What is turbo whine?

As the name suggests, a turbo whistle sounds like a high pitched whistle or whining sound, heard when the turbocharger kicks in as you accelerate and the revs go up. For some people, a turbo whistle can be annoying, but to others, it's actually desirable!

Is it normal for a turbo to whistle?

Even a turbocharger in excellent condition makes noises! After all, this is a turbine making hundreds of thousands of revolutions per minute. The background noise associated with the ensuing flows is therefore completely normal.

What does it mean when a turbo whines?

However, if you start to hear a loud, whining noise - a bit like a dentist's drill or police siren - it's a potential symptom of turbo failure. As the fault gets more serious, the noise will get worse. If you notice a whining from your engine, you should get a professional mechanic to have a look at your car.

How long will a whining turbo last?

You can expect your turbo to last up to around 150,000 miles - or even more if it's seldom used. Turbos force additional air into your car's cylinders.

What are the signs of a blown turbo?

Turbo Noises || EXPLAINED

How do you tell if a turbo is going bad?

What does a normal turbo sound like?

As many fans of a turbocharged engine will know, a turbo often makes a whistling sound. This whistle is the sound of the turbo operating effectively, also known as 'spooling up'.

What causes engine whine?

Whirring or Whining

Whirring and whining noises often vary as the engine runs fast or slow, and they can indicate a number of different problems, including a failing water pump, a bad power steering pump, low power steering fluid, a failing alternator, or problems with the air-conditioning system.

Why does my turbo sound like a siren?

A faulty turbo may result in a loud, siren sound coming from the engine. The louder the sound, the worse the problem could be. Here's the siren noise that typically results from a failing turbo. If you hear this noise, you should consult your mechanic as soon as possible to get your vehicle checked.

What does turbo flutter sound like?

When people think of turbocharged cars, one of the first things that comes to mind is the sound of turbo flutter, that fluttering/chattering sound which happens when the driver backs off the throttle in a hurry, such as when changing gear.

Why does my car whine when I accelerate?

In the vast majority of cases, a badly worn wheel bearing will make a roaring noise, as a driver travels down the road. This noise typically changes in pitch as a vehicle accelerates. At a high rate of speed, this sound is often reminiscent of a whirring or whining noise.

How do you get rid of transmission whine?

If you suspect your transmission is making a whining noise, you need to replace the transmission fluid in your vehicle. This is necessary for the fluid level to stay at the appropriate levels. Changing the transmission fluid is a good idea as it can prevent other problems like whining.

Why is my car hissing when I accelerate?

If the hissing happens when you accelerate, it could instead be a vacuum leak from one of the small hoses around the engine's air intake.

What RPM does a turbo kick in?

While your car's engine revs, at cruise, at around 2,000 rpm, a turbo's turbine can reach rotational speeds of more than 280,000 rpm.

How often do Turbos need to be replaced?

However, turbochargers are wearable parts and they will wear down over time. Most turbochargers need to be replaced between 100,000 and 150,000 miles. If you are good at maintaining your car and get timely oil changes your turbocharger may last even longer than that.

How long should you let a turbo car cool down?

Idling the engine cools the turbo because it circulates the oil, yet does not make the turbo "work." The amount of cooling it needs is directly related to the way you just finished driving it. When you drive it gently around town, 15 seconds should be more than adequate.

Do Turbos need maintenance?

It depends on the type of maintenance. Turbocharged engines will require more frequent oil changes and fresh spark plugs, though turbo engines typically don't require additional service compared to naturally aspirated engines.

How long does a turbo last?

That said, there are many turbo engines that can last long. Take, for example, the turbodiesel in the Mark IV Volkswagen Golf / Jetta (from early 2000's). Many of them are going well past 200K miles with good maintenance.

Does turbo flutter damage your turbo?

When the compressed air has nowhere to go, it causes the turbo rotational speed to rapidly drop, and attempts to push against the wheel. This can cause premature wear on your turbo, however closed throttle flutter on modern turbochargers is unlikely to cause a noticeable drop in turbocharger lifespan.

What makes a turbo go Stustustu?

The turbine has exhaust gas that it's trying to use but can't. Since the gas can't go through the throttle, it exits the same way it came in. As it exits, the compressor blades chop through the air. This is what creates the famous “stu-stu-stu” noise.

Do Wastegates make noise?

External Wastegates are responsible for turbo flutter.

That fluttering sound, which typically occurs when the throttle is suddenly closed, is the sound of the turbo trying to push air into the engine but failing, so the compressor blades 'chop' through the air. You can read more about this phenomenon here.