I would guess lash adjuster but with out hearing it determining it would be difficult.

I have heard belts that tick like a lifter too and prove to be just a glazed pulley.

 

I believe someone who has the Service Manual for these engines indicated there is no way to adjust the valves/lifters. But he, and correspondingly I, could be wrong. So, if the noise is coming from the lifter, it (or the associated "train") would need to be replaced....if warranted.

 

The lash adjusters are hydraulic and self adjusting, but they can go bad and collapse. So you're correct Snoopy, a bad lash adjuster is just replaced, not a huge job.

 

I was wondering ... could it be a spark plug at the end of it's life? Yes, 44k is not a lot of miles for spark plugs, I know, but still, if it had a problem before you bought it, and ran rich for a while, that could foul the plugs up real quick.

I still also go with the valve lash adjusters or lifter/rocker noise, having the same problem with my Firehawk (although much more pronounced) but it can't hurt to try changing spark plugs/wires if you haven't yet, as that's a rather cheap and easy job to do.

 

I took it to the dealer where I bought it and the tech who did a ride along with me said "all of these engines make that noise, it's normal" so I guess I will find a different dealer to look at it.

 

My '06 does this after it has been sitting for a while. Not sure if it's a lifter or injector or what, but it will usually go away after driving a bit (warming up).

 

This was with it warm, and not only is it at idle but at low speeds when you're going through a parking lot.

 

Has the car sat for a while without running before it did it? Mine does it after being stored for the winter.

 

I have a ticking sound that I can hear at low speeds and it's the injectors and is normal..... It's a higher pitch sound than lifters would be and very faint but it's there.

Try a different dealer, but it could be that tech is right.

 

Our DOHC motors do not have conventional type 'lifters'...
they do have hydraulic roller fingers, not adjustable.