LS1 Accessory Whine?
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
LS1 Accessory Whine? 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?
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?
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
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.
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
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.
Trending Topics
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.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
TECH Resident
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
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)
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)
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.