, slip joint, a heat shield, and on and on…
out of shear frustration, I took it to a Jiffy Lube. Through regular oil changes, I became friendly with the regional Master Technician and he wanted to look at it. After looking at all the other things the other shop suggested I fix, he simply asked “when’s the last time you did a transmission service?”. Well, I hadn’t, so he looks at my fluid and I was 1-1/2 qts low and the fluid was super thin and jet black. He said it’s $185 service so let’s start there with the cheapest possible solution and see.
Low and behold, NO MORE NOISE! None. Zilch. Completely gone. Plus, the truck drives and shifts super smooth now.
In hindsight, I can’t believe that myself and much less the previous mechanic never thought to start there.
Hope this helps you guys. I know there are a million things that *can* cause these noises but start with the tranny fluid. It worked for me and saved me a couple grand that I was prepared to spend chasing this issue!
out of shear frustration, I took it to a Jiffy Lube. Through regular oil changes, I became friendly with the regional Master Technician and he wanted to look at it. After looking at all the other things the other shop suggested I fix, he simply asked “when’s the last time you did a transmission service?”. Well, I hadn’t, so he looks at my fluid and I was 1-1/2 qts low and the fluid was super thin and jet black. He said it’s $185 service so let’s start there with the cheapest possible solution and see.
Low and behold, NO MORE NOISE! None. Zilch. Completely gone. Plus, the truck drives and shifts super smooth now.
In hindsight, I can’t believe that myself and much less the previous mechanic never thought to start there.
Hope this helps you guys. I know there are a million things that *can* cause these noises but start with the tranny fluid. It worked for me and saved me a couple grand that I was prepared to spend chasing this issue!
Last edited by McJTex; Oct 21, 2025 at 12:03 PM.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 12,246
Likes: 761
From: Houston, Texas
Originally Posted by McJTex
After a ton of speculation from my regular shop, with no real definitive ideas on what this noise could be, I was told it could be the pinion bearing, drive shaft angle, u-joints, slip joint, a heat shield, and on and on…
out of shear frustration, I took it to a Jiffy Lube. Through regular oil changes, I became friendly with the regional Master Technician and he wanted to look at it. After looking at all the other things the other shop suggested I fix, he simply asked “when’s the last time you did a transmission service?”. Well, I hadn’t, so he looks at my fluid and I was 1-1/2 qts low and the fluid was super thin and jet black. He said it’s $185 service so let’s start there with the cheapest possible solution and see.
Low and behold, NO MORE NOISE! None. Zilch. Completely gone. Plus, the truck drives and shifts super smooth now.
In hindsight, I can’t believe that myself and much less the previous mechanic never thought to start there.
Hope this helps you guys. I know there are a million things that *can* cause these noises but start with the tranny fluid. It worked for me and saved me a couple grand that I was prepared to spend chasing this issue!
out of shear frustration, I took it to a Jiffy Lube. Through regular oil changes, I became friendly with the regional Master Technician and he wanted to look at it. After looking at all the other things the other shop suggested I fix, he simply asked “when’s the last time you did a transmission service?”. Well, I hadn’t, so he looks at my fluid and I was 1-1/2 qts low and the fluid was super thin and jet black. He said it’s $185 service so let’s start there with the cheapest possible solution and see.
Low and behold, NO MORE NOISE! None. Zilch. Completely gone. Plus, the truck drives and shifts super smooth now.
In hindsight, I can’t believe that myself and much less the previous mechanic never thought to start there.
Hope this helps you guys. I know there are a million things that *can* cause these noises but start with the tranny fluid. It worked for me and saved me a couple grand that I was prepared to spend chasing this issue!
That's often what I find especially in fleets. They almost always change the oil, but the transmission is almost always forgotten. Get it done again after 10,000 miles, twill get the last of the oil fluid out. Thereafter, have it done every 30,000 miles your transmission will thank you.
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