Loud Ta Ta Ta Ta Ta sound from engine, not a tick

For the past 6 months or so, I've been noticing this loud Ta Ta Ta Ta Ta Ta sound coming from the drivers side of the engine. It's not that tick that everyone talks about. I have basically noticed this noise when I'm at my banks atm, really nowhere else, ready to leave. For instance, I drive a miles tonight to my banks atm and just as I was pulling away this loud Ta Ta Ta noise started and then went away after 10 seconds or so.

Early last year, I had my head gasket replaced and timing belt and stuff replaced. When I got the truck back I thought I could hear this steam engine sound on the drivers backside of the engine but couldn't figure out what it was.

Ever since the repairs, my mpg's have gotten progressively worse especially in the past few months. I'm wondering if I might have an exhaust leak or something on the drivers side and once the engine warms up it goes away.

Does anyone have any ideas what it might be? Could I have an exhaust leak at the headers? Do they get removed when replacing a head gasket? Possible cause of my poor mpg's?

 

i would say exhaust leak.

 

If you have an exhaust leak on the manifold / header you can burn a valve. I would recommend getting it taken care of.

 

Maybe exhaust, but with the loss in mileage I wonder about a vac leak. Have you access to a vacuum gauge?

Another possibility may be spark plug blow by. Check your plugs for tightness (don't over torque them)

Does the 2004 have an air injection pump? Could be a leak in one of those lines.

 

I'll check the plugs tomorrow. I don't have access to a vacuum gauge and wouldn't even know how to check. Just last week I was at the grocery store with my parents. My father stayed in the truck. When we got back my Father said he turned the truck off because he thought he could smell fuel or something. I couldn't smell anything but maybe he was smelling some exhaust coming through the vents.

On Monday I'm visiting the dealer to have them replace my front end and will have them look into it.

 

Hmm. Smelling fuel. Could be missing on a cylinder. Would explain the mpg drop. No check engine light?

Vac is easy, and the gauge is cheap. A quick online search will give you a procedure, but basically you hook it to a line to your intake, and during idle you check to see if it has a stable pull, or is it erratic.

 

No check engine lights. In the past year, I replaced the plugs, cleaned the maf & throttle body, replaced the fuel filter, etc. Mpg's haven't improved one bit. I have to believe I have an exhaust leak somewhere at the engine causing the noises and low mpg's.

Do the headers get removed when replacing a head gasket? I seem to remember having the tech install a bolt at the connection where the header and the rest of the exhaust connects. I don't know why it was missing unless the tech removed the header during the install and forgot a bolt.

 

Do you have headers or factory exhaust manifold? it sounds like an exhaust leak, and yes they usually take the manifold off to do the head gasket, or at least the y pipe. curious, Why was the head gasket done?

 

If done correctly, yes the exhaust manifolds are removed. It is pretty much impossible on the 3.4 to get the heads off any other way. I think your instincts are right. Take it in and get it checked out. A short audio clip or youtube would be nice to try and help you identify the exact noise, but it does sound like an exhaust leak from the description.

 

I have the factory exhaust setup. I replaced the head gasket because the drivers side was leaking out.