Hey, this is my first post here. I looked thru several (10+) pages of posts, but found nothing...

I have a 2001 F250 V10 4x4. The odo reads nearly 200k miles, but the truck has 35's on it, and the speedo was never recal'd. I run a GPS, so I see no reason to bother... As for oil I've been running 5w30, and recently changed to 10/30 w/ Lucas to see if anything changed (didn't).

Since I've had the truck (18 months) it has kicked back at me during acceleration. I have every expectation that a (or more) plug boots are cracked and grounding the spark. I have the boots (with springs) and plugs, but haven't gotten to it yet. (Long story, not important.)

Recently it has developed a fairly constant ticking sound. The sound can be heard randomly at idle, constantly in neutral with the motor above idle and while driving. The tick is nowhere near as bad when cold as when hot. My family is full of motorheads (not the band), and we all agree it sounds exactly like a lifter that isn't pumping up.

The first mechanic I took the truck to said it's the lifter/lashers. I took the truck to him on a Friday, and he hasn't gotten back to me yet (Tuesday) with a price, so I went to mechanic #2.

The second mechanic -- who works on heavier stuff -- said he's heard this a million times, and completely expects the issue to be the timing chain set. To be honest I and most of my family agree with him.

Any idea of a ballpark figure on what this is gonna run me? Furthermore, searching for over an hour came up with zero results... this doesn't appear to be a common issue. We're not barking up the wrong tree are we?

EDIT: Wanted to add that the sound at idle sometimes has a different tune to it. Instead of being the higher pitched short duration sound, it is a lower pitched longer sound.

 

You should take a real good look at the exhaust manifolds. They may be leaking at the head. The Mech's obviously have no idea whats going on with it and are basically "pot shooting" a result. There has been a TSB about a "tick" or some kind of noise saying that it is normal operation. I remember reading it in this forum but cant seem to find it now.

 

Not common at all in the modulars, except for over 200K miles.

Second the emotion about the exhaust studs. Using a piece of hose, figure out where the sound is coming from. If it's near the exhaust manifold, bad stud (especially if tick is louder when getting on the go-pedal, and almost gone when coasting). Timing cover, chain or tensioner or guides (replace the entire timing set with guides and tensioner).

However, if it's under the valve cover, and even as a general safety thing, check the oil pressure with a real pressure gauge. That many miles, it might not be worth doing any work, sorry to say, if the oil pressure isn't great.