Clicking Sound in Engine Compartment

[The Ghost]

Hey all, my car started making this odd clicking/thumping sound out of nowhere following my first oil change (full synthetic). It’s coming from the engine compartment, but I haven’t had a chance to look in there yet. The car seems to be running fine and is not experiencing any issues or error messages. I had read before about a typewriter type sound some folks notice. Did it ever get figured out?

Here’s a clip. Please excuse the dirty car. It’s been all over the place the last couple weeks.

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[JAM486HP]

That sound a little like the famous BBQ/typewriter tick though mines on the passenger side. Ironically, I took mine in for first change, 1500 miles (full synthetic) and sure enough, got home and I have it now.

I have noticed the last week has been hot and humid as all hell (accounts for the same bug splat front end) Cold start it's there, 100 degrees outside, I still drive it pretty hard, track mode, oil temps around 230+ and the tick disappears.

 

[Q6543]

Direct injectors “click”

 

[Skye]

I'm hearing two different sounds, both of which I consider normal.

The first sound is consistent and well-timed; these are your injectors ticking.

The second sound, the random one, sounds like the BBQ tick.

Spoiler Alert: the following thread lists Ford's statement on the tick in the first post, which is then followed by 49 pages of comments.

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/threads/per-ford-officially-the-2011-2019-f150-mustang-5-0-“typewriter-tick”-is-a-normal-characteristic.116925/

The BBQ, typewriter tick is one of the quirks of the Coyote. Identified as far back as 2011, some were wondering if the Gen4 unit would have it. You and others have confirmed it continues to exist.

Hearing or recognizing the tick often correlates with the vehicle's initial oil change. Virtually everyone agrees the tick is oil-related. But the source of the tick or why it happens has never been determined.

How the car was broken in, mileage when oil was changed, type of oil changed to, weight of oil, brand, etc., etc., etc., does not seem to matter. It's random. From all the comments, I've never read a story, report or seen a tear-down involving an "ah-ah" moment, identifying damage or the source of the tick.

Impact to value of vehicle? $0. Detrimental to the engine's life? No. Need to drive differently? Nuh-uh.

I'd posit most Coyote owners (F-150, Mustang, et al.) have the tick and don't even notice. I align with the comment that all of our engines tick. Some are just louder than others.

Some recognize the tick, shrug their shoulders and continue on. Others don't like it, for whatever reason and want to silence it. Owners have confirmed using the engine oil additive Cera Tec will quiet the tick.

https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/us/cera-tec-p000017.html#20002

I'm not big on additives to anything, unless directed to by the manufacturer. Specific to the Coyote, Ford engineers said leave it alone. No action required. The Owners Manual prescribes the type of oil to use and when to change it.

YMMV.

Edit,

Injector tick is the most common under hood sound. We all have it.

Noticeable BBQ or typewriter tick is less common, but present in #% (?) of Coyotes.

There's a third, common Coyote sound: the 2K rattle.

The 2K rattle is often heard when the engine is cold and in the 1700-2000 RPM range. There are two ideas why the 2K rattle happens:

1. Many believe the sound is piston slap, the pistons rattling in their bores while the engine is coming up to temp. It's due the composition of the piston material and the plasma-coated cylinder bores.

2. Others believe the 2K rattle is from the high-pressure fuel pump system, the direct injectors.

I think most people lean towards idea #1. But like the BBQ tick, the source of the rattle has never been confirmed. Nothing can be done to silence the rattle and it causes no apparent damage or shortening of engine life. Like the BBQ tick, it's a characteristic of the engine.

Injector tick: the first under hood sound I recognized.

BBQ tick: I don't have it, but if I later do, I'll leave it as-is and change nothing of materials, driving or care of vehicle.

2K Rattle: I noticed it for the first time this season. I have it, most often in colder weather. I've had an oil analysis done at each oil change, all of which have come back nominal, normal. I don't baby the car when cold, but I am gentle with it when cold. Once all the operating temperatures level of and stabilize, I drive the car as hard as I like.

 

[Zig]

Hey all, my car started making this odd clicking/thumping sound out of nowhere following my first oil change (full synthetic). It’s coming from the engine compartment, but I haven’t had a chance to look in there yet. The car seems to be running fine and is not experiencing any issues or error messages. I had read before about a typewriter type sound some folks notice. Did it ever get figured out?

Here’s a clip. Please excuse the dirty car. It’s been all over the place the last couple weeks.

Dirt? I didn’t see no dirt. Although, i agree re two different ‘tics’.

one does sound ‘normal’ and the other (longer gap between sounds) sounds ‘normalish’ but dunno, i’d be tempted to sniff around under the hood and then under the chassis in an attempt to chase it down. How’s your oil level?

 

[ListedGuru]

Hey all, my car started making this odd clicking/thumping sound out of nowhere following my first oil change (full synthetic). It’s coming from the engine compartment, but I haven’t had a chance to look in there yet. The car seems to be running fine and is not experiencing any issues or error messages. I had read before about a typewriter type sound some folks notice. Did it ever get figured out?

Here’s a clip. Please excuse the dirty car. It’s been all over the place the last couple weeks.

Curious what mileage you had on the car for the first oil change? Also which brand of oil did you go with? I'll have to have the dealer change my oil as I don't have the setup to do it myself unfortunately.

 

[Crew4991]

Its the Coyote tick.
Everything is fine, nothing to worry about.
Just drive as you normally would.

 

[MiamiGT350]

Completely normal. Ford adds a friction modifier to the break-in oil from the factory. Most Coyote owners add 1/3 to 1/2 a bottle of LiquiMoly Ceratec to their oil which quiets it down.

 

[TheBanditKing]

Completely normal. Ford adds a friction modifier to the break-in oil from the factory. Most Coyote owners add 1/3 to 1/2 a bottle of LiquiMoly Ceratec to their oil which quiets it down.

does anyone know if Ford Dealers have access to this friction modifier they use for the break in oil?

 

[MiamiGT350]

I believe it was marketed as Motorcraft XL-17. You probably have better results with half a quart of LiquiMoly, tbh.

 

[TheBanditKing]

I believe it was marketed as Motorcraft XL-17. You probably have better results with half a quart of LiquiMoly, tbh.

and theres no reason to worry about using that or the LiquiMoly with the standard motorcraft oil Ford recommends? i dont want to risk voiding the warranty putting in an additive

 

[MiamiGT350]

This is a gray area so you wont get any answers on the "right thing to do," and instead just friendly advice.

Legally speaking, Ford would need to prove the additive caused the failure. LiquiMoly has verified it as safe to used in a Mustang engine, so you are taking "good care" of the engine vs shifty oil. OR, from a corporate perspective, Ford could deny a warranty for any reason and force you to pursue legal solutions to fulfill the warranty. For example: "the manual says to not put additives in the oil."

If warranty is a significant concern, you can run a premium oil with higher zinc content like Amsoil Signature or Pennsoil Ultra Premium (plus others) to see if it helps.

 

[TheBanditKing]

This is a gray area so you wont get any answers on the "right thing to do," and instead just friendly advice.

Legally speaking, Ford would need to prove the additive caused the failure. LiquiMoly has verified it as safe to used in a Mustang engine, so you are taking "good care" of the engine vs shifty oil. OR, from a corporate perspective, Ford could deny a warranty for any reason and force you to pursue legal solutions to fulfill the warranty. For example: "the manual says to not put additives in the oil."

If warranty is a significant concern, you can run a premium oil with higher zinc content like Amsoil Signature or Pennsoil Ultra Premium (plus others) to see if it helps.

imo warranty should always be a concern on a brand new car ….Ive owned a 2012, 2016 and my brother has a 2022 none of them have ever made this noise. Seems so stupid for this not to have been engineered out by now. Is it the fuel injectors?

 

[TheBanditKing]

So I took it to the dealer anyway... foreman and tech felt the ticking was excessive and they reset the cam(KAM?). Ticking stopped. I checked it with them and confirmed after multiple starts it was gone. Drove it home and I do hear it now but not consistently its like 3 ticks every min or so

 

[Q6543]

I’m guessing they reset the KAM (keep alive memory)
Same thing as when everyone says disconnect the battery.
Ford techs can’t do any more than we can…
I keep a 10mm in my console for this in case.

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