My exhaust manifolds. First I removed the passenger side, had the manifold surface milled, put new gaskets on, bolted it back up. Still had the same damn tick sound. Took the driver side off, new gaskets, bolted it back up. Still same sound. Took passenger side off again, replacing the gaskets and this time using a copper RTV sealant. bolted it up, still same damn tick sound. Before this I used a mirror and ran it under each collector, pinpointing the exhuast leak to the passenger side, cylinder 1. It would change sound when the mirror got near to the underside of the manifold. I JB Welded the crap out of it. completely making a form under and around the manifold to head, let it sit and dry for a day, still same tick sound. TODAY I bought the new manifold, installed the manifold with the gasket and RTV, torque it up, let it sit for several hours, fire it up, STILL SAME FAKWING TICK! $107 and hours of work down the drain!


WTF do I do?

 

are you sure its exhaust manifold and not an engine tick? which sides it coming from?

 

he said he things its cylinder one, passenger side. i have the same problem. when i get back from vacation next week im taking my truck in to have it checked for a cam phaser (sp?) problem. i have the same tick on the passenger side so i changed my gaskets. when i pulled the old gasket off i couldnt find any sign of a leak. new gaskets are on and the same sound is bugging me.

 

99.9% sure its exhaust. Here is a video

Passenger side, but you can clearly here it on the driver side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZLvROc9uxM

 

You definately have to let me know if its the cam phaser, cause then I'm ripping the front cover off and changing them ASAP!

 

thats worse then my tick. are you using rtv on the ball joint?

 

No, I havent gotten any air flow from there, but when I place my hand under the front two ports I get a steady stream of hot air. I am going to re-torque tomorrow, run it, and put the mirror under each one and see if I cna pinpoint the leak again. Either I have a warped head or the head gasket is crack and leaking compression, or its a cam phaser.

 

Do '98's have cam phasers? I thought it was only the'04 up 5.4 3V's that had cam phasers.

 

im thinking 04+ have cam phasers.

did you ever try to pinpoint your head gasket theory? smear some rtv over the area on the head and block, try to cover it... this is just an idea.
you ever do a comp test on it yet?
again this is working off your head gasket theory.

otherwise i'd have to say you have a pinhole leak in the head itself or something in that manner.. which i highly doubt.

 

if/when I get in there tomorrow, ill clean the head and put a thick bead down....


if not cam phasers, than what, those lash adjusters?

 

An exhaust leak on one port won't be a steady stream of exhaust gas...it'll pulse in relation to engine rpms.

How's your EGR tube look? My folks had a crack on their EGR tube on either the '98 or the '02...don't remember exactly which truck it was. That was a similar sound as your truck (from what I can hear on your vid). I know...that's on the drivers side of the truck...but sometimes sounds will echo around pretty strangely too.

A warped head or blown head gasket should show up in a compression test. Have you tried that yet? Do leak-down compression while you're at it...if it's a small enough leak it might not show in a regular comp test but it should still leak down.

Either way, good luck in finding the culprit!

 

Ill take a look.


and no comp test cause if I do that I might as well change plugs and wires and dont have the money for that, and cant risk ripping boots

 

HLA's can make a nasty tick, but no way will it make air movement.

 

HI!... Only the 54/4.6 3-valve engines have cam phasers. Yours is a 2-valve. Hence you have no cam phasers.

 

Plug a RIGID vacuum reducer (it's a STEP reducer , 2.5" X 1" -only one they sell ) into the tailpipe - Slip an air valve into the reducer and regulate 15 lbs of pressure to charge the exhaust system (that's ALL you need.).

Fill a squeeze bottle w/ 1/8 part Dish soap and 7/8 part water.

Apply solution to any part of your exhaust system and you'll find the leak if it's leaking - I guarantee it

BTW - I don't about anyone else's experiences w/JB weld, but in mine, that stuff hasn't work once, for anything - it's junk!