ticking noise 4.6 1997 f150 HELP

[wild bill]

I have a new ticking noise in the right bank of my 4.6 windsor built engine. I changed the oil and filter and the noise immediately went away. after 600 miles, the noise came back. 4 hours later, gone.2 hours later. back to noisy. 153.000 miles. very clean and well cared for. oil pressure gauge gets a touch higher during ticking indicating that an oil gallery is getting plugged, but why come and go? I figured with a blocked gallery, the cam would have siezed by now. Sometimes it sounds like 1 lifter sometimes all 8. only passenger side. no loss of power but mileage goes to zip but no smoke blowing out back. Help me, Mod people, You're my only hope!

[BamaDodgenMX]

Same problem on my '98 Windsor 4.6. Only difference is that my F150 only has about 85,000 on it.

[ModMech]

Your "oil pressure gauges" are NOT gauges.

Well they are gauge faces, but there is NO SENDER, only an on/off switch. When you have oil pressure it is closed, when you don't the switch is open and the "gauge" reads zero.

The most common cause is actually injectors, but the noise can come from the valvetrain. It could be that the timing chain tensioner ratchet has failed and the chain is flailing around.

I would suggest you let a Dealership look at it.