'17 Titan, Manifold leak or what?

[Drury_perry]

Heard this ticking noise on cold, started lately on my '17 Titan, kind of like a metallic tap that quiets down after a minute or two. At first I thought maybe it was lifters or just normal startup chatter, but now I'm starting to suspect... manifold leak so I crawled under and took a quick look, didn't see anything obvious, but I know these trucks can be sneaky about it. any similar experience that ended up being a cracked manifold, bad gasket, or just loose bolts? Trying to figure out if I can tackle this myself or if I'm in "shop time" territory.

 

[Chidi A.]

Heard this ticking noise on cold, started lately on my '17 Titan, kind of like a metallic tap that quiets down after a minute or two. At first I thought maybe it was lifters or just normal startup chatter, but now I'm starting to suspect... manifold leak so I crawled under and took a quick look, didn't see anything obvious, but I know these trucks can be sneaky about it. any similar experience that ended up being a cracked manifold, bad gasket, or just loose bolts? Trying to figure out if I can tackle this myself or if I'm in "shop time" territory.

I think for a cracked manifold, it has to be really looked at when it's warmed up. I suggest you get a spray bottle ready and add soapy water to see if there are bubbles that'll form around the exhaust manifold while running. That's about all I can think of rn.

 

[zarakhan09]

It does sound like a potential exhaust manifold leak, especially if you're hearing a ticking sound on cold starts that fades as the engine warms up. This is a common issue on the '17 Titan. You might also want to check for broken manifold bolts—those tend to shear off on these models. A visual inspection for any signs of soot around the manifold area could also help confirm the leak. If possible, have a shop perform a smoke test to pinpoint the source accurately.

 

[maxtowmode25]

I think it's a classic case of a cold-start manifold tick. It's pretty common, honestly! You might want to check for soot buildup or even run a smoke test. That could really help you track down any leaks lurking around