wayland1985

I know the LS1 has some common "characteristics" like oil consumption etc: but is it known to have a whine at higher RPMs?

I'm guessing it's one of the accessories, like the power steering, water pump, AC condenser or something. At higher RPMs, (maybe above 3500?) you can notice a whine. I had posted a few months back thinking it was the power steering, but I've since added larger stickier front tires, and it hasn't made it worse.


Any ideas? Is the sound typical?

I'm going to be tackling heads/cam install soon, so is there anything I can check for?

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Does the sound change with the RPM's? There is a normal high frequency whine at idle, but I'm never heard anything at speed.

wayland1985

Nothing but valvetrain noise at idle. I just notice the whine at RPM: it sounds a lot like a power steering pump: but the noise doesn't come about at low rpm.

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Does the pitch change as the RPM changes?

wayland1985

Not too much. It does get a bit louder.

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Have you checked the noise with and without the radio off?

Is the noise independent of speed and only related to RPM?

wayland1985

I believe it's with the radio off. I'll have to check to make sure it's not a ground loop. It certainly sounds mechanical, but it could be electrical I guess.

It seems mostly RPM based. I'll have to play around a little more, but its most prominent when holding a gear going into a rotarty.

If it happened with the car standing still, and the wheel moving, I'd swear it's the power steering pump, but it only happens at speed with the rpms holding.

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Have you tried a mechanic's stereoscope? If it is something like the pump, you might be able to hear a faint version of the noise (that sounds similar to the louder version at high RPM) through that tool.

wayland1985

Well, it turns out it might be the power steering pump after all. I've been driving around and trying to find a pattern:

So far I can replicate it any time at RPM, if the wheel is being turned.

If you give it a few revs at a stop and turn the wheel the noise appears. Rev it more while still applying pressure to the steering wheel and it gets louder.

Time for a new pump? Or just a Fluid change? Or is this normal for an LS1?


Or could this be a symptom of a leaking power steering cooler? (Fluid level is in range)

wssix99

iTrader: (5)

Unless you have coolant in your P/S fluid or P/S fluid in your coolant, you don't have a cooler issue. ... Well you do - if you have the original cooler, you will have an issue someday - but it's likely not the cause of your pump noise.