Another ticking thread

Hey guys, I have a question. I'm getting a ticking noise from the engine bay but it only started yesterday with record cold weather. It's like 7°F here and the only way to hear the ticking is to stick your head in the driver side whele well. It sounds like it's coming from the exhaust manifold. But I've also noticed a similar noise. The front of the engine passengerside. Strange thing about it is that it only occurred once and I can't get the noise to repeat. The front of the engine noise, the wheel well noise is there but it's pretty quiet. Any ideas?

 

And before I forget, oil is well in the safe area. It's due fir an oil change in about 300 miles and I'm not loosing oil preasure and performance hasn't diminished. Also I can't hear the ticking in the cab, only regular engine running noise. Also the ticking can't be heard when the engine reves up. Also I'm running mobil 1 0w-20 fule economy oil. I hope that helps.

 

Is the tick RPM related or speed related? Is it engine temp related (get louder/ quieter as the engine warms up?)
Have you done any other maintenance on the vehicle, in say, the last 6 months or so?
When the truck is cold, can you put your hand around the manifold and feel for an air leak (watch out for moving parts!!!)

I replace my spark plugs about 6 months ago with some Denso's and had one of them separate at the ceramic and threaded area where the electrode would spin by hand after about a month and 1K on them. I was about to start ordering manifolds and gaskets. Long story short, while I was trying to find the noise, I rested my hand on the coil pack and literally felt said ticking... pulled the plug and was amazed that was the problem. Plug still fired good, no CEL, but each compression stroke it would "tick." Replaced it and she has been good ever since.

 

The only maintenance I've done so far is an oil change. I bought it only about 2 months ago. After the holidays I'm planning on changing the plugs.

It doesn't appear to be rpm related. When the engine first starts the ticking isn't there at all. Only after about 2 or three minutes later. It's definitely louder when it's cold and gets noticeably quieter when the engine starts to warm up. Once it's completely warm you have to get your head almost inside the whele well to hear it.
Now that I think about it it almost sounds like it's coming from under the driver door, not the engine itself. I do t know why that just occurred to me.
I will definitely check the plugs and coils, no misfires or hesitation but it's definitely worth checking.

 

Cold weather cause weird noises with every vehicle. I would not worry much.

 

For the sound coming from the engine, the timing chain tensioner tends to vibrate making a ticking sound on these engines. People have said they notice it more with cold weather or using different oil. I don't ever remember seeing anyone post that it caused them any issue besides the sound freaking them out

 

Ok, sorry for the lack of replies. One of my friends is a certified tech and we looked her over. What we think I was hearing was the fule injectors ticking a bit. I think I was a bit on edge because I just got the truck and my last truck was a ford and it's engine grenaded. Seems to be perfectly normal.

• Definitely, it's now like 60F and the engine sounds like it did when I bought it this summer. I think that crazy cold snap we had was what made the ticking more noticeable.
  
• While we didn't hear anything out if the norm with the coils I will be changing the plugs and checking the boots next weekend.

 

I really appreciate you guys' help! Thanks a bunch!