Dirty coolant & new whine

[lawsi]

A couple of things occurred this weekend;

- noticed the collant resembles , well, browny grey smooth slurry really. Engine warms & cools normally - worth a flush and if so, Clark's suggest this is a bit of a fiddle - anyone got any tips?

- after stop, start & queuing type trafiic car has developed an oscilating whine (it builds then falls, no vibration) from drivers side engine bay - seems to occur just once before reaching a stop (and sometimes under braking) and when pulling away happens maybe 2/3 times while fading quickly. Doesn't after/during motorway or open/clear road driving. Any suggestions?

Thanks - Iain

 

[PSH]

hmmmm... theres not much on drivers side of engine bay to make a noise , have you put the car to full lock to see if it's worse as it may be low power steering fluid, that makes a whine but you should have noticed it more on full lock. like all noises it's difficult to decide what's causing it without hearing it for oneself.

Pete

 

[lawsi]

Yep, I thought it might be the steering too but fluid level is fine & I do get the full lock whine on occasion so had discounted this - it's completely different sound. Wondered if something is warping/expanding under standstill heat - hub? steering pump? I might try and record it and post a sound file up!

 

[PSH]

I wonder if the coolant issue and the whining may be related.... check your water pump just in case.. these are known to give a little warning before total failure and I'm wondering if this sound is it?

best check to be safe

 

[ChasR]

What is your PAS fluid like? If it's black and has a burnt smell it may be worth your while changing it.

 

[lawsi]

ORIGINAL: PSH


I wonder if the coolant issue and the whining may be related.... check your water pump just in case.. these are known to give a little warning before total failure and I'm wondering if this sound is it?

best check to be safe

'scue the ignorance, bit what do I check - leaks & play in the pulley arm?


Steering fluid looks the right greeny sort of colour.

 

[PSH]

try running the engine and listen to the pump, put it under load, wait for the fans to come on or get someone to turn the wheel to full lock. also while running but be careful use the sharp end of a long screwdriver pressed against the waterpump and put the other end against your ear. If the pump is failing you should be able to hear a lot of noise through the screw driver, but as I said be careful of the moving parts and make it a very long screwdriver. Of course anything metal will do.

I've been lucky so far and not had a problem with the waterpump and I changed it anyway a few years back to be safe but I'm sure others here would have had a pump failure at some point and perhaps could tell you if you have the same symptoms....guy's?



Pete

 

[lawsi]

ORIGINAL: PSH


...also while running but be careful use the sharp end of a long screwdriver pressed against the waterpump and put the other end against your ear...


Pete

Thats almost guaranteed to result in my wife posting something like this!

 

[PSH]

haha... nah.. that girl's got it all wrong... you put the blunt end against your head not the sharp end...lol

[8|][8|]

 

[ChasR]

Check out the colour of the PAS fluid. If it's all black and smells a little burnt change it for new stuff.

 

[mr brightside]

ORIGINAL: lawsi

- after stop, start & queuing type trafiic car has developed an oscilating whine (it builds then falls, no vibration) from drivers side engine bay - seems to occur just once before reaching a stop (and sometimes under braking) and when pulling away happens maybe 2/3 times while fading quickly. Doesn't after/during motorway or open/clear road driving. Any suggestions?

Thanks - Iain

Mine does this, i attributed it to a fuel pump noise resonating down the lines and sounding in a different area. My Volvo does the same when it's low on juice.

 

[Hilux]

Steering fluid looks the right greeny sort of colour.

I`ve only ever come across red (ish) coloured PAS fluid?

 

[PSH]

hmmm... now you mention colour.... Porsche should have red ATF ( auto trans fluid) green is mineral oil ( CH11?) or so my son tells me which is not the right type he suspects... I don't know personally other than to say mine is red and it's unusual for my son to get it wrong.

Pete

 

[Hilux]

hmmm... now you mention colour.... Porsche should have red ATF ( auto trans fluid)

Exactly.............

 

[Eldavo]

Could the dirty coolant be oil mixing with it from a leaky gasket on the oil cooler? Oil in the coolant won't be good for your engine if you don't get it attended to. New gasket set runs to about £30 from euro car parts.

 

[lawsi]

Cheers all - that's why this forum is great!

Sounds like a change of steering fluid, careful scewdriver acoustics (& x-fingers), collant flush, gasket check and a busy weekend...