Sorry for the long intro here guys.....

So my car has this ticking when the engine is cold and under load. At first I though it was lifters, but I really don't think it is.

The ticking does not occur at idle, even when started from cold after setting outside in 30 degree weather for 8 hours. Even if I rev the engine while in Park the ticking doesn't occur. It only ticks when I put the car under load by either starting to drive it, or if I hold my foot on the brake, put the car in Drive and give it a little gas.

While driving, if I hold steady at a slow speed there's no ticking...but if I press the accelerator even the slightest bit to gain speed, the ticking comes back instantly. By the way, the ticking also corresponds to RPMs.

However, after a while of driving, or letting the car sit idling, the ticking will completely go away.

Yesterday while goofing off in the garage, I shown a bright light down toward the exhaust manifold and goosed the throttle a couple of times. I saw a bit of smoke come up from what looked to be the third exhaust port (3rd from the front toward the firewall). I did that a couple of times and saw the smoke each time. I've also been hearing a whistle when I would hit boost, which I first thought was the turbo, but after fiddling with it yesterday, I really think the whistle is coming from the manifold.

I'm thinking I have a bad gasket or a cracked manifold.

Any thoughts?

 

No one?