Engine bay whistle as car begins boosting?

[UR2NOZ]

I used the search yet didn't quite come up with what I was looking for. I recently picked up a 90' GSX. The car appears to build boost perfectly fine ( haven't installed a boost gauge yet but going by feel ) and is using a stock uncrushed 1g BOV on stock boost levels. Now as soon as the car hits boost it makes a constant whistle sound until you shift. You can build boost as slow as you like and the sound presents itself, yet never really gets louder. I have owned 3 dsm's in the past and have never experienced this sound. I need some insight on this damn noise.


Thanks for all replies

Adam

 

[Achelea]

Did you do a boost leak test?

 

[nightracer91]

sounds like a boost leak.

 

[UR2NOZ]

Did you do a boost leak test?

I am actually searching for a home aid test kit as we type.

 

[nightracer91]

I made one with a plumber's coupler, a pvc end cap, and a valve stem for a tire. It isn't the greatest for really small leaks but it will help you find the big, audible ones quickly.

 

[back2dsm]

I've had that sound and it was a boost leak. Get a boost gauge...

 

[UR2NOZ]

I've had that sound and it was a boost leak. Get a boost gauge...

I planned on getting a gauge to begin with as I also have an uninstalled nice Hallman boost controller. Guess now I have all the more reason. I am going to pressurize the system this weekend to find the issue. Hell the car runs great, I can only imagine how much better it will be after I fix this damn leak.

I'll keep the post updated as I test, no doubt I will have more questions once I get into this.

 

[DroopYeyeS]

Is the intake system stock, i.e. not venting the bov? If this is not being vented off I'd look int a vaccum line, cracked or disconnected. If it were a bad boost leak would more than likely be noticed in a performance stumble. Good luck.

 

[1213579w]

It might actually be a going head gasket. Mine made a whistling noise when boosting before the head gasket blew. I had zero boost leaks.

 

[Boost92gsx]

its most likely your jpipe (metal elbow runs from turbo to lower intercooler pipe)
iv herd many storys of it sounding like that and mine sounded like a supercharged dsm so yah check that out..

 

[UR2NOZ]

Is the intake system stock, i.e. not venting the bov? If this is not being vented off I'd look int a vaccum line, cracked or disconnected. If it were a bad boost leak would more than likely be noticed in a performance stumble. Good luck.

Car has a hard UICP with a stock BOV vented back into the system.

It might actually be a going head gasket. Mine made a whistling noise when boosting before the head gasket blew. I had zero boost leaks.

Car had a head gasket replacement less then 2500 miles ago.

 

[BLINKY619]

Im pretty sure its a boost leak but i may be wrong...! Other than that dude get a boost gauge...! To me that stock boost gauge is just for show id say...!

 

[UR2NOZ]

Im pretty sure its a boost leak but i may be wrong...! Other than that dude get a boost gauge...! To me that stock boost gauge is just for show id say...!

Getting a gauge regardless, this is my 4th DSM so I know the drill and how important it is to monitor certain things on these cars.

 

[turboeclipse99]

that happend to me... i took the turbo off and found the exhaust manifold was cracked so i replaced the whole turbo system and never happened again

 

[BLINKY619]

So you do know how much boost your pushing....! Just trying to help

 

[UR2NOZ]

So you do know how much boost your pushing....! Just trying to help

Stock boost levels to my knowledge. No manual boost controller installed on a stock 14B turbo. I will know more in two days once I get a gauge hooked up to this beast. Thanks for he willingness to help me out. Appreciate it.

 

[turboeclipse99]

Any luck finding anything yet

 

[UR2NOZ]

Any luck finding anything yet

Checking today

 

[JusMX141]

I am actually searching for a home aid (WTF) test kit as we type.

HomeAid

They may offer assistance in building, but I'm not sure if they'll specialize in boost leak testers.

 

[UR2NOZ]

HomeAid

They may offer assistance in building, but I'm not sure if they'll specialize in boost leak testers.

ya no shit right

Ok did a leak test and got not a sound. Actually was hoping for something so i got an answer to my question. Got my boost gauge all hooked up and took the car for a spin. The sound is the same as it was and the car pulls a solid 12lbs of boost with no bleed off getting readings from the fuel pressure regulator "T". The car pulls hard...should I be concerned?