No.....I would say that it is not normal. I would check to make sure that the turbo is getting adequate oil supply. Make sure that neither the oil supply or oil feed lines are clogged. Also pull the intake snorkel off of the compressor side and check for excessive shaft play or damage from the wheel contacting the housing.

 

i would check for kinked/ clogged oil lines. from what i've heard an oil starved turbo whines real loud. might be time for an upgrade if the turbo is shot though

 

my freinds new turbo and rebuilt engine his turbo is pretty loud. louder than mine is at least.

 

I'm glad you brought this subject up Peter52g. I was wondering the same thing about mine except mine whines (a high pitch squeal) at the top end of each gear at WOT. Around 5500-6500rpms. Does anyone think I am starving mine of oil during those rpm ranges?

 

I've been wondering about mine as well lately. Mine really only does it under partial throttle though, going up a hill. It starts at about -5inhg, and gets a a bit louder as I give it more gas. I've always heard the whine since the new turbo, but for the past few months it's gotten noticeably louder (louder than before that is).
I don't really see how the oil line could be clogged because I put a new SS line from RRE on with the turbo. Ahh, just another thing...

 

Whine

If I were guessing ( and I am ), The bearings in the center section of the turbo are on there way out. The tubo will fail within a month or 2.

 

Hmm, ok after doing a little test driving today, I'm certain that the high pitched whine happens only under partial throttle, and starts the whine when the turbo spools (around 3500rpm). It'll keep whining, but if I punch the gas, the sucker sucks away and the whining is gone. Maybe it's normal and is just the spool :dunno:
I really don't think/hope that it's the turbo going out because the thing is 8 months old, has been timed down after driving, has gotten new synthetic oil every 3000 miles or less, and to be honest I drive the car like a damn pussy most of the time (don't want shit to break ).

 

So how long did it last? I bought a rebuild kit for my 14b after i had FP rebalance it for me. I put it together myself but I was extra clean and I'm sure it is together right.

After the engine was broken in I started spooling the turbo some more and it had a completely diffrent sound than before. More like the whine you are talking about. I've taken the intake off and checked for shaft play, all is well and the turbo spins like it has no resistance at all.

I'm just wondering if this is what a new turbo is supposed to sound like :dunno:

 

Normal.

 

is this WHINE that you guys talk about a WHISTLING sound? i just changed into a 16g (bought it used) and i started getting a whistling sound whenever intake pressure > about -5 in hg. it used to start above 10 psi or so, and then went down, and now it starts at -5 in hg. I checked and hte shaft play seems minimal (shaft cannot touch the sides of the housing) and there's not a drop of oil anywhere, nor is there any type of smoking. The car boost ok (tho I kinda avoid driving it now in case something is wrong). This whistling noise is pretty loud, and very close to the pitch of human whistling? that is not normal, is it?

 

I don't really have an answer to your question but the 14b I rebuilt died on me. I'd check the oil line and what not. Did you put on a new one when you bought the 16g?

 

I don't really have an answer to your question but the 14b I rebuilt died on me. I'd check the oil line and what not. Did you put on a new one when you bought the 16g?

yes, i put a new RRE SS oil supply line with the new turbo

 

when my turbo went out, it whined like a super charger, the shaft had a significant amount of play in it and it seemed/appeared that it had rubbed on the housing some....
CHECK FOR WOBBLE

 

Could be your bov. Does it whistle at a steady rpm like when your holding at 3 grand in neutral?

 

My god, this is back from the dead

 

My buddys turbo does the same thing on his it looks like his turbo sucked in a small rock or something because the compressor wheel is kind of chipped (the fins that is)

 

Re: Whine

If I were guessing ( and I am ), The bearings in the center section of the turbo are on there way out. The tubo will fail within a month or 2.

The Mits dealer that did my inspection when I bought the car said the same thing to me.

Two years later, and lots of use, the turbo still works fine and dandy. It's on it's way out now to be replaced by a 16G, but the whining noise shouldn't indicate a problem (IMHO).

 

Could be your bov. Does it whistle at a steady rpm like when your holding at 3 grand in neutral?

I agree, check the BOV gasket, my 16g used to howl like a banshee...couldn't figure out what was wrong with it, pulled the BOV and tadda it was torn. hasn't whined once since replaceing that gasket.

 

It coul'd be a boost leak that you are hearing and not turbo related at all.

 

well, when you say "whine" it could be several diffrent types of "whine" Metallic or and air whine are the most heard.