So my 318 has developed a tick. It ticks on start up and at idle, and gets faster and a little quiter at higher rpm and speed. I've had my exhaust system done for about two months now and it's not a pipe leak and sounds more like valve train tick on the driver side and not a leaky header gasket, but I could be wrong. I'm guessing it's probably a lifter that's getting stuck and not opening all the way.
Plenum was done in Nov and has been fine. Truck's got 116 on it and I'm running Castrol High Milage 10w-40 with a Hastings LF115 filter and seafoamed it before exhaust got done. My thing is the tick is driving me crazy and sounds like ****, I wanna hear my exhaust, not this damn tick. I don't wanna start tearing into the engine becuase I drive it everyday and need it. I was thinking about pullin the valve cover one weekend and checking it out. Anyone with this problem find a lil trick or quick thing to fix it or at least quite it without doin a enigne rebuild???

 

Use a stethoscope and make sure its not exhaust. You can even stick a piece of rubber hose in your ear and use that. funny but true

Since the exhaust was worked on, I would personally start there. Exhaust manifold leak sound is pretty much the same as a lifter tick. Exhaust ticks usually lessen after a good warmup due to expansion.

 

yea id be checking the gasket and manifold first also. i have a tick on mine right now, i thought it was the rockers, and i check them all was good, and then i found out it was the gasket between the header and block.

as stated above a stethiscope would get you narrowed down easy, they are like 10 bucks at autozone.... you can also just use a pvc pipe or something.

 

Haha I've got a medical type stethiscope, that should work right? Also do you think an extended highway drive to really warm it up will do any good?

 

In short, you're just gonna have to find out where that tick is coming before you can fix it. My engine also had a tick that I kind of thought was an exhaust leak, changed the serpentine belt one day and haven't heard the tick since.

 

just get your scope and run it down man. it wont be a prob to fix once u find it. a tick is simple, a knock is not :P

 

i doubt it.
i use a short piece of pipe about 16-24 inches long. any size 1/2 3/4 or 1 inch. whatever you have laying around. 3/4 emt works good. be very careful of moving parts. stick one end against the block or head or valve cover and put your ear to the other end. follow the sound.

 

I have a mechanic's stethoscope with a 2 ft. rubber hose on the end instead of the thin metal tube. Finds exhaust leaks quick. And it doesn't deafen you if you hit it against something.

 

Where's the fun in that?

try accidentally sticking the metal rod into a fan once.......

 

huh?

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