I have a clicking noise under the hood when I crank my car up.It seems to fade a little the more it warms up.?

Question

Any ideas of what it might be?

2004 Mustang GT 4.6L V8

71,267 miles.

I just had an oil change less than 200 miles ago.

Answer 1

probably just tappets.

if its bothering you try a bottle of lifter free

Answer 2

It sounds like your lifter or lifters might be loosing prime .so when you first start your engine up your lifters are dry of oil that's way you hear the ticking noise at first , then they start to get oil and they stop ticking. The best thing is to never rib the engine at the begaining let it run for a few mins. before the take off. They have a good additive that you can add to you oil and it really does help the lifters by cleaning them , in most cases it stops them from ticking . Usually you don't need to add it but one time , there know need to do it at each oil change , it is called SEA FOAM and you should be able to find it at the auto parts store, it comes in a can and cost around 7 bucks.  

Answer 3

Sounds like a valve. The valve cover may need to be pulled and the gap reset. Since it is a V8 you can use a length of hose held up to your ear to locate just where the noise is coming from (have a second person move the hose around to locate where the noise is the loudest). That way you won't have to pull both valve covers if only one is noisy.

Answer 4

1..open hood ,,listen,,,look

2..get stethoscope from parts store...listen to valve covers,generator

3..listen to exaust manifold [don't burn up stethoscope...use a long screwdriver ,plastic to ear..

Answer 5

When you first start the car place a long screwdriver tip directly on each valve cover with an ear on the plastic handle. If you actually do have a lifter problem the noise will amplify greatly on the valve cover where the problem exists.

You may be able to "clean-up" a partially stuck hydraulic valve lifter by draining off one quart of oil and dump in a quart of Rislone. That product is a very high detergent natural motor oil additive that with luck just might unstick the lifter.

If that doesen't do the trick pull the valve cover on the noisy side and slide shim stock under each rocker arm to locate the loose pushrod and rocker arm. Peel off the intake and replace the stuck lifter. It pays to wipe on a bit of Crane break in lube on the face of the new lifter before dropping it back in the lifter bore.

Answer 6

Ut oh.....collapsed lifter.

Answer 7

Could be an exhaust manifold gasket leak.  Listen around the headers and see if you can hear what cylinder it is coming from.  When you figure out what cylinder, put your hand by it(trying your best not to burn your hand on the headers) and see if you can feel air coming out.

If not that, it could be a valve clicking.  Get a stethiscope or some other listening tool and see if you can hear any tapping under the valve covers.