Apparently, I don't have an exhaust leak after all. Took the truck into the exhaust shop today to source the "leak" before I ordered some headers and the tech gave me the bad news. That noise I've been hearing is coming from the oil pan. They put a stethoscope on it and its unmistakeable.

I don't know what I'm going to do now. I've already put so much d*mn money into this truck and now it needs a motor...I just don't know...

 

Get a 2nd opinion...

 

Buy a stethoscope and check it out yourself. Don't take someone else's word for it. At the very least take it to another shop or two to get it checked out.

 

If what you're saying is true and the noise seems most evident at the oil pan, the next step would be to drop that pan and poke around a bit. Sounds like it's either be a rod or main bearing, or perhaps something else. But at least you'll know. Sorry about the bad news ....

 

What kind of noise is it?

 

Does it get louder under power, or at idle, cold/warm? Don't shoot the horse for a hitch in it's gittalong, let us know, we'll try to help ya.

 

Sorry to hear the news Todd. Were you able to listen to the noise yourself? I would also get someone else to check it out. Most muffler shops don't employ the greatest of people(no offense to anyone) & I personally can't stand the chain shops like Midas, Speedy etc.
I hope it's not as bad as it sounds.
Have a reputable shop check it out and let us know how it goes.

 

Worst case scenario, its rod or main bearings. Dont surrender just yet, get another opinion first. If its bad bearings, put the truck out of service and drive something else. Nows your chance to have a all new bottom end in your motor, rods and mains arent that bad a job.

 

Here's the situation. Earlier in the month we took a 500km round trip through the mountains. A couple of days before the trip I had posted a question about my oil pressure guage registering zero whenever I took my foot off of the gas. The oil level was fine. Then during a really tough climb up a steep section of the highway (10% grade for 8km), there was a bang noise and the truck started ticking. Checked the oil when we got to the top and all was good. Truck seemed to run ok but there was this ticking noise. I thought I had cracked a manifold or developed some kind of leak in the exhaust. Truck ran fine. Ticking most noticeable at low rpm and at idle. Then near the end of the trip almost home, the CEL comes on and gives me a o2 always lean code. This code continues to appear for the next few weeks. Ticking or tapping noise always there (though its hard to tell at highway speeds - Flowmaster might be the cause).

Anyway, fast forward to today, I decide to track down the exhaust leak so I can repair it but can't seem to find a leak myself. I know the guys at the exhaust shop where I've had a few custom jobs done before. They're all current or former hot rodders and I know they know their stuff. Anyway, the one guy checked it out and said he has no doubt its a spun bearing. They checked the entire exhaust and couldn't find a leak. They used a stethescope on the pan and said they could hear the knocking really loud through the pan. They also rev'ed the motor up and it sounded almost like a diesel They seemd pretty convinced.

I don't know. I guess it wouldn't hurt to get another opinion. I know another mechanic who I can go and see tomorrow.

 

Get that second opinion, but if its a rod bearing, its not the end of the world. Sounds like your oil pump screen may be restricted and led to your trouble through oil starving.

 

That sucks man. Sorry to hear about the bad news. I hope its not as bad as it sounds like it is.

 

sorry about the bad news

 

sounds like it's time for a stroker kit!!

 

Todd it doesnt sound like a spun bearing to me...You said it happened on your trip a bang & then ticking...You drove the truck back ok then drove it two more weeks....My experiance with rod bearings its when they go you wont get very far...the noise will get worse & louder at higher rpm...Usally a ticking noise is in the valve train....I would check it out good even possiable tourq converter problem if its a auto...Lew

 

Well I'm glad you guys recommended a second opinion. The mechanic I saw today concurred with lew52 that it doesn't sound like a spun bearing. He thinks there's no way that I could have driven the truck as much as I have with a bad bearing. He's thinking noisy lifter and has recommended an oil change back to 10w30 with an additive and see if the noise subsides or disappears. I'm going to try that tomorrow and cross my fingers. If it is lifters, I think I'll move my truck improvement priorities around and put new cam and lifters up at the top. He said that the noise should get louder at higher rpm if it was rod knock, and this noise is most obvious at idle or low rpm.