WTF is that sound?!!

[mr.jay]

~96' Explorer V8 5.0L~


From a dead start, there are absolutely NO issues. The engine turns over GREAT and while in neutral the engine sounds like a million buck$. HOWEVER! Upon driving off into the sunset, AND only while accelerating, a sound becomes noticable! Its definately confined to the drivers side, and definately coming from the engine. BUT! The sound is annoying, small and something i can fix with a monkey wrench.

The sound?? Its a toss up between a soft constant click & a loose bicycle chain. The sound ONLY occurs when i step on the gas, no during a dead idle or even a red light. It doesnt matter what gear im in, the corners i take, if the A/C is on or if ive got my radio cranked sky high.

My conclusion? An exhaust leak. A worn out exhaust manifold gasket.

Does anyone think different?

 

[chapsdeva]

I think you hit the nail on the head!

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I'd be willing to bet you have a cracked exhaust manifold. With the steel tube exhaust manifolds it's not if they will crack it is when they will crack.

 

[n2epv]

My '97 Mounty 5.0 has the same problem. It's worse when the engine isn't up to temp and sometimes shuts up entirely with a little highway driving. I've been looking for a tell-tale carbon track/discoloration somewhere, but that engine compartment is pretty tight and I haven't been able to see anything.

Is it usually the tubes themselves that crack, or the flange that bolts to the block? I guess if it's a cracked tube, I'll just drive it till I can't stand the noise anymore.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

The tube is what cracks. The majority of the time it is the passenger side that cracks. I've seen pictures where the manifold has actually broken in two.