clicking noise from engine

[0311_lifer]

i have a 2004 crown victoria sport with 8,900 miles on it. the car is running 5w-20 oil right now i believe and today i took it out for a nice long drive. i noticed something when i was outside the car both before and after this long drive. it soundedlike a clicking noise coming from under the hood. now mind you this car is in really really really good condition. the engine has absolutely no leaks and theres no other strange noises or any thing ever. i was told in the past with another car that the clicking is the valve lifters. now i dont think they can be collapsed or any thing it just doesnt make any sense. on the next oil change im doing in april im going to be adding either 5w-30 or 10w-30 mobil 1 synthetic and maybe a k&n oil filter. would adding heavier oil maybe fix the problem ? the noise is really bothering me i dont want to have to take it in to a ford mechanic and be lied to because he doesnt want to fix it for free since its under warranty. any one have any advice ?

[0311_lifer]

today i ran it again and i realised you cnt even really hear the clicking noise till a minute after you start it up and it starts to idle. any one have any idea whats wrong ? someone else said it might be the injectors.

[cobradude360]

sounds like its the injectors doin there job

[0311_lifer]

THANK YOU !!!!!!! now i can sleep more easily at night. i think im gonig to stick to changing it to mobil 1 5w-20 with a motorcraft filter maybe ? i hope that will be ok for the summer in virginia.

[cobradude360]

yea id switch to the mobil 1 oil i hear its beter in cold weather and at start ups

[0311_lifer]

what filter would you suggest ? i think regular oil change intervals for this car are like 5000 miles. im afraidto use 5w-30 or 10w-30 synthetic because ford says it might void warranty if it causes any thing to break. what do you think about this ?

[backyard_mech420]

You should never hear the fuel injectors at Idle speed,It sounds to me like you may be hearing Ping or Spark Knock,which will be the Loudest at Idle and decrease as you accelerate.This would most likely be Incorrect Ignition Timing,but could also be an air leak into the intake manifold,and several other things.

[0311_lifer]

how can i avoid getting shafted by the ford dealership or carmax mechanics? they will most likely say theres nothing wrong when there probably is because this car has an extended warranty and the factory ford warranty isnt even expired.

[cobradude360]

any filter really try an ac delco or even a k&n but yes it could b spark knock try puting a higher octain fuel in it but its such a new car that i dunno there shouldnt b spark knock unless theres bad gas in it

[0311_lifer]

it really sounds like a constant ticking noise at idle definately not a pinging noise. i just called the ford dealership and spoke to one of their mechanics and he told me to bring it in. to get checked and he said its probably nothing. i wish there was one mechanic within 50 miles besides a ford stealership or carmax who could tell me whats wrong. my dads friend who knows more about these cars than either me or my dad couldnt tell us what was causing that noise. does the 2004 crown victoria have a plastic intake manifold or an aluminum one ? i heard they did something about that problem in 2003 but is it still plastic ? what are some signs that the car has a cracked intake manifold ? the vehicle doesnt have any leaks.

[jimmytroanoke]

Get some rest! Your clicking is the injectors. My 95 has clicked at idle for 10 years and 130k. The intake problem has been fixed - does your motor have an aluminum crossover on the front of the intake? Thats the new design. In all my years I have NEVER, EVER heard a car spark knock or ping at idle - only under a load. There is nothing wrong with your car - get some sleep!

[way2old]

If the car is a 2004 with 8900 miles, it is under warranty and should cost you nothing to have repaired. Have dealer look at it for you. We have run into bad PCV's that have caused this. You can pull PCV out of grommet and hold thumb over valve and see if noise goes away.

[backyard_mech420]

Originally Posted by jimmytroanoke

Get some rest! Your clicking is the injectors. My 95 has clicked at idle for 10 years and 130k. The intake problem has been fixed - does your motor have an aluminum crossover on the front of the intake? Thats the new design. In all my years I have NEVER, EVER heard a car spark knock or ping at idle - only under a load. There is nothing wrong with your car - get some sleep!

I'm just speaking from experience with my 87 Vic 5.0 EFI.I have never heard the fuel injectors making any noise,at idle or under load.My Vic sounds smooth during idle ie:no clicking,ticking,ping,belt or pulley noise,which is the only way I would have her running.But,If the Clicking coming from your engine dose'nt bother you then it's not a problem.

[jimmytroanoke]

Originally Posted by backyard_mech420

I'm just speaking from experience with my 87 Vic 5.0 EFI.I have never heard the fuel injectors making any noise,at idle or under load.My Vic sounds smooth during idle ie:no clicking,ticking,ping,belt or pulley noise,which is the only way I would have her running.But,If the Clicking coming from your engine dose'nt bother you then it's not a problem.

I am speaking from experience as well, only with the same engine that he has! I am the original owner of my car. Lets see - How many differences are there between the pushrod 5.0 and the OHC 4.6. There is absolutely no commonality between the 2. The 4.6 is inherently quieter than the 5.0 which is why you can hear the injectors clicking. Is your '87 MPFI or Throttle body (TBI)? The TBI engines had the injectors (2)muffled inside the air filter housing whereas MPFI has them(8) out and exposed. The new crown Vic's are electric fan only, so unless the motor is hot no whoosh of air thru the engine compartment to mask the injector ticking. When you start with an engine that is inherently quieter, you will hear more of the other functions happening, such as injectors clicking. How would you hear them under load, BTW? Have a friend drive the car while you ride under the hood? Just curious!

To the other poster about the PCV clicking, that is true> I had forgotten about that one. I have had it with both aftermarket and Motorcraft PCV valves.

[backyard_mech420]

Originally Posted by jimmytroanoke

I am speaking from experience as well, only with the same engine that he has! I am the original owner of my car. Lets see - How many differences are there between the pushrod 5.0 and the OHC 4.6. There is absolutely no commonality between the 2. The 4.6 is inherently quieter than the 5.0 which is why you can hear the injectors clicking. Is your '87 MPFI or Throttle body (TBI)? The TBI engines had the injectors (2)muffled inside the air filter housing whereas MPFI has them(8) out and exposed. The new crown Vic's are electric fan only, so unless the motor is hot no whoosh of air thru the engine compartment to mask the injector ticking. When you start with an engine that is inherently quieter, you will hear more of the other functions happening, such as injectors clicking. How would you hear them under load, BTW? Have a friend drive the car while you ride under the hood? Just curious!

To the other poster about the PCV clicking, that is true> I had forgotten about that one. I have had it with both aftermarket and Motorcraft PCV valves.

I am aware of the differences between the 5.0 & the 4.6,and how much quieter the 4.6 is,which it should be.I have no experience with the 4.6,the injectors may be totally different,But it seems to me if you can hear your injectors clicking at idle,eather something is wrong or the 4.6 is too weak to mask the sound of them.My '87 is MPFI(Multi Port Fuel Injection),and I have a Raidiator with Dual Electric Fans.I removed my mechanical fan beforehand and installed all new performance pulleys.The entire setup runs very quiet at idle,all you can hear is the low rumble of a Turbocharged 5.0 coming out of dual flowmasters,and under load all I can hear is pure performance.