Exhaust Tick
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Exhaust Tick
Ive got a 1995 F-250 with a 7.5 L gas engine and a very annoying tick coming from what seems to be the exhaust. It only ticks when the engine is cold and goes away after about 1-2 minutes of running the truck. Makes it even that much harder to find. I have looked, listened, felt for air, but I can not find the leak. Has anyone had this tick? or do you know of anyway to detect it without running the engine? If it is in the exhaust, I should be able to blow compressed air through the exhaust pipe and hear it coming out without doing any damage, right?
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Langhorne, PA
Try running Seafoam or your favorite engine cleaner thru the intake manifold. It is only six bucks and is usually a good potion for that initial "stab" at solving minor engine problems.
The engine could be showing signs of age, have a cracked exhaust manifold, bad exhaust manifold gasket, or a faulty emissions system could be choking up your engine. Although, I've heard that modern emissions, when working are hard on engines.
If your engine is full of carbon in all the wrong places, Seafoam will help remove some of the varnish, carbon and crud that causes sticky rings, lifters and valves.
The engine could be showing signs of age, have a cracked exhaust manifold, bad exhaust manifold gasket, or a faulty emissions system could be choking up your engine. Although, I've heard that modern emissions, when working are hard on engines.
If your engine is full of carbon in all the wrong places, Seafoam will help remove some of the varnish, carbon and crud that causes sticky rings, lifters and valves.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,908
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From: West Mansfield, Ohio
Ford is popular for cracked exhaust manifolds. Search around on here for Ticking under the hood or related forums. They're all over in this site, just gotta look for em. Welcome to FTE.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 185
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From: Raleigh, NC
I had broken exhaust manifold bolts(s) which caused a tick sound .. seemed to come and go and it took me awhile to convince myself I had a problem.
But if I was driving slowly with the windows rolled down I could hear the tick clearly bouncing off any concrete walls/buildings like in parking lots, off ramps, tunnels, etc...
My DIY skills aren't up to that kind of repair so I had my mechanic fix it...$$$
But if I was driving slowly with the windows rolled down I could hear the tick clearly bouncing off any concrete walls/buildings like in parking lots, off ramps, tunnels, etc...
My DIY skills aren't up to that kind of repair so I had my mechanic fix it...$$$
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Pleasant Hill, MO
I agree with the exhaust manifolds. In theory, when the truck warms up, the metal will expand, and the ticking will slowly get quieter as the gap closes... The manifolds tend to crack every now and then. Sounds like you've got a good excuse to get some headers!
Ryan
Ryan
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Sandy, UT
I've got the same problem... Mine's a broken exhaust manifold bolt right at the front. When it's cold you can hear a tick but after a few minutes the manifold heats up and expands enough to seal it up. I can tell where it leaks right by the broken bolt there is a bit of soot on the edge of the exposed gasket... I'm waiting on headers before I tear the manifold off.
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Have you changed your spark plugs lately? I keep reading on this site that sometimes before one of these engines blows a plug out that a ticking sound is heard. Just a thought and Good Luck finding it
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Penndel, PA
I'm agreeing with an exhaust manifold problem, but if it dissappears after the truck warms up I'd lean towards a exhaust manifold gasket issue rather than a crack in the manifold itself. Just my 2 cents.
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Thanks guys for the insight. Im going to dig in this weekend, tuesday and wednesday for me, and see what I can find. At least I will start looking for it at the manifold rather than the little hole by the license plate....another thread
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: British Columbia
Originally Posted by lmooreF250
Have you changed your spark plugs lately? I keep reading on this site that sometimes before one of these engines blows a plug out that a ticking sound is heard. Just a thought and Good Luck finding it
Some of the modular engines have this problem I don't think his 460 would.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Chicago, IL
exhaust tick happens on mine as well ('95 4.9L) but i learned to live with it,
what it is, is the exhaust pipes cooling off and returning to normal shape. when the exhaust gets hot, it tends to expand a bit. once it cools off, it returns to normal shape.
this isnt a mode-specific problem, it seems to happen to alot of cars. my sister's 99 Ponicrap Grand Prix GTP does the same thing, and my brother's '00 Mustang (before he wrecked it) did the same thing.
what it is, is the exhaust pipes cooling off and returning to normal shape. when the exhaust gets hot, it tends to expand a bit. once it cools off, it returns to normal shape.
this isnt a mode-specific problem, it seems to happen to alot of cars. my sister's 99 Ponicrap Grand Prix GTP does the same thing, and my brother's '00 Mustang (before he wrecked it) did the same thing.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Centerville, Iowa
I experience the exhaust tick worse then any vehicle I know of. My truck once it gets warm has a distinct "tink" in the exhaust constantly, and when it cools off it goes off repeatedly. Didn't do it more then other trucks until after I got my duals. Dunno...it just tink's FOREVER after I Turn it off. Just pipes returning to size and cooling I figure. I do have a slight exhaust leak, but that's not the tink.
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