SR - Whining noise

[SkylineDriven]

I have a Redtop and lately I have been getting a whining noise when the turbo starts to spool. It USED to only do it at 10 psi. Then a week later, it started at 7 psi. Earlier this week it started at 4 psi and now it starts making the whining noise when the the vacuum gets right before zero, and it starts to boost.

It is not my blow-off valve, hot pipe, boost controller, boost guage, or vacuum hoses. I have checked all those already.

Please help.

My car is running on stock SMIC and has an HKS wastegate actuator. I also do not have A/C connected and do not have a P/S pulley (waiting to get put on)

[sr240mike]

Definately look for turbo shaft play! Is it still boosting as high as it used too?

[SkylineDriven]

Turbo had no shaft play when I put it on. I've only had it in for about 700 miles. It can still hit full boost but I'm just afraid since it sounds like a freaking supercharger. So scary.

Could it be wastegate actuator leak? Or could it be the fact that I took out my P/S pump and left everything else the way it was? I saw another post where someone had a whine due to low P/S fluid. My reservoir is empty since I removed the P/S pump.

[sr240mike]

Nothing is turning the power steering pump so thats ruled out. A wastegate actuator leak would result in an overboost condition. You probably have a severe boost leak and your turbo is overworking to stay at the selected boost level. Thats why the gauges stay normal.

[SkylineDriven]

Hmm... any ideas on how to check for boost leak?

[SkylineDriven]

Bump.. plz assist.... what other possibilities besides boost leak? Also, I notice that whenever it begins to boost, I start smelling alot of fuel. I try not to boost when I drive but occasionally it will hit 1 psi.

[sr240mike]

Its definately a boost leak. You're going to have to pressure test the intake system. You cap off the intake at the throttle body and apply air pressure at the maf. Go to home depot and get a proper sized abs plug and tap it for an air fitting. Then apply about 5psi with a compressed air source. Listen for leaks, yours sounds pretty major. Can you hear it pissing out air while you boost?

[SkylineDriven]

I'll have to try that idea... so, before the MAF, I inject air into the car... and I need to block it off before the TB? But doesn't the TB plate already block off air from the intake manifold?

Maybe I'm not understanding what you are trying to say. Where exactly will the air be circulating... from the MAF/Intake tube, into the turbo, through the hot pipe, SMIC, cold pipe, and stop at the TB?

[mendozasport]

one thing both of you are missing out is oil to the center bearing,if u have to much pressure not good if to little not good , to check what the oil pressure is @ the baering its going to take some fittngs so you can "T" off a PSI gauge , if ur going to do it get somthing dicent not ur PEP BOYS special 3.99 set , now if u find one that has the fittings buy it , but most likely go to a hidrolic hose store , look in the phone book, take ur feeder hose and tell them u need a "tee" in between so u can instal that gauge , it will serve u for the future , just make it look nice , first try the pressure test and check for leaks , what i just explained can get expensive, to know what the oil pres. @ the bearing is call jim wolf or stillen @ tech soport and they will help , u will need model and size of ur turbine so be ready with that info.

[sr240mike]

Tapping into that oil line is gonna be hard. How's your oil level?
When you cap the tube off at the throttle body there is no where for the air to escape except for where the leak is at. There are a few hoses on the intake tract that have to be capped too I believe.

[SkylineDriven]

Ok I'll see what I can come up with and let you guys know.

[memphiss13]

hey frank if you want to do the pressure test, jon made a cap with a valve stem in it last week. i'm sure he will let you use it. then you just put a little air in it and listen close for a leak.

[memphiss13]

another thing to add to this post is that his car has a really bad gas smell when he gets on it, but we don't see a fuel leak. could this noise and the gas smell be related?

[ZK]

I have the same whining sound ... doesn't sound like a boost leak though and the boost level stays steady. Like it was mentioned earlier, it sounds like a supercharger coming from the turbo...


I do get a smell when boosting, but it smells more like propane gas than gasoline...

Could this be the same problem?

[memphiss13]

well i drove his car today and it sounds like a siren. kind of funny actually. so it looks like a turbo rebuild is in order. no more gas smell either. it went away.

[sr240mike]

If the boost is leaking the turbo is going to work way harder to maintain the preset boost level. So your turbo is spinning way faster than it should causing the siren sound.