engine sounds like a tank.

[eski]

Sup,
tried to look for some info but not much luck.
just need some help on what to look at first.
i was driving home today, not driving hard and my car suddenly gets louder.
it sounds nice at idle but when i get to 2000rpm it sounds noisey.
any ideas on what to look at first? i was going to check the spark plugs tommorrow.
it was an unually warm day today, well it went from -30 to -5 today. could it be moisture in the tank?

anyone got any ideas?

 

[FaTZAch420]

I'll be the first to say I really don't know the answer. I'd check the exhaust, because that's the first thing that comes to mind with noise levels...Maybe Gaskets? If it's the engine where the noise is, it could be a much worse problem...Try a standard tune up...Oil, plugs, pulleys, etc. and see what that does. Does the car run any differently aside from being loud?

 

[talon4lifetsi]

Do you have any idea where about the noise is coming from??

 

[94cyclone]

You must be more specific about "loud". Is it making a sound like a diesel? Does it sound like your exhaust has a leak?

If I heard a loud car coming down the street my first thought wouldn't be spark plugs... but there are infinite possibilities.

 

[eski]

yeah id say maybe like a diesel. i didnt notice much change in power but i didnt really want to punch it.

 

[FaTZAch420]

yeah id say maybe like a diesel. i didnt notice much change in power but i didnt really want to punch it.

The smartest and easiest thing I'd suggest is to get someone who'd know where to look and have them look at it (like a mechanic, a more mechanically inclined friend)...I don't know how many times having someone who knew more about something than me saved my butt. You could think you know what it is, fix that and find out afterwards that it wasn't that...Check for leaks everywhere you can. Your ears are your friends. If it's an exhaust leak, you'd be able to hear it a little at idle. Check for a hissing sound and when you hear it, put your hand in that area and if you can feel air, then it's most likely that...Don't put your hand anywhere hot or where there are moving parts.

 

[eski]

The smartest and easiest thing I'd suggest is to get someone who'd know where to look and have them look at it (like a mechanic, a more mechanically inclined friend)...I don't know how many times having someone who knew more about something than me saved my butt. You could think you know what it is, fix that and find out afterwards that it wasn't that...Check for leaks everywhere you can. Your ears are your friends. If it's an exhaust leak, you'd be able to hear it a little at idle. Check for a hissing sound and when you hear it, put your hand in that area and if you can feel air, then it's most likely that...Don't put your hand anywhere hot or where there are moving parts.

yeah thats exactly what im worried about, spending money on something that isnt the problem.

 

[DougR]

If at anytime while you are driving and you exhaust note gets "louder than normal" ie. just happens..

9 outta 10 times you just popped a hole in the exhaust (may it be a burst in a rusty pipe or a simple gasket) anywhere between the head to muffler (sometimes the muffler or CaT itself can rupture along a weld seam).

My 1st choices would be gasket between O2 housing and Down-pipe OR Down-pipe and Cat... Every Vehical I have known pops them fast.

The simplest way of finding it is with your Ear. but some find those hard to use.

My personal favorite method, is to inspect all of the connections of Each Exhaust part, for Black soot.
what you will be looking for is a soot pattern on the connecting pipe, similar to a welding torch tip. ala the blue flame effect. on the connecting pipe and sometimes on the underbody of the vehical itself. (and beleive me! the loudest exhaust leak can be from the Smallest hole!) thats IF your not leaking oil all over everything.. You will Know immediatly when you see a leak on a connector. Its very Dark Black compared to the rest of the exhaust.
If your leaking oil all over, use next method and a 2 friends one to work the gas pedal and one to watch for the white smoke (I dont trust many ppl to inject a fluid into my engine unmeterd ofther than me).

Next is by useing the Seafoam method of cleaning out various parts of your engine. see with seafoam the engine SMOKES like mad!. and will Quickly! show you Every single exhaust leak you have. Sea foam

Good luck on the leak hunt. I know I have had some bad ones!


Doug

 

[burbage2001]

Check you exhaust because I had the same problem a few years back. It happened while I was driving a Nissan Sentra and it scared the crap out of me. It was so loud that I could not hear anything else. I took it to a muffler shop and they welded it for $15.

 

[blownturbotsi]

Just in case it's not the exhaust, does it get louder as you go through the rpms? Does it only happen during a small portion of the rpms?

 

[hotshot_tsi]

Mine sounded like a diesel too but it was because the back flange weld on my cat delete broke while going down the highway. That was a fun 5 hour drive home.

 

[eski]

well i noticed a lose bolt on my exhaust so i tightened it(passenger side inline with the front wheel).

now my car is almost dying when i take my foot off the throttle with the clutch in. im sure it has nothing to do with tightening the bolt!!!!

my mechanic is coming monday to take a look for me, i havent even been driving it.

i'll post the problem on monday, thanks guys