Looking for top 10 ways to reduce engine noise

[Brentbohn]

Looking for the best ten ways to quiet down the engine and engine bay area of a s14 with a ka. SEARCHED> not looking for tips on timingchain rattle. DONT POST IT if its about the chain guards.... More interested in reducing the injector tick, valve train noise, fan noise, random ticking and tapping.

[driftyour40]

efan, maybe a valve adjustment not sure on that one it may make it louder.

intake=0.013-0.016in
exhaust=0.013-0.016in

just if you want to do it. I would say take it to nissan for that though, unless you have all the tools to do it.

[unicoladron]

tighten bolts, secure wires, any metal on metal contact can be reduced by wrapping old hose, or old vacuum lines around things.

do you have a fan shroud?

however, your loud engine isn't specifically attributed to nissan's with KAs. if you broaden your search, perhaps you will receive more results: ie. "how to reduce engine noise" or "engine rattle" or "loud engine compartment".

try shit like that, but i know what you mean, that shit is loud.

also, does the rubber/foam seal thing on your hood fully seat? one time i scored a new hood for a sentra, and my old seal stuff was cracked and mising. huge difference.

[Brentbohn]

yeah going to check that seal in the morning... thinkin of dynamatting the hood completely and possibly making a plastic valve cover coverthing like ya see on all the newer cars... damn injectors are hella loud

[steve shadows]

1. the right oil
2. the right engine mounts
3. the right tuning

otherwise if it's still noisey, your x amount of time away from some sort of collosal failure.

[g6civcx]

A cheap way would be to align all of your body panels so they don't rub. Then tighten them all down.

That eliminates a lot of front end rattles on an old car.

[s13boy89]

stop being such a pussy

[krazydriver]

Definitely invest in an electric fan + doing a valve adjustment.
On my s13 all the sound deadening stuff inside the firewall was gone, so replacing that/adding more may do wonders on cutting down the noise.
As far as the injector tick... they really shouldn't be all that loud. You may need to replace them if their audible in the cabin.


I on the other hand realized the sound issue didn't bother me with the s13, so i just stripped everything out of it

[MadMaverick]

More interested in reducing the injector tick, valve train noise, fan noise, random ticking and tapping.

Injectors: if they arent ticking, youve got bigger problems than noise

Valve train: Like driftyour40 said, you can do the adjustment, but KA's just have noisy valvetrains, it prolly wont change much

Fan: Is it really that loud? If it sounds like an airplane taking off, the fan clutch could be locked up. It should spin free with the car off, otherwise replace the fan clutch.

Random noises: You have an older vehicle, this is gonna happen. Best bet is to trakc them down one at a time. Go through your engine bay and make sure plastics are tucked and secured.

I guess you could try dynamatting your interior panels as well, that should reduce road noise considerably, or you could just buy a mercedes.

[Brentbohn]

so no one else thinks the upper engine valve train and injectors are insanely loud at idle with the windows down. c'mon were missing something easy here.... went to a nissan dealer.. talked to a few old mechanics... they said alot of the intake gaskets would go bad frequently and simualar sounds would be present... funny there are not alot of threads griping about intake gaskets

[KA-T_240]

The best way to loose engine noise is to remove the engine.



To help with what you are asking. Make sure your motor/driveline/susepension are all in proper working order. If things are broke they will cause wierd noise. After that put a sound deadening material under your carpet. If you have a gutted interior, reinstall it. Not having an aftermarket or intake also will keep the noise level down.

If you really are only after a quiet running car, might want to look at somethine newer.

[KA-T_240]

so no one else thinks the upper engine valve train and injectors are insanely loud at idle with the windows down. c'mon were missing something easy here.... went to a nissan dealer.. talked to a few old mechanics... they said alot of the intake gaskets would go bad frequently and simualar sounds would be present... funny there are not alot of threads griping about intake gaskets

I see you are from MN. Where? If you are semi local i can take a look at it and see whats up. The nissan techs at nissan here have NO knowledge about S-chassis cars.


You should not be hearing injectors. Its probably something else. I really do not notice anything like that. My motor runs pretty quiet. It only has 12k on it though. Only thing i hear from my engine bay is my turbo, BOV, and open dump
This morning was -16 below here, why hell you are you thinking about noise with the windows down?

[Gjohnson7]

Man, you really don't even need the stock fan for Minnesota weather. I pulled the clutch fan off one of my past S13's and ran fine for about a year in 110 degree weather in Oklahoma.

[KA-T_240]

^mmmm, not really. Also, removing the fan is not a smart thing no matter where you live.


We get above 100 and have high humidity.

[k's_silvia2.0]

Go back to stock everything:keke:

[Gjohnson7]

^mmmm, not really. Also, removing the fan is not a smart thing no matter where you live.


We get above 100 and have high humidity.

Man whatever. I'm not saying he should run the car that way from now till eternity. But if he wants to see how much difference the noisy clutch fan really does make, it's not that big of a deal. He would only have an issue if he frequently drives it bumper to bumper traffic with high heat. Highway driving or really anything but traffic will cool the engine with easy.

And believe me when I say that you don't want to compare high heat and humidity. My wife is from Minneapois, MN and I have spent a lot of time up there. Believe me it's a different ball game down here. Oh and on a side note, I hate Minnesota winters. Period. I have to drive back from MN in early March of 07 when they had that bad snow storm and shut down all highways in Minnesota, Wisconson and Iowa. I will never go back in the winter again.

[LA_phantom_240]

I notice that my s14 is insanely loud at idle too... of course it kinda scares me because I have this fear that it is going to lead to major engine trouble. She runs very smooth, but she's noisy. A little timing chain, but otherwise... I can't really explain it, but its just noisy. Maybe its an s14 thing? My s13's were never that noisy.

[98s14inaz]

Are you saying, "my engine is loud while I am in the car driving" or "my engine is loud while I am standing there with my hood open" ?

If it is the first one you could use some kind of heat resistant insulation on the underside of the hood and engine bay to "dampen" the noise. Engines are noisy. Personally I love the noise. I drove an Altima the other day and said to my passenger, "is this thing on?" I swear those things are quiet.

[MAGILLA]

a lot of the noises you think are coming from the engine itself are stuff under the dash and around the car vibrating with the motor. If you real want to get rid of most of the noise without rebuilding your engine, then use spray foam in all the major body joints. Like the a,b,&c columns, rocker panel, etc. That should help a bunch with noise and stiffen up your car too. there is a big write up on here or FA about it. look it up.

[LA_phantom_240]

Are you saying, "my engine is loud while I am in the car driving" or "my engine is loud while I am standing there with my hood open" ?

If it is the first one you could use some kind of heat resistant insulation on the underside of the hood and engine bay to "dampen" the noise. Engines are noisy. Personally I love the noise. I drove an Altima the other day and said to my passenger, "is this thing on?" I swear those things are quiet.

LOL. When the windows are up, my friend Eric says the same thing sometimes... usually its when he doesn't notice that I actually started the car. But I'm running no clutch fan, I'm electric. She runs smooth and quiet inside the car.

[Neejay]

I notice that my s14 is insanely loud at idle too... of course it kinda scares me because I have this fear that it is going to lead to major engine trouble. She runs very smooth, but she's noisy. A little timing chain, but otherwise... I can't really explain it, but its just noisy. Maybe its an s14 thing? My s13's were never that noisy.
It's called OWNING A 240SX LOL I'm the same way. I'm like permanently shell-shocked.


Right now my engine noise is coming from having polyurethane filled oem mounts :(

[driftyour40]

I can hear the injectors click but it's not loud. It sounds like you have valve noise, and I would not think it was intake mani gaskets. maybe a valve cover gasket I noticed a difference in sound when I did mine, but nothing to talk about. lol are you sure you not just paying to much attention to it?

[deesz]

1. the right oil
2. the right engine mounts
3. the right tuning

otherwise if it's still noisey, your x amount of time away from some sort of collosal failure.



i agreeeeee
also replace injectors, valves, piston, piston rings, seals, motor mounts, tranny mount, new clutch, new flywheel, rino line the whole engine bay compartment, replace fan clutch, replace fan, replace water pump, replace belts, replace coil, replace power stearing pump, replace reack and pinion, replace headlight fluid, replace. replace. replace. and replace.

it is an engine and parts do make noise the only way to really cure it is to go with a 2007 nissan 350z motor......lol

even if you replace parts there made a certain way and will make the same noise

[deesz]

Definitely invest in an electric fan + doing a valve adjustment.
On my s13 all the sound deadening stuff inside the firewall was gone, so replacing that/adding more may do wonders on cutting down the noise.
As far as the injector tick... they really shouldn't be all that loud. You may need to replace them if their audible in the cabin.


I on the other hand realized the sound issue didn't bother me with the s13, so i just stripped everything out of it


i believe electric fans are very noisy there made to move more air than the regular fan and fan clutch also there not variable so there always at full speed witch is very noisy.....

[Gjohnson7]

i believe electric fans are very noisy there made to move more air than the regular fan and fan clutch also there not variable so there always at full speed witch is very noisy.....

Have to dissagree with you here buddy. My Ford Tarus fan is a lot quieter than the stock clutch fan and it has a low speed and high speed.

[deesz]

Have to dissagree with you here buddy. My Ford Tarus fan is a lot quieter than the stock clutch fan and it has a low speed and high speed.


ok so i solved it then put a taurus fan on the 240.... lol

[krazydriver]

You can flow alot more air with a larger fan, but with less RPM therefore keeping the noise down. I should probably have stated that in my post.

The taurus fan is a good example of that.

[deesz]

You can flow alot more air with a larger fan, but with less RPM therefore keeping the noise down. I should probably have stated that in my post.

The taurus fan is a good example of that.


i see what your saying, but with a bigger electric fan comes a bigger motor and that can make more noise.
im not nocking electric fans just in my past experience with electric fans they are louder, with most factory electric fans there are much smaller than an aftermarket fan also are not made to move as much air as an aftermarket electric fan. there for not as loud..
i dont know i could be wrong...

[specialk2003]

1. Quit bitching, it's an old S-chassis.
2. If you really care that much, quit bitching
3. DYNAMAT everything you can
4. Quit bitching
5. Pour sand in the intake (at least 5 bags, if you still hear noise, pour more)
6. Sell the car
7. Replace everything you can
8. Remove everything you can, it won't make noise then
9. Quit bitching
10. Park it, it will just make more noise with anything you do (including driving it normally)

There you go, top 10 things to reduce noise.

[Gjohnson7]

i see what your saying, but with a bigger electric fan comes a bigger motor and that can make more noise.
im not nocking electric fans just in my past experience with electric fans they are louder, with most factory electric fans there are much smaller than an aftermarket fan also are not made to move as much air as an aftermarket electric fan. there for not as loud..
i dont know i could be wrong...

Well if you decide to run one, heres one of the best write up's I've seen for the Tarus Fan.

http://www.houston240sx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2444

They really are great, they can pull up to 3800cfm (I believe), which I hear is more that the dual flex lite fans and the Altima fans. Plus they are really quite IMO, major plus for me is that when installed with a temp switch they only run at a certain temp, not all the time like the clutch fan.

[deesz]

Well if you decide to run one, heres one of the best write up's I've seen for the Tarus Fan.

http://www.houston240sx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2444

They really are great, they can pull up to 3800cfm (I believe), which I hear is more that the dual flex lite fans and the Altima fans. Plus they are really quite IMO, major plus for me is that when installed with a temp switch they only run at a certain temp, not all the time like the clutch fan.


thanks for the info i will check it out.......

[LA_phantom_240]

But aren't the Taurus fans current whores? I remember reading that they draw up to like 30 amps of current.... Thats a shit ton.

[sentiumprogram]

. .

[Matej]

Remove the timing chain guides, and you probably have an exhaust leak at the catalytic converter.

[alzahakar]

1) Turn up your radio.
2) Buy a minivan.
3) Get a doctor to remove the sand from your vagina.

All very valid ways to deal with this problem.

You drive a sports car. Suck it up, they are loud. If you want quiet, a Benz or a Cadillac will be right up your alley.

[Mangudai]

I notice that my s14 is insanely loud at idle too... of course it kinda scares me because I have this fear that it is going to lead to major engine trouble. She runs very smooth, but she's noisy. A little timing chain, but otherwise... I can't really explain it, but its just noisy. Maybe its an s14 thing? My s13's were never that noisy.


Fuck so its not just me

[mrmephistopheles]

Install an electric motor, drive in the HOV lanes.

[Z_Spool]

ummm... Best way to reduce engine noise... turn it off.