We visited numerous Mustang forums, and on just about everyone one, there was a complaint from one or more new 5.0
owners about a “ticking” noise. Now mind you, many thousands of people have already bought their 2011 Mustangs and
certainly not all of them are complaining. However, it was this particular post over at All Ford Mustangs that really caught
our eye. Post “cidsamuth” posted a detailed account of what happened after he brought his ticking 5.0 into his Ford dealership.

According to “cidsamtuh”, the ticking noise happens after the car is warmed up, and the dealer was able to replicate the noise after
trying a few times. The dealer put a call into Ford, and as this dealership was located in Michigan, a Ford engineer came down to hear
the problem. When the engineer heard the ticking, which sounded like it was coming from the back or beneath the car, he immediately
told them to shut it down. He then grabbed a black, unmarked bottle, and poured a “shoe shine polish” like substance into the engine.
This oil additive allegedly contains graphite, which helps some internal components in the engine seat better (though they likely would
have seated over time anyway).

After letting the car idle with the additive in it, the noise was gone. Cidsamuth’s Mustang now has 3,200 miles on it and the ticking
has not returned. Ain’t technology grand?