My Turbo Sounds Like A Rubber Duck When Boosting

[shaunzo101]

As title states, when my car is boosting it sounds like squishing a rubber duck. it doesn't seem to feel any different but the high pitch sound is there.

-there is no smoke

-idle is normal

-have recently put in penrite 5w60 (track rated), 162,000kms on dash

Im sure i heard this while i was on the track today but when i left there was no squeal

Now when ever i boost it, it makes the sound i described.

What seems to be the problem?

Edit: after reading previous posts, yes the bolts are all still tight and the noise is definitely coming from the turbo itself. When i parked i got under the bonnet and revved it hard enough to make the turbo spin and the squeal is there. It is most definitely coming from the turbo area.

Edited September 27, 2009 by shaunzo101

[R31Nismoid]

loose cooler piping.

[shaunzo101]

all cooler piping is tight. no leaks. have also edited my post to mention that it is coming from the turbo as i could hear it when i revved the engine while i was under the bonnet. i think if it was the cooler piping there would be a performance difference, the performance hasn't seemed to change still feels normal just with high pitch squeal.

Edited September 27, 2009 by shaunzo101

[Ultimategtr]

exhaust manifold gaskets maybe.. is it worse when you drive when the engine is warm?

[shaunzo101]

i'll have to wait til tomorrow morning to find out, will post up. but very certain it is the turbo because it only squeals when it is boosting.

[Wacky Dee]

I'm getting the same noise ..only under boost .. but I'm not sure where it's coming from as I didn't think you could get the turbo to spin up unless there is load.. Just like in your case performace seems to be normal

[SCR48]

I blew my turbo and it sounded like this after it happened....

[mad082]

as someone said, it could be a manifold gasket, or a broken manifold stud (that is a pretty common thing). then you will only get the noise when it comes on boost as before that there isn't enough pressure to force the gap open and have it make the noise. just check that all the exhaust manifold studs are there and have nuts on them, and also try moving the turbo on the manifold (had that come loose on my 180sx)

[Kujotk]

i'm interested in this aswell.

lately while driving at the dead of night i notice the turbo making a soft squeaking sound under fairly generous boost.... ive been running 10psi on standard turbo for a year and i'm wondering if it means turbo is giving me warning to get a repacement ready

[shaunzo101]

i really hope it's the manifold gasket that would be much cheaper, im about to go out to my car and look at it again while it's cold and take it for a drive to see what happens. i thought if it would be any gasket leak it would make like a tractor sound it usually does.

yeah you can make the turbo spin at idle but i had to rev it pretty hard.

[THENIG]

I blew out part of the rubber gasket the sits in between the two halves of the inlet runners on my RB25. It happened under boost during a tune when the motor first went in. Sounded like a someone blowing on a gum leaf as soon as it came on boost. It was pretty easy to spot where it had blown out. Had to replace the all rubber gasket for one that was rubber and steel from a different series RB25 to make sure it didn't happen again instead of just poking it back in and tighening up the bolts again. Very fiddly job once the engine was in, bolts to pull the top half of the inlet runners were almost impossible to get to with motor still in the car. Not sure if its the same setup on RB20.

[shaunzo101]

took it for another run, still same problem. I rang a workshop they believe it could be a gasket, possibly on the front housing.

how many gaskets are there for the turbo anyway?

[daisu]

A mate of mine had this problem a couple days ago, it ended up being the BOV leaking.

[shaunzo101]

yeah, mine is standard plumb back. i think the problem most people have when they install a BOV is they don't cover up the standard return pipe from standard BOV to turbo - plumb back pipe.

[DGK33]

ive had the same problem for a couple months now to. no performance difference but when under load it sounds like a siren, like cops are behind me. alot worse on cold starts. also quite noticebly a different exhaust note. pretty sure i may have a few broken studs???? its just weird how there is no performance loss. wish i could pin point the problem beofre putting it in the shop so i dont get ripped

[dano4127]

Manifold Gasket

[Shakiel]

exhaust gasket leak is usually a bit more different sound. Intake manifold gasket u will experience random rough idle and random tiny backfires or just running like a pig depending how bad the leak is. Its either a tiny leak between compressor housing outlet and throttle body. Or if u are definitely hearing it from the turbo then it needs to be removed and balanced by a turbocharger specialist. I'm leaning more towards it being a balancing issue.

Sometimes it can fix itself up, we had the same issue on my brothers EVO VI, kept driving for months then one day it was gone! Turbo was pulled out last month for upgrade and it was fine so shaft/thrust play or signs it was on the way out.

[Luciano]

i had this EXACT problem. Drove me fkn crazy. high pitched squealing under boost when engine warmed up

ended up being exhaust manifold gasket and 3 broken studs!

[dano4127]

  Luciano said:

i had this EXACT problem. Drove me fkn crazy. high pitched squealing under boost when engine warmed up

ended up being exhaust manifold gasket and 3 broken studs!

+1

[shaunzo101]

  FeeninPerformance said:

exhaust gasket leak is usually a bit more different sound. Intake manifold gasket u will experience random rough idle and random tiny backfires or just running like a pig depending how bad the leak is. Its either a tiny leak between compressor housing outlet and throttle body. Or if u are definitely hearing it from the turbo then it needs to be removed and balanced by a turbocharger specialist. I'm leaning more towards it being a balancing issue.

Sometimes it can fix itself up, we had the same issue on my brothers EVO VI, kept driving for months then one day it was gone! Turbo was pulled out last month for upgrade and it was fine so shaft/thrust play or signs it was on the way out.

My idle is normal

Noise is definitely from turbo area

  Luciano said:

i had this EXACT problem. Drove me fkn crazy. high pitched squealing under boost when engine warmed up

ended up being exhaust manifold gasket and 3 broken studs!

Mine makes the sound cold and warm

I took it to an exhaust shop today and he noticed straight away there was a stud missing from the exhaust manifold. Not sure how many other studs are missing but at the moment im looking at buying new exhaust manifold gasket, cant seem to get one for less than $116 - same price at nissan dealership and kudos motorsports.