Lifter ticking

[Superryan]

I have a 2005 Mustang GT with 165k miles on it. I've changed out the timing chain last year and have experienced a badass engine growl. Just yesterday I started hearing a clink. I believe it's a lifter sticking. My question is would you use seafoam and then an oil change or simply replace the lifter?

 

[Dino Dino Bambino]

It's far more likely one of the cam followers is beginning to seize and if you neglect it for a while, it'll begin to eat into the cam lobe and eventually pop out of its place. If you're unlucky, as it pops out it could get wedged on the valve spring retainer, knock out the keepers, drop the valve, and ruin the engine.
My advice is to localize the ticking noise with a mechanic's stethoscope (you could use a length of rubber hose as one) and if it's definitely coming from under the valve cover, pull that valve cover to investigate.

Ignore the fact that the videos are on the 5.4 3V 'cause the same problem also affects its smaller 4.6 3V brother.
If my diagnosis is correct, replace ALL 24 cam followers (you can do one cylinder bank first and the other one later) but DON'T just replace the single damaged unit. You might also need to replace a cam if a lobe is badly scored.

 

[GriffX]

FYI: To change the adjusters you have to remove (or lift) the camshaft, if you only want to change the followers with the valve compressor, it is very time consuming. I needed 5h only for one bank (and I had to stop in between because of back pain). I did not try the screwdriver push off/on way.

 

[StockishS197]

Agree with the comments above. Listen closely to the tick and if it’s metallic that’s RPM dependent and is coming from the valve cover, pull the cover and inspect the cam lobes and followers.

If it is a follower, pulling/lifting the cam is fairly straightforward and Ford Performance has a good replacement set of followers/lifters for a decent price.

 

[GriffX]

pulling/lifting the cam is fairly straightforward

But you need the wedge tool, or?

 

[Laga]

I have a 2005 Mustang GT with 165k miles on it. I've changed out the timing chain last year and have experienced a badass engine growl. Just yesterday I started hearing a clink. I believe it's a lifter sticking. My question is would you use seafoam and then an oil change or simply replace the lifter?

Never put anything other than motor oil into a crankcase. Seafoam, for example, is 80% kerosene and 20% isopropyl alcohol.
Plus, additives throw off the chemistry of motor oil.

 

[Dino Dino Bambino]

But you need the wedge tool, or?

The wedge tool is required if you need to remove a camshaft or replace a cam phaser and don't plan to remove the front timing cover to replace the timing components.

FYI: To change the adjusters you have to remove (or lift) the camshaft, if you only want to change the followers with the valve compressor, it is very time consuming. I needed 5h only for one bank (and I had to stop in between because of back pain). I did not try the screwdriver push off/on way.

You can create enough room to replace the cam followers and lash adjusters by evenly loosening the cam tower caps to allow the camshaft to gradually lift away from the valve springs. Follow the same procedure when retightening the cam caps to spread the load and avoid either breaking a cam cap or inadvertently displacing (or damaging) a cam follower during reinstallation.
If you're planning to replace the valve stem oil seals at the same time (probably a good idea), you'll need to remove the camshaft altogether in which case you'll need a timing chain wedge tool to hold the chain in place as you unbolt the cam phaser from the cam nose (don't forget to get new phaser bolts). This valve spring compressor will make the valve stem oil seal replacement easier:

Engine Valve Spring Compressor Tool For Ford Mustang GT 4.6L 5.4L 3V

Fit 4.6L and 5.4L 3 Valve engines: 2005-2010 Ford Mustang GT. 2008-2009 Mustang Bullitt. 2006-2010 Ford Explorer. 2007-2010 Explorer Sport Trac. 2004-2010 ford F-series. Vehicle compatibility charts are for REFERENCE ONLY. Check your vehicle with OEM below to match your needs.

pqyperformance.com

 

[GriffX]

You can create enough room to replace the cam followers and lash adjusters by evenly loosening the cam tower caps to allow the camshaft to gradually lift away from the valve springs.

Thanks! I watched the Fordtechmakuloko videos and bought the same spring compressor (20$) and it is on the intake valves soooo tight. I didn't know that I cannot remove the adjusters with cam in, so I didn't buy the wedge tool and it was for me too risky to losen up the cam without it. The wedge tool is not available in Germany, only China or USA. So I changed only the followers and finished it today. All adjusters were rock hard and all old followers fine (50k miles). But to soothe my soul it was good that I did it. (haven't run the engine yet, so keep fingers crossed)