Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Ticking sound from under the hood!

[donhoward]

I just noticed a loud ticking sound from the engine, it appears to be from the left (drivers) side. Maybe a lift pump? Should I be concerned? What's the fix?

 

[hsmith]

If it's the lift pump a new one will take care of it.

 

[edgeman]

I have noticed my truck has a loud tick at times, noticed that is was the worst when i was pulling the 5er. Never have figured it out. But have thought it is either the lift pump or mabe the overflow valve. Not sure. Sorry i cant help more.

 

[donhoward]

Thanks anyway. I went out and started the truck today and no noise (except the usual clatter). I have never heard this truck make such a loud tapping as it did yesterday! That was after pulling a 3,000# trailer 300 miles non-stop at highway speeds (+70). I'm going to change the fuel filter, it's been two years but only 10,000 miles since the last one. If it continues I'll look at changing the overflow valve, then the lift pump. The truck sets a lot so maybe I should be using some kind of fuel treatment for algae?

 

[CGALATE]

The ticking is more than likely the lift pump. Just over 100. 00 dollars at Cummins.

 

[donhoward]

I think the thing to do is replace the overflow valve first and if that doesn't cure it move on to the lift pump. I haven't done anything with it yet and probably wont until summer since it hasn't made the tapping noise since that one time. .

 

[SRath]

I noticed mine was unusually loud yesterday, too, but I'll wait until this bitter cold spell passes to see how much it quiets down before getting concerned. I don't need to tell a guy from Michigan how extreme cold magnifies sound and brings out the strangest noises in mechanical devices and aging men alike.

I spent a significant amount of money for expensive gauges a year or so ago, including a fuel pressure gauge, but that gauge was always highly erratic from day 1 and stopped working altogether a few months ago. It's an Autometer, with a needle valve snubber to dampen pulses, of course, but I must have gotten a bad one. Anyway, it isn't much use for monitoring the fuel system now when my pump is being noisy. I could have bought two new lift pumps for the cost of that one gauge.