djthacker

i have a ticking noise that comes in and out with no real pattern its just there or its not its not extremely heavy sounding 02 5.3 lm7

Ls7colorado

iTrader: (3)

sounds like a lifter tick
I would say possibly exhaust leak but if it comes and goes randomly then its probably not.

wannafbody

iTrader: (2)

Could try some Marvel Mystery Oil in the engine and see if it goes away. Sometimes the lifters stick or get stuck on engines with cylinder deactivation. I've seen a couple of those lifters, the spring collapses and they stick in the short position.