No one can figure out this one. I have a ticking noise that seems to be coming from the drivers side of the engine. 2000 Excursion. It only happens when accelerating in every gear between 1400-2100. No noise at idle or park. Same noise when cold or warm, again only when accelerating. Goes away when you take your foot off gas. New exhaust studs, exhaust does not seem to be leaking, no carbon build up anywhere. No engine codes. Truck runs great and no loss of power. V10 with 120 k on it. Really annoying. Please help if you solved this mystery. Thank you

 

Stop driving your Excursion until you check all of your spark plugs. A ticking sound, and a sound that resembles an exhaust leak at times, is the precursor to a spark plug blowing out.

Check all of your plugs immediately.

You may be lucky and it might not be a loose plug, but do yourself a favor and check the plugs to rule that out.

Stewart

 

Check your drive shaft to see if somebody put a "Chicken Choker" on it. ( a zip tie) That is a common prank around where I live.

 

I agree with Stewart, check all your plugs to rule that out!

I just replaced all my COPs and plugs and found four plugs that were threadsert repairs from the PO!

 

LOL, that's funny.

Good old fashioned harmless prank!

Stewart

 

Can you see if it's coming from the valve cover? I use the old fashioned way of putting a long screwdriver to my ear and setting the other end on areas around the noise until I find the loudest point. You can also use a mechanics stethoscope if you can find one. Just thinking lifter or other oil related issue.

 

I would agree with Stewart. Get those plugs checked out. I've heard many times that this is a warning that the plug is ready to shoot out of the cylinder head.

 

While you are under the hood checking the plugs - check your exhaust manifolds for broken studs. An exhaust leak can be very deceiving when it first starts.

 

The fact that it does it when the engine is cold or hot is throwing me off. The exhaust leak might be a good call.

 

My truck is doing the exact same thing, under the same conditions. It's almost as if the engine only does it under load. For example, if you have it in park or neutral and give the engine some gas, it sounds fine... however if you put it in gear it will start ticking at the same RPM levels where it was quiet while in park/neutral.

 

Check your plugs first guys!

 

I can't figure it out either. I changed the oil, had the plugs changed and a mechanic look the bolts on the manifold. He thought a bolt was broke on the test drive but no such luck. I changed gas stations and put in gum out octane boost and also fuel system cleaners. I ran 92 octane and no ethinol. I am at a loss. any other thoughts?
I can barely hear it when in park and only if i pump the throttle fast. Nothing while iddling normally. It doesn't seem to make a difference if cold or hot.
frustrated;
John

 

You have a plug fixing to blow.

I was on I 10 east bound and had the same noise could not figure it out. Hit the gas to get up to freeway speed on the onramp and # 7 plug popped out. cost me $350 bucks(helicoil, drill and tap and new plug and cop) but after it was done the noise was gone. 02 V10 EX 2wd XLT 155K on the ole pedometer.

Start trying to figure out which one has blown by and then get it fixed.

 

Its an 03 6.8

Plugs just changed yesterday and no change. Been going on for 4000 miles now. This engine is doing the same exact thing as the other two who posted about the ticking sound. I am leaning on exhaust as the culprit.

 

I went about 20k before it blew. Searched all over the eng. and never found the tick. after it blew and the work was done the tick was gone. The tick is because the threads in one area have been stripped by the pressure of the firing cylinder. The only way to rule this out is a visual inspection of each plug hole with a scope. Just changing the plugs will not fix it.