Why is my turbo whistling?

[A4Dit]

My car started whistling today during boost. I could hear it with my windows down. I went BT yesterday, I know there is nothing wrong with the turbo as I installed it last week. All boost is normal but at peak boost 4500-5k I hear a whistling or squealing type sound and then it goes away. This happens in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear but sometimes doesnt happen at all if I go wide open throttle. On Garrets website they talk about compressor surge being the culprit of a whiney turbo but I don't fully understand their definition, they say it could be caused by an oversized turbo application, I'm only running an Eliminator. Is this sound normal? Or should I pull everything apart? It is not affecting performance and boost is still constant and strong. The turbo had no shaft play before install and the blades were as smooth as glass. All help is as always appreciated.

[kolan67]

my ko3 is whistling like a..sprinkler sound tsh tsh tsh tsh all the way up to around 4k rpms.

don't know whats wrong either.

[A4B603]

its called SPOOLING look it up... (its a good thing unless u have something actually hitting the turbo.)

[Chekm8]

bolts are not tight enough. check play on the bolts that hold the turbo--make sure it's cold btw.

my bolts kept unlocking itself and the air coming from there is what the whistleing noise is. tighten--overtighten--or get a nordlock washer instead of the regular one...gl

[AudiA4Turbo22]

Yo A4B603, get ur flame suit ready:

3..2...1 BOOM!

[Pr0n]

its called SPOOLING look it up... (its a good thing unless u have something actually hitting the turbo.)

He's BAT member #39, I'm pretty sure he knows what spooling is.

[A4Dit]

its called SPOOLING look it up... (its a good thing unless u have something actually hitting the turbo.)

It is a screaming high pitched whistle, I am pretty sure it is not the turbo spooling. On some pulls through 3rd and 4th it is not even happening.

[04QuattroTurbo]

Yo A4B603, get ur flame suit ready:

3..2...1 BOOM!

LOL...

[7speed]

Video ?

[bwoy1981]

Jimmy air is escaping somewhere for sure... double check those bolts..

[A4Dit]

I'm at work currently, was just wondering if somebody else had dealt with maybe the same symptoms and could give me some input on the problem.

[A4Dit]

So, manifold to turbo housing bolts?

[7speed]

Are you smelling fumes while at idle ?

[A4Dit]

Are you smelling fumes while at idle ?

Nope no fumes, I checked everything this morning to make sure all hoses were secure, I never touched the actual turbo so I'll have to tonight to see if there is any movement.

[bwoy1981]

That would suck if you have shaft play now (hopefully not) cause that means ur turbo isnt getting enough oil...wrong or right?? It happened to me in my eclipse to 3 turbos.

But I think its just air escaping..

[A4Dit]

That would suck if you have shaft play now (hopefully not) cause that means ur turbo isnt getting enough oil...wrong or right?? It happened to me in my eclipse to 3 turbos.

But I think its just air escaping..

Shaft play is caused by bad/worn bearings but yeah insufficent amount of oil could be the cause of the bearings wearing.

[A4natomical]

So, manifold to turbo housing bolts?

when i put my atp mani on, i had the same screaching type of sound (only when boost kicks in)

i double checked every bolt and it was the turbo to mani bolt/screw closest to the engine (the one that is hard to get to)

tightened it and it was gone.

hope that helps.

[A4Dit]

when i put my atp mani on, i had the same screaching type of sound (only when boost kicks in)

i double checked every bolt and it was the turbo to mani bolt/screw closest to the engine (the one that is hard to get to)

tightened it and it was gone.

hope that helps.

You're the second person to mention that, guess I will be checking tonight, maybe I should invest in some Nordlock washers, my hardware kit did not come with any. Thanks for all the help guys.

[A4natomical]

You're the second person to mention that, guess I will be checking tonight, maybe I should invest in some Nordlock washers, my hardware kit did not come with any. Thanks for all the help guys.

yea i need some too. i dont even have any washers on them.
the washers that came with the mani wouldnt allow the
threads on the screws to reach to turbo housing.

i would like nordlocks but i dont really feel like taking
that mani off anytime soon.

[A4Dit]

yea i need some too. i dont even have any washers on them.
the washers that came with the mani wouldnt allow the
threads on the screws to reach to turbo housing.

i would like nordlocks but i dont really feel like taking
that mani off anytime soon.

Oh really? I had to stack washers with my bolts as they were too long and were bottoming out in the turbo housing and wouldn't allow me to tighten it down.

[widgget]

and mine where just right with a single washer.... this sounds kinda like Goldilocks and the three bears.......

[GTMRS4]

need a video clip of this -

[A4Dit]

Well the turbo to manifold bolts were not the culprit, retightened them today and they were not loose at all. I had put loctite on them to begin with so I should have known they hadn't backed out. What are some other options? I'll try to get a video clip up by tomorrow.

[Killerteve]

Have you Vag'ed or logged it since the problem started?

[GTMRS4]

Are you smelling fumes while at idle ?

I smell fumes at idle when after driving. Thought it was a bad valve cover, any ideas?

Car boosts to 21psi and holds just fine. Hmmmm...guess I'll check the bolts

[tray1187]

It is a screaming high pitched whistle, I am pretty sure it is not the turbo spooling. On some pulls through 3rd and 4th it is not even happening.

does it sound like a fluttering coaches whistle? If so I'm getting the same noise.

[dewey527]

sounds like the sound i had and it turned out to be bent turbo fins? it happened to me when a gromet went thru after i installed afe intake

[audipotential]

My car started whistling today during boost. I could hear it with my windows down. I went BT yesterday, I know there is nothing wrong with the turbo as I installed it last week. All boost is normal but at peak boost 4500-5k I hear a whistling or squealing type sound and then it goes away. This happens in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gear but sometimes doesnt happen at all if I go wide open throttle. On Garrets website they talk about compressor surge being the culprit of a whiney turbo but I don't fully understand their definition, they say it could be caused by an oversized turbo application, I'm only running an Eliminator. Is this sound normal? Or should I pull everything apart? It is not affecting performance and boost is still constant and strong. The turbo had no shaft play before install and the blades were as smooth as glass. All help is as always appreciated.

For what its worth. My diverter seems like its the reason why Im getting a whiney noise under boost.

[A4natomical]

does it sound like when old cars have that awful bad power steering noise? like a screech.

did u replace the mani? maybe possible mani to block leak?

[7speed]

I smell fumes at idle when after driving. Thought it was a bad valve cover, any ideas?

Car boosts to 21psi and holds just fine. Hmmmm...guess I'll check the bolts

You my friend have an exhaust leak, as do I

[GTMRS4]

You my friend have an exhaust leak, as do I

I thought that too - but that wasn't the case