My 01 has developed a ticking/clicking/farting sound coming from the drivers side of the motor. It's barely noticeable at idle, it's frequency is engine speed dependant, and it gets louder under load (uphill). I'm certain it's not coming from the SAI system unless the leak is where the tubes meet the head? and i'm thinking it's down to
Head gasket
lifters
exhaust leak

It's not throwing any codes (except for an 02 sensor heater on pass side) so i'm really confused-

The noise is barely noticeable at idle so I doubt it's a lifter, The plugs all look OK so i doubt it's the head gasket and i'm not getting any misfire codes (though there does seem to be a lack of power) so i am doubting it's a lifter

The truck came to me with 199k on it, i replaced the coils, wires (sti), plugs, all fluids, y-pipes (and gaskets for)

Anyone got any ideas?

 

i forgot to mention, the sound is nearly impossible to detect at any engine speed under no load so when you're going up a hill it's loud then down the other side even at the same engine speed, nearly nothing

 

Flex plate? In addition to exhaust leak. Can you use a mcechanic's stehoscope and hear it any better (listening at vavle covers might remove valve train, etc.)?

 

Flex Plate? i'm going to do the stethescope thing again today... i did it before and thought it was the SAI system. it really sounds like it's coming from one of the forward two cylinders on the drivers side bank... also, it just started after i put 10-30 mobil one in... today i am also going to switch it to 5-50

 

Fles plate is that part that mates tranny to rear of engine, so if noises seem to be coming from the bell housing area... probably not your case. Oil pump cracked? You can do a mechanical gauge pump test. Listen to front cover area?

 

I would say exhaust leak more then likely.

 

can you link me to mech oil test or just tell me where to connect to test mechanically?

it really sounds more mechanical than i'd expect a leak to but i will keep trying to find one..

would it throw a misfire code for a bad lifter?

 

For the oil pressure test just unscrew oil pressure sensor and screw in oil pressure guage. The rave manual details the proper pressures.

 

fixed 02 sensor issue- now it's throwing no codes at all and still makin the noise.

i put 5-50 oil in and when it's warm the noise is quieter

manual oil test showed 30+psi

i guess i have a bad tappet?

anyone know if a bad tappet would throw a misfire code?

 

It would have to be a VERY bad lifter to misfire.