I have a 2010 Mustang GT with 4.6L engine that started making a ticking sound which at times is fairly loud. The sound is much less obvious at cold start but becomes apparent after it gets hot. The sound is loud enough to be heard with windows closed inside the drivers compartment.

The clicking/ticking sound appeared to be coming from the drivers side valve cover, so I assumed as most of these engines that it was the cam phasers or a cam phaser solenoid that went bad. I changed out the phasers, timing chains, gears, chain guides, plungers, and solenoids but didn't change out the oil pump.

The noise remained after that work. But I took these pictures looking down at the valves. The black and charred looking valve in the picture is the valve that is closest to the driver. I believe it's one of the exhaust valves for that cylinder.

What does it look like happened? Burned or stuck open valve? I haven't put an oil pressure gauge on it, but I plan to this weekend, or am I pretty much assured of needing to remove the head?

The car has a slight hesitation on throttle up, and the hesitations seems to pulsate as if the solenoids were trying to move the cam phasers but can't get them to move enough. So that's why I now think the oil pressure might be too low. But is it too late for that head?

[![View of the valves](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GIeH5.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/GIeH5.jpg)

[![Alternate view](https://i.stack.imgur.com/W8HiO.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/W8HiO.jpg)