Crext

So my name is Chris, I am 18 years old and just purchased a 1999 mustang with the 3.8L V6. The car has roughly 130k miles. After driving it for a few days, I have noticed that the car makes a ticking sound when I give it throttle. It is on the passenger side (I think). I can't hear it when its idling or when I'm not giving it gas. I usually hear it between 2-3k RPM and after that I can't hear it. The tick is louder when the car is cold, and gets very quiet when the car is fully warmed up. I have done some research and some say exhaust leak from the header, some say things about valves or valve train, some say something about timing.... dangit. I checked the oil today and it was a little dark but not too bad, and was just below the max mark. I've been using 87 gas. Where do i go from here? I don't want to drive the car right now if something is about to blow up, but I don't want to put a lot of money into it right away because I'm a student and cash is tight. I know there are a lot of smart people here so maybe somebody could give some input. I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,

- Chris

lincolnshibuya

what kind of oil you use? I'd start changing (and the filter) that to see if it helps.


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PNYXPRESS

Check your passenger side exhaust manifold really good. you are almost guaranteed to find a crack

cominus

Yeah they all crack from the a/c condensation, this should really be a stick for all the common problems.

MustangVixenGT

My 99 has a crack in its passenger side one too..... Just leaving it till I can afford longtubes. If you put another stock one on, it will just crack again cast iron and cold water for AC don't go well.....

Sixer4Life

I have a 01 with the same problem and I have a crack on my passenger side like they all suggested. I ordered longtubes a X-pipe and a dual borla for mine since if I'm gonna replace the headers may as well go duals as well. I still drive mine and it ticks for now and my tick started 10,000 miles ago.

Daehawk

I dont know what causes mine. It only ticks from about 3000 rpm to 4000 rpm and it is on the passenger side. But I have long tubes on it..either its something else or the tubes have cracked which I doubt or the tubes are not tightened down over there.