need some quick help

[m8r8j]

yea, all you guys that got the 2001+ 2.3 duratec...

ive been reading about the loud tick that these motors have... but mine is really bad. i can hear it ticking from ~25 feet away with the hood closed... i can hear it in the cab with the doors and windows shut... it speeds up with rpms, and i can often hear it ticking off fences and houses when i drive by...

the tick does not sound "metallic" i dont think, i took it to 2 mechanics that said they wouldnt worry about it.
and the second mechanic said it sounds like normal valvetrain noise, but he was reluctant.....

it doesnt tick when it first starts, it starts ticking probably 45 seconds after the engine is running, or when it gets close to operating temp

i changed the oil to mobil-1 5-20 synthetic... ran it for 3500 miles, put seafoam in the oil, and ran it though a vaccuum hose into the motor, and in the gastank too...

ran it with seafoam in the oil for a day, then changed my oil today to motorcraft 5-20...

ive been driving it hard, trying to clean her out with no success...
also tried all different brands/octane numbers, and also injector cleaner.

still ticks pretty good.

im looking for some reassurance that the tick is normal, or some advice as to what i should do about this (if it is indeed a valve tap)

its a 2003 duratec 2.3 with ~67k on it
i removed the two splash protectors inside the wheel wells also btw

DOES ANYBODY ELSES MOTOR DO This???!?! im going crazy!:'(

my two buddies' uncle has the EXACT same truck as mine but an 01, and they insist it sounds the same..... but im not convinced, and im not about to drive 80 miles to go compare

edit: ive read up on every duratec thread you can possibly think of, so please dont tell me to search.

 

[swynx]

as long as its driving fine i wouldnt worry about it, but with only 67k on it damn. it shouldnt be ticking already. generally when i here a tick in my moms truck i tell her to check the oil, but sounds like u already have

 

[m8r8j]

as long as its driving fine i wouldnt worry about it, but with only 67k on it damn. it shouldnt be ticking already. generally when i here a tick in my moms truck i tell her to check the oil, but sounds like u already have

i guess these motors are really noisy, but i have nobody to compare mine to around here...

 

[swynx]

check ur fan and everything? my friend had a really loud tick once and there was a twig that the fan kept hitting... idk im just throwin out ideas, could be a lifter tick, but ive never heard them as loud as ur hearing them. hmm... any ideas guys?

 

[m8r8j]

the dura 2.3's dont have lifters

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

my mom has a trucvk like that, we replaced the oil to 10w-30 valvoline a few days ago.. the sound is softer now, they will always tick, maybe cuz fo the dohc configuration(many 16valve imports do) but not as noisy u say, maybe trying the 10w-30??

 

[m8r8j]

anyone??

 

[jax4bangin]

dude i wud check that engine fan out real good.. my truck ticks louder before it reaches normal operating temp. its pretty quiet once fully warm. 54k on mine

 

[m8r8j]

i was pretty freaked out when i posted that, so i might have exaggerated the noise a hair hahaha ...

im almost convinced that its the normal tick

 

[jax4bangin]

lol yea dude theyre freakin noisy.. wat i did to help not notice it, made the exhaust louder lol. these trucks have 2 cats, one before the sensor and one after. i took off the second cat and wow. things got some rumble now