ticking

[Saurian]

Sorry to keep pestering you all with questions... This one is a minor engine curiosity... You see, there is a ticking noise, I would say around the 3rd cylinder from the front, and it is coming from the upper half of the engine, but not the very top... It's not a clacking noise, just a gentle tick tick tick tick... Does anyone have any insight upon what this might be, and what can be done to correct it, keeping in mind that I have never opened up an engine... I heard that lifter knocking can be caused by running it on low oil, but I have faithfully kept the oil at proper level, and it't not nearly as clacky or pronounced as my mom's Caravan was...

Thanks...

[Bounty__Hunter]

Exhaust leak, and if you have the 4.0L it's probably a cracked exhaust manifold. Inspect the manifold closely, may take a small mirror to see the bottom of it.

[tmsloan]

Yeppers sounds like a leak or crack in your manifold.