Head Tick - noticed after headers - time to cash in on the ESP

[babbage]

Got an appointment to bring her to Ford Dealer on Monday. I have a head ticking sound that is coming from drivers side, I noticed it after installing my SW longtubes. My ESP is for powertrain only, so it should be covered - I checked it this am and I'm still under coverage for both time and mileage.

Has anyone gotten successful ESP work covered under warranty with headers on the car?? Ugg, I really don't want to take them off. Not real happy about this. :bigcry:


Thanks for any tips/thoughts on this.

p.s. I thought the evenflow cooling mod was for the passenger side?

[RR|Suki]

exhaust leak from the header install can cause a ticking sound just so you know.

[babbage]

exhaust leak from the header install can cause a ticking sound just so you know.

Thanks, I already took the drivers side off - put new gaskets on, checked and put it all back on. It's good and tight all around. I can hear it at idle, it's louder than passenger side. I really don't think it's a leak.

[HoleyMoley64]

exhaust leak from the header install can cause a ticking sound just so you know.

x2

Even with a r&r of gaskets, doesnt mean its not still leaking. Could be leaking from the gasket still, could be a hole in a weld, could be coming from collector. Exhaust leaks can 'throw' their sound to places they are not. Way too darn coincidental for it to be anything but.

Did you see any signs of exhaust escaping past the gasket when you took it off?

[Got_1]

also check EGR tube if

[MM2004]

Got an appointment to bring her to Ford Dealer on Monday. I have a head ticking sound that is coming from drivers side, I noticed it after installing my SW longtubes. My ESP is for powertrain only, so it should be covered - I checked it this am and I'm still under coverage for both time and mileage.

Has anyone gotten successful ESP work covered under warranty with headers on the car?? Ugg, I really don't want to take them off. Not real happy about this. :bigcry:


Thanks for any tips/thoughts on this.

p.s. I thought the evenflow cooling mod was for the passenger side?

I am quite certain DOOM's MM developed a loud tick when he modded his exhaust.

And it wasn't the engine.

Maybe get ahold of him for more details as I cannot remember the whole story on that??

Keep us posted.

Mike.

[babbage]

I wonder if I did a seafoam treatment, I should be able to "see" if there was a leak - yeah?

[Loco1234]

Smoke smoke smoke - Quite alot of smoke... LOL

[HoleyMoley64]

I wonder if I did a seafoam treatment, I should be able to "see" if there was a leak - yeah?

Possible but I still wouldn't rule it out if you don't see anything. If you do see something, awesome you'll know right where it is.

Let me pose my question again:



Did you see any signs of exhaust escaping past the gasket when you took it off?

[LANDY]

The way I found a leak in my LT's was by using a 3' long 3/8 rubber hose from primarys to my ear and go around all your primarys. Then you you will know for sure if the headers are leaking or not.

[RR|Suki]

using new OEM gaskets is the best way to avoid leaks btw. RTV, other non metal gaskets etc. just don't get the job done without all kinds of trouble for some reason.

[babbage]

Possible but I still wouldn't rule it out if you don't see anything. If you do see something, awesome you'll know right where it is.

Let me pose my question again: Did you see any signs of exhaust escaping past the gasket when you took it off?

No I didn't


The way I found a leak in my LT's was by using a 3' long 3/8 rubber hose from primarys to my ear and go around all your primarys. Then you you will know for sure if the headers are leaking or not.

I'll give this a try


using new OEM gaskets is the best way to avoid leaks btw. RTV, other non metal gaskets etc. just don't get the job done without all kinds of trouble for some reason.

I did use OEM new gaskets. Then I took those off and all of the RTV, I then cleaned my old gaskets with brake cleaner and installed with no RTV.

[HoleyMoley64]

In case there's any confusion...the rtv isn't to seal the gaskets, and shouldn't be put on the mating surfaces. Its just to hold the gasket on while you get the bolts started.

When tightening down a header with aluminum, paper, or copper gasket, rtv can deform the gasket ever so slightly and cause it to leak once the rtv breaks up and blows out.

[musclemerc]

I wonder if I did a seafoam treatment, I should be able to "see" if there was a leak - yeah?

Make sure you bypass you catch can when you do this. Put a hose between the pcv valve and the intake.


The way I found a leak in my LT's was by using a 3' long 3/8 rubber hose from primarys to my ear and go around all your primarys. Then you you will know for sure if the headers are leaking or not.

You been hanging out with some "Old School" wrench turners
+1 on this method!


also check EGR tube if

First thing I would do is check this. If the egr hose is'nt sealed it will do this too. Try a copper gasket and file it to fit if you find a egr tube leak

Glad you got rid of the RVT, it did'nt belong there, it squeezed into the exhaust port opening's

[Blackened300a]

The 3V mustang guys have a torque sequence for their headers. If you didnt follow it then they would always leak no matter what gaskets or how tight. Im not sure about the 4V, but I wouldn't rule it out.
I wouldn't suspect a tick in the head especially since you didnt notice it before the header install. I would look closely at the EGR tube and all mating surfaces before getting drastic.

[Pat]

Long tube aftermarket headers, because they are not as thick as the stock iron manifolds, emit a metallic pinging sound as each cylinder fires. most noticeable at idle.
But you prolly know this already. Just saying.

[Dragcity]

Hey, did you get the stuff I sent You.... ?

I agree, probably a tick in the header. Is is a definite tick or more like a 'Ting'?

Maybe a weld is bad? Warped flange? Nicked flange? Nicked head?

How did you manage the oil dip tube?

Would be too bad if it is the head.

Oh, the Evenflow takes care of both heads. Ties them together in the back and dumps it all to the crossover on the driver side.

[4drcbra]

More than likely exhaust leak

[johnnyrauder]

i love a good mystery...

[babbage]

Hey, did you get the stuff I sent You.... ?

I agree, probably a tick in the header. Is is a definite tick or more like a 'Ting'?

Maybe a weld is bad? Warped flange? Nicked flange? Nicked head?

How did you manage the oil dip tube?

Would be too bad if it is the head.

Oh, the Evenflow takes care of both heads. Ties them together in the back and dumps it all to the crossover on the driver side.

Yep, I got it - thanks!
I have to check the welds I guess.
I got the lokar flexible dip stick - nice part.
The Evenflow is on my list for this summer! I wanted to wait so I could get my extra lower honed first and do it all in one shot


More than likely exhaust leak
i wish it was - hope it is - I need to get some rubber hose and listen to each port (thanks Landy)


i love a good mystery...
grumble - I'm not liking this one so far - especially if my head ends up having issues.

[HoleyMoley64]

grumble - I'm not liking this one so far - especially if my head ends up having issues.

If you decide its the heads, I'll buy em from you cheep :D

[Dragcity]

You'll have to trim the lower intake on the passenger side to clear the fitting for the Evenflow, unless they changed the design. If you are ever going to a Cobra lower, we will have to talk.....

Let me know if you are going to do this, we can use my old lower to mock things up.

[ctrlraven]

Yes DOOM did have a drivers side tick but it wasn't coming from the head. I also got a tick after I did my exhaust but I still have stock manifolds and the new 2.5" pipe is right off the manifold. Mine isn't as loud as DOOM's but I can notice it.

[babbage]

You'll have to trim the lower intake on the passenger side to clear the fitting for the Evenflow, unless they changed the design. If you are ever going to a Cobra lower, we will have to talk.....

Let me know if you are going to do this, we can use my old lower to mock things up.

I bought an "MM lower" from Impalaslayer - so it'll fit just fine. I was going to have it extrude honed first then install it with the evenflow kit.


Yes DOOM did have a drivers side tick but it wasn't coming from the head. I also got a tick after I did my exhaust but I still have stock manifolds and the new 2.5" pipe is right off the manifold. Mine isn't as loud as DOOM's but I can notice it.

I guess I'm starting to believe it's a leak - When I get on the gas a lot (when the pressure builds in the exhaust system) it gets a lot louder e.g a leak - I don't think a valvetrain problem would get a lot louder under heavy throttle - correct? Any ruling on this?

I took the EGR fitting off the factory EGR pipe so it could thread onto the SW bung. It's tight I think, most if not all of the threads are not visible indicating that the nut is threaded on most of the way.

e.g. the EGR fitting in this pic.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=23 689&d=1296098426

[Dragcity]

It's not pinging is it? Make sure it's not pre-ignition..........! Clatter... You know the difference, I am reasonable sure.

[ctrlraven]

I have zero leaks and I still get the noise only on the drivers side.

I know it's not pre-ignition related cause it started right after my exhaust work was done and does it on all three of my tunes.

[RR|Suki]

I have zero leaks and I still get the noise only on the drivers side.

I know it's not pre-ignition related cause it started right after my exhaust work was done and does it on all three of my tunes.

when I still had just manifolds on, where the 2.5" mid pipe came up and met with the passenger side always gave me the same problem, never seemed like they was a leak, but always would tick at a certain amount of throttle and rpm. annoyed the hell out of me.

[LeoVampire]

It could be a slight leak @ one of the welds on the headers. Sounds like what you did would solve any leak where they bolt up to the engine.

You do need to find someone with a stethoscope for cars or buy one they are not that expensive and find the leak. Or go to a shop with an exhaust leak sniffer to find out where it is coming from.

But wish you luck in finding it and keep us informed.

[babbage]

Update: Nothing wrong with my heads, SW headers or gaskets. The dang EGR bolt on the header bung simply wasn't tight enough. :o
:stupid:


Took her out warmed her up. At WOT and heavy throttle the sound I was hearing before is TOTALLY GONE.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1021303#post1 021303

Ugg. I'm happy my SW header install is perfect now. :banana2::banana2::banana2:

[Krytin]

Sounds like a happy ending!!

[RacerX]

Whew!!! ;)

[fastblackmerc]

The thick cast iron OEM exhaust manifolds will absorb much more noise than thin stainless steel headers.

[LANDY]

sweet...............

[babbage]

Whew!!! ;)
x10,000 :D


The thick cast iron OEM exhaust manifolds will absorb much more noise than thin stainless steel headers.
This is true, but I was hearing a very defined exhaust leak - that is now goooone! :burnout:


sweet...............
Thanks! I'm happy it's not anything else - but my own fault!
:beer:

[kmastl]

Wild guess was it the EGR nut?

babbage
"Knows how to tighten EGR nut!"

Glad to hear it wasn't your heads or you would be in the same boat as me lol

[babbage]

Wild guess was it the EGR nut?

Yep, leave it to me to mess up on the easy stuff...:rolleyes:

[massacre]

p.s. I thought the evenflow cooling mod was for the passenger side?

^^^ No, the cooling mod is primarily for the driver's side (cylinders # 7 & 8).

[FordNut]

^^^ No, the cooling mod is primarily for the driver's side (cylinders # 7 & 8).

It's actually for both sides. The #7 & 8 cylinders are the most common to have problems, but the uneven cooling exists on both sides.