Surfcast23 Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 About a week ago I started noticing a high pitched whining/whistling/sucking noise coming from the engine. It only happens on acceleration while in gear so I am worried that it maybe the turbo. I have linked a video and the sound in question is right around the two second mark. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 (edited) Sorry I cant' really hear it. The Turbo will be more of a whistle sound. the 5mt's are know to be loud from gear whine. The PS pump is more of a deeper whine. I hear all three everyday. Well my turbo is more of its normal sound of spooling, like when your on the highway next to a semi at the bottom of a hill. As he rolls into the throttle, you'll hear his turbo spool. Edited June 27, 2020 by Max Capacity 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfcast23 Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 Sorry I cant' really hear it. The Turbo will be more of a whistle sound. the 5mt's are know to be loud from gear whine. The PS pump is more of a deeper whine. I hear all three everyday. Well my turbo is more of its normal sound of spooling, like when your on the highway next to a semi at the bottom of a hill. As he rolls into the throttle, you'll hear his turbo spool. It's definitely more of a whistling. I'll try to get a better recording to post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 When my vf40 went, it may a loud high pitched, whistling sound when it began to spool. It stopped driving it. Dropped the down pipe and found lots of play in the turbo shaft. 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfcast23 Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 What Ibwas afraid of. I have another turbo that I was planning on putting in guess I have to do it sooner than I thought. How long do take to go once the whistle starts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 instant. A 1000 miles before I had the P0011/P0021 CEL, the death code for the Turbo. Trusted mechanic removed the banjo filter from the turbo oil inlet and changed the oil. I drove it for another 1000 miles with the whine, one day I left the driveway going to work, 1/2 mile later, when shifting into 2nd gear, I heard the whine change to a whistle. I turned around, babied it back to the home and shut it off. Ordered the VF52 later that morning. 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfcast23 Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 Oh wow, hope I can get ir home after work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 I would do your best to keep it out of boost. You need to pull the downpipe and check for shaft play if your pretty sure its the turbo. I gather the car has a 5eat and not a 5mt transmission ? 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfcast23 Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 Hi Max its a 5MT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 So don't confuse the 5mt noise for the turbo. These things are known to make transmission noise like a 1940's truck. Mine is loud, but again its a deeper whine, not high pitched 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfcast23 Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 So don't confuse the 5mt noise for the turbo. These things are known to make transmission noise like a 1940's truck. Mine is loud, but again its a deeper whine, not high pitched I'm pretty sure that this is not the transmission as it is very high pitched. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveWaters Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 Sounds a lot like the turbo spooling whistle from the speakers on my phone. My 16g sounds like that. It’s most noticeable driving around town. Iirc my vf40 sounded like that too. I always attributed the extra sound to the AEM panel filter or Cobb downpipe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfcast23 Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 I wander if I am noticing it because of driving with the windows down? I might as well do the swap since I have the other turbo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveWaters Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 Windows down driving through town near buildings is when I notice it most. I need to look for it if the windows are up. Sounds kind of like the turbo on a school bus. Just not as loud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pleides Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Can you have a friend drive the car down the road and you listen for it? These cars make all sorts of whining sounds, especially if you have harder bushings for the trans and diff. I get tons of gear whine if I go off-throttle in second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackobxt Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Subaru’s are noisy cars in general. I didn’t notice it with my sti or last outback since both had exhausts, but my current outback has a stock catback and the trans is noisy, the rear end is noisy and my lifetime replacement non oem wheel bearings I’m constantly trading in on warranty are noisy lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Today on the way to my son's house, had the windows down and while accelerating over a cement bridge, in top end of 2nd gear full boost. Was surprised how loud the turbo and tranny are. It was pretty loud. The exhaust is fairly quiet on the wagon. Well both my cars have the intake silencer removed from under the air filter box, but the wagon's vf52 makes much more noise then the Spec's vf46. 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackobxt Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Max Capacity, not to thread jack but what exhaust do you have on your wagon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Invidia catted DP, stock midpipe off the 09 Spec B, magnaflow knock off mufflers from a local exhaust shop and Dynamax tips. The mufflers were installed back in 2013. It was louder back then when the exhaust shop custom made a Y pipe back to those mufflers. Last Fall had them fit the mufflers to the stock midpipe. It really is quiet inside. 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfcast23 Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 Can you have a friend drive the car down the road and you listen for it? These cars make all sorts of whining sounds, especially if you have harder bushings for the trans and diff. I get tons of gear whine if I go off-throttle in second. That is a great idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfcast23 Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 I would do your best to keep it out of boost. You need to pull the downpipe and check for shaft play if your pretty sure its the turbo. I gather the car has a 5eat and not a 5mt transmission ? Do I have to remove the down pipe or can I just unbolt and move out of the way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 You need to remove the down pipe in order to reach the turbo shaft. If you still have the have the stock DP on the car, it will be a PITA to remove. The first time. I see where you live. ESP up in Sterling MA is a great place and knows these cars well. My wagon was on there dyno and they did work on my car back in 2011. We haven't asked you yet if this is the OEM turbo ? 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfcast23 Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 I would do your best to keep it out of boost. You need to pull the downpipe and check for shaft play if your pretty sure its the turbo. I gather the car has a 5eat and not a 5mt transmission ? You need to remove the down pipe in order to reach the turbo shaft. If you still have the have the stock DP on the car, it will be a PITA to remove. The first time. I see where you live. ESP up in Sterling MA is a great place and knows these cars well. My wagon was on there dyno and they did work on my car back in 2011. We haven't asked you yet if this is the OEM turbo ? Man that sucks! Yes, stock turbo and down pipe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Its hard to advise you not to drop the DP without being there to hear the sound. these vf40's are know to have shaft bearing issues. BUT normally you'll get the P0011/P0021 CEL. Like most of have over the 16 years I've been on here. How many miles on the car ? 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Capacity Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 From what I recall you need to remove the ; tmic, heatshield over the turbo disconnect the rear O2 sensor at the connector DP bracket from the tranny two, bolts, nuts and springs from the midpipe the five bolts and nuts at the DP to turbo. PB Blaster will become your best friend. The first time is the hardest, There are a couple of bolts on the OEM DP that aftermarkets don't have. Be careful with the boot on the throttle body end of the tmic, it can be a PITA to line back up. your best bet is to leave it on the TB. Don't remove it and forget the correct clocking to put it back on. 305,600miles 5/2012 ej257 short block, 8/2011 installed VF52 turbo, @20.8psi, 280whp, 300ftlbs. (SOLD). CHECK your oil, these cars use it. Engine Build - Click Here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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