Turbo whine when cold

[T is for TURBO]

Okay, so here is my situation... In order for me to go home in the morning from work I have to take the freeway, and the freeway is only about a half mile away from where I work, so when I merge onto the freeway my car is not quite up to normal operating tempratures. So while merging onto the highway when going into slight boost (6-8psi) I hear a whine comming from what I would imagine is the turbo. But once I have been driving for a while the whineing noise goes away and I get the normal hissing noise a healthy turbo makes. I am just curious if this is normal or if I should be concerned about something? I have the stock T25 with just about 62K on it w/ NO shaft play. Also, the noise it makes when the car is under normal operating temps seems to have no relation to the outside temperature.

Thanks

-Shawn

 

[SBstar]

And it only makes the noise when its cold?

 

[olmytsi]

I think i know what it is. I had the same thing happen on my 14b. You probably have a "hairline" crack in your turbine housing. When your turbo is cold, the crack is there causing it to whistle. Once the exhaust gases goin through it heat it enough, the metal expands and seals that crack so the noise goes away.This is just a suggestion but it could be the answer to your problem.

 

[psychlow]

How long since your last oil change?

What weight oil are you using?

Any visible smoke from the tailpipe?

 

[T is for TURBO]

More info:
It only when the car is cold

last oil change was about 1500 miles ago

10W-30 Mobil 1 Synthetic

Only visible smoke is when I really give it hell, and its black smoke, so its fuel, and that is normal from what I understand. Its just a *small* puff of black smoke when the throttle is mashed cuasing a rich mixture before the turbo has time hit full boost (please correct me if I'm wrong) And when I say small I mean, very small amount, I don't even notice it, only reason I know it does it is because my dad said he saw it while he was behind me goin up an on ramp

olmytsi.. I thought of somthing like that, but that does make sence

-Shawn

 

[90gst_sean]

I brought this thread back because it was adequately named and I'm not satisfied with my read thus far...

My turbo whines pretty loud, soon as I hit 3000 rpm's; BUT its only when cold. It'll do this for five to ten shifts then its gone.

The turbo's a e3b16g from sbr w/ 35k. The thing that gets me is just how loud the whine is. Its almost electrical in sound..?

Thanks

 

[meliketoball]

I brought this thread back because it was adequately named and I'm not satisfied with my read thus far...

My turbo whines pretty loud, soon as I hit 3000 rpm's; BUT its only when cold. It'll do this for five to ten shifts then its gone.

The turbo's a e3b16g from sbr w/ 35k. The thing that gets me is just how loud the whine is. Its almost electrical in sound..?

Thanks

You shouldn't even been spooling when the turbo is cold! I say take off your exhaust manifold and inspect for cracks on the manifold and the turbo as well.

 

[viperlp01]

I have the same noise and only when it is cold. I think it is just thick oil making a funny noise with the turbo. I recently noticed a little shaft play on my turbo but i don't know if that is what casued it.

 

[90gst_sean]

You shouldn't even been spooling when the turbo is cold! I say take off your exhaust manifold and inspect for cracks on the manifold and the turbo as well.

I didnt say any thing about spooling. I wasn't born yesterday. I'm talking normal driving; 1/4 throttle, shift at 3000. And thats taking it easy. I'd normally 1/4 throttle to 3600, 3700.

I've tried to watch the boost gauge while its happening. At first I figured it was low boost coming on (1 or 2 psi). But it seems to be more rpm based, but; like I said- it happens then its gone and I havent really watched it to much.

More less looking to see if this is common. I don't remember it happening in the summer.

 

[Pirrofab]

Even though this doesn't sound like the cause of the problem just thought I would let you know on the 1g 6 bolts mitsubishi posted a TSB for oil pump whine in cold weather due to improper gear mesh on the oil pump. I know you have a 2g but just maybe its something to look into. Does the noise seem to come from the middle of the engine bay or more towards the driver side ?

 

[90gst_sean]

Even though this doesn't sound like the cause of the problem just thought I would let you know on the 1g 6 bolts mitsubishi posted a TSB for oil pump whine in cold weather due to improper gear mesh on the oil pump. I know you have a 2g but just maybe its something to look into. Does the noise seem to come from the middle of the engine bay or more towards the driver side ?

Not bad noobie. I'll check that out!

I have a new oil pump as of last summer, but very well could still be the cause. Especially if the whine does turn out to be rpm based.

Thanks!!

Do you remember what mitsu said to do about this? If it is the oil pump I don't think it will be much of a problem, as its likely the thick oil. But I'm still curious.

 

[Pirrofab]

Hey, No prob I have a problem very similar to this on my car so I looked around and found it through mitchell, or alldata. My oil pump is a little noisy at start up but after 5-10 minutes its gone. Mitsubishi did come out with a revised oil pump so I would assume it was corrected for 92 1/2 and up dsms but that doesn't mean you could have a defective pump.

 

[90gst_sean]

Now I want'a know what pump I ended up installing; if there in dead was a revision.



This smiley just doesn't get used enough.

 

[Pirrofab]

Well that I would have to look up for the part numbers and I won't have access to that until wednesday when I go back to work but I could have sworn that the pumps are different between 6 bolt and 7 bolts.

 

[90gst_sean]

Are you talking about a 7 bolt pump having the recall; because I drive a 89 gsx 6 bolt. You know that right?

I think one of us is confused.

 

[Pirrofab]

Oh wow Im sorry, for what ever reason I thought you had a 7 bolt. now that Im back on the planet and you have a 6 bolt. Then it is very possible about the pump being bad. The revision came in around middle 1991 -1992 before they went to the 7 bolt in april of 1992. I hope that clarified that. I don't want to confuse anyone

 

[Supa Dexta]

How long do the guys with this problem let their cars warm up, and whats the outdoor temp at the time? Perhaps its not getting sufficient lubrication due to think oil....

 

[90gst_sean]

30-60 seconds and 40'F