Engine noise in winter

This was really evident yesterday. My car was in our 50* heated garage plugged in to the frostheater. Out side was 20*. The first leg of my trip it was really quiet [like summer], but, after being parked a few hours, even with foam ear plugs, it was super noisy. Damn! AHL's are not nice in that way. I know ---preaching to the choir.

I have two Alh tdi's , I don't find them any more noisier in the summer than the winter other than the initial start up for maybe couple minutes or soon winter


Bajan

vwdsmguy said:

This was really evident yesterday. My car was in our 50* heated garage plugged in to the frostheater. Out side was 20*. The first leg of my trip it was really quiet [like summer], but, after being parked a few hours, even with foam ear plugs, it was super noisy. Damn! AHL's are not nice in that way. I know ---preaching to the choir.

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Ear plugs? That does not sound right at all. My engine sounds the same summer or winter when it has warmed up. Even when cold it is only a little louder.

Based on the ear plug comment, I think the OP has sensitive hearing. The ALH is definitely not a quiet engine and diesels are typically a little louder when they're cold.

I've found two things that can cause extra noise especialy in the winter for some reason.
1) if the injection timing is too far advanced, they will "rattle" more.
2) The exhaust system touching the body, axle or cross member will, of coarse, greatly increase cabin noise. I find this tends to happen much more often in cold weather....ice build up under the car may contribute to this.
Check for broken/wore hangers and motor mounts or improper clearances....especially with oversized/aftermarket exhausts.

I had the "10% pilot-injection" (or what ever it is called) done to my injectors/nozzles just recently and if you want to hear a noisy-a$$ ALH at idle, just ask me and I will post the recording. I can't tell it made any difference in power or throttle response, but I cannot believe how much louder my car is now.

Pilot injection is supposed to make it quieter. I know my F-350 6.0 PowerStroke was very quiet with pilot injection enabled, but it caused premature injector wear. With it disabled, the truck was much louder at idle. I should have gotten some comparison recordings when I still had it.

Perhaps depends on injection timing. My ALH cars are noticeably more "rattle" in cold conditions until warmed up than in warm ambient temps.
I Tend to run a bit more advance timing than "normal".

Okay, my timing is set at 75 degrees... Maybe that has something to do with the noise; the pump was just rebuilt by DFIS so I am not inclined to believe the noise is caused by a by-product of the rebuilt pump.

Nevada_TDI said:

Okay, my timing is set at 75 degrees... Maybe that has something to do with the noise; the pump was just rebuilt by DFIS so I am not inclined to believe the noise is caused by a by-product of the rebuilt pump.

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75*??
Don't know about that, but when cold mine will the advance up to 16* maybe more and rattle pretty good until warm(er).
Haven't noticed any extra IP associated noise when cold, just normal extra diesel clatter.

Why are people sitting around and idling their cars so much? Get those engine RPMs cranked up and these engines are as quiet as any out there.

UhOh said:

Why are people sitting around and idling their cars so much? Get those engine RPMs cranked up and these engines are as quiet as any out there.

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Obviously it's climate related.
When you start an Alh in 5* or colder temperatures you'll understand, getting the rpms up is not good practice.


Bajan

red16vdub said:

Obviously it's climate related.
When you start an Alh in 5* or colder temperatures you'll understand, getting the rpms up is not good practice.


Bajan

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One does not idle a diesel. I"m NOT talking about racing the engine or putting in under hard boost.

I'm quite aware of what a noisy diesel is like. I've got IDIs, that even in my mild cold winters make quite a racket. But, here too I don't leave things running (because they'll never get warm, in which case sitting there listening to them clatter and then complaining about the noise seems like a circular function).

UhOh said:

One does not idle a diesel. I"m NOT talking about racing the engine or putting in under hard boost.

I'm quite aware of what a noisy diesel is like. I've got IDIs, that even in my mild cold winters make quite a racket. But, here too I don't leave things running (because they'll never get warm, in which case sitting there listening to them clatter and then complaining about the noise seems like a circular function).

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We can go back and forth all day. I own 2 tdi's plus operate heavy equipment for a living for almost 30yrs,so I have an understanding for diesels.
Having one idle doesn't hurt anything.
Remember it my car right.


Bajan