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Old 09-19-2012, 06:13 PM   #1
RuinerXL
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Default 2012 WRX Whistling Sound

Hey guys. I am getting a very noticeable whistling sound on boost, EXACTLY like the sound in this video:


It's repeatable and happens pretty much every time I get on boost (same circumstances as the video). It can be quick if accelerating quickly, or drawn out if going easier on the throttle. It becomes more apparent (louder) and easier to reproduce at highway speeds.

Any ideas what the cause could be?
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Old 09-19-2012, 06:39 PM   #2
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Could be the BPV. Does the whistle happen when you let off of the throttle? Or does it whistle while in boost?
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Old 09-19-2012, 07:01 PM   #3
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Happens while on throttle only and seemingly right around peak boost, at least in my experience. Time to go with an aftermarket BPV?
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Old 09-19-2012, 07:05 PM   #4
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I should note that I'm currently running the Torqued Performance stage 2 map (19 PSI) and am able to hit target boost. I have been having an issue with knock at and around peak boost that I am currently remedying by running a mix of 93 and 100 octane. Could the BPV be the culprit behind all this?
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Old 09-19-2012, 07:08 PM   #5
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You can still hit your target boost with a leak. Your wastegate would be working harder to achieve that. Post a log to see if it is perhaps a boost leak of sorts.

Otherwise, when installing the Downpipe, how was fitment? Anything rubbing, heat shield on tight, etc etc
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Old 09-19-2012, 07:13 PM   #6
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I had a boost leak test done on the car very recently which showed no leaks whatsoever. I do hear a good deal of wastegate flutter on acceleration, but I was under the impression that sound is normal.

No fitment issues when installing the downpipe...is there any possibility that the leak may only appear at high pressure (i.e. peak boost) and not at the pressure level that was tested? From searching, it seems like generally people lean toward blaming the BPV for noises like the one in the video.

Last edited by RuinerXL; 09-19-2012 at 07:23 PM.
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Old 09-19-2012, 07:55 PM   #7
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My car does this in 5th gear flooring it under a heavy load on the highway. Scared the **** out of me. Was told it was normal. This never happens in the lower gears. You were probably flooring it in 5th like me right? It's probably the heavy load and boost trying to be held at weird intervals. Or something with the waste gate acuator. I'd like to know what it is myself...
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Old 09-19-2012, 08:27 PM   #8
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won't the stock BPV on a WRX leak pass 17 psi ??? i thought i heard that before.
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Old 09-19-2012, 09:38 PM   #9
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I've been told that most stock BPVs should be just fine up to 20 PSI.
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Old 09-19-2012, 11:11 PM   #10
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Ive been running 18psi for about 6 months now and no mechanical failures. I recently started to hear the turbo whistle more and hear the bpv more, almost like running an aftermarket intake. I also heard what i thought was wastegate flutter. As it turns out I didnt clip the airbox together after checking the filter. So thats where the extra noise came from. I would double check all connections pre-turbo.
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Old 09-19-2012, 11:40 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RuinerXL
I should note that I'm currently running the Torqued Performance stage 2 map (19 PSI) and am able to hit target boost. I have been having an issue with knock at and around peak boost that I am currently remedying by running a mix of 93 and 100 octane. Could the BPV be the culprit behind all this?
Yeah, the stock bpv has been known to leak at higher than stock boost levels, so it could be the culprit.

If I were you I would be more concerned about the knock at full boost ... And adding higher octane is not the way to fix it. Knock is a tuning issue that should be addressed with tuning.
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Old 09-20-2012, 10:11 AM   #12
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I'm definitely aware of the fact that 100 octane is only a temporary fix. I will be filling a full tank of 93 ASAP, but have to empty the tank of 100 octane as much as possible before doing so. I plan on logging some WOT runs and sending them over to Eric at TP for revision, which will hopefully address the knock.

My thought is, however, that the knock could be at least partially due to whatever is causing this noise. I looked around the engine bay this morning and everything looks and feels snug. I wasn't able to take anything apart or get at the TB to IC hose at the TB side.

So my best bet at this point is to basically disassemble and reassemble the entire system pre-turbo? Intake snorkel, airbox/air filter, intercooler and all attached hoses, BPV and all attached hoses...am I missing anything?

I'm reading a lot of posts in other threads where people jumped straight to replacing the BPV and the noise remained, so I'm not sure I want to spend the money on something that I may not really need...
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Old 09-20-2012, 11:10 AM   #13
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I obviously don't have one, but i've heard that the intercooler endtanks can be an issue over 18psi on the GRs. Perhaps you have a cracked endtank? I was at a meet a while back talking to someone with a TP Stg2 map and was under the impression he was living on borrowed time with the stock intercooler, but maybe it was paranoia.
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Old 09-20-2012, 12:54 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mechatricity View Post
I obviously don't have one, but i've heard that the intercooler endtanks can be an issue over 18psi on the GRs. Perhaps you have a cracked endtank? I was at a meet a while back talking to someone with a TP Stg2 map and was under the impression he was living on borrowed time with the stock intercooler, but maybe it was paranoia.
plenty of people running around on 19 psi on the stock IC. granted, its only been 4 months for me on stage 2, but no issues...yet
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Old 09-20-2012, 01:58 PM   #15
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This is the first I've read about an issue with the IC endtanks. I would think if there was a crack, I'd have an issue with my fuel trims, though. All of those look fine, however.
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Old 09-20-2012, 04:32 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRob74

plenty of people running around on 19 psi on the stock IC. granted, its only been 4 months for me on stage 2, but no issues...yet
Same here, I hold strong at 18.5-19 psi and it's been about 4 months as well. No issues. Crossed fingers lol.
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Old 09-20-2012, 04:36 PM   #17
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Well, my car holds boost just fine, but I'm concerned about the noise and the knock.
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Old 09-20-2012, 07:44 PM   #18
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Found another video demonstrating the same sound, but much more pronounced than I'm getting.


The description indicates that the sound is the wastegate. Hmm...
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Old 09-20-2012, 07:58 PM   #19
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Do you have a wideband to log afr's? If you have a leak pre-turbo you could be running lean and causing the knock.
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Old 09-20-2012, 08:04 PM   #20
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I don't have a wideband, but my fuel trims all look very normal per my AP...plus, as noted above, I did have a boost leak test done recently which turned up nothing.
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Old 09-21-2012, 04:53 PM   #21
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There's a coupler that gets folded under the throttle body, they get destroyed with oil, kink and leak, happened a few times with cars that we worked on from the dealerships. We work with a few local ones fixing the cars that they don't work on because taking it an actual dealer is so much more money so you start to learn those quick fixes.

You can pressure test the system and it'll sound normal, until you'll randomly touch the intercooler or bov hose, then it'll squeel like a pig, then it'll be fine.

Check it out, it's the most common issue we see with them.

The fact that your having this issue with your foot coming off the throttle (which it seemed in the first vid), would suggest the bpv hose itself has a kink or something that leaks.

The wasegate noises are much more pronounced when an aftermarket downpipe is installed, and then even more so when there are small leaks in the gaskets as with heat expansion and pressure can cause mild expansions.

-Mark
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Old 09-21-2012, 06:34 PM   #22
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Thanks for the insight, Mark! So you mean there is a portion of the TB to IC hose that actually goes into the TB? Can you recommend a good aftermarket replacement for the TB to IC hose that would be more resistant to breaking down? I see that there are several options, including Tomioka, Gimmick Motorsports and Venair...absolutely willing to drop $60 on one of these if it fixes this issue.

Unless I'm totally misunderstanding what you're saying.

Last edited by RuinerXL; 09-21-2012 at 06:49 PM.
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Old 09-21-2012, 07:09 PM   #23
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I have a guy running a gimmick one after we had to replace his two times and the third he got fed up.

-Mark
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Old 09-21-2012, 07:29 PM   #24
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just make sure this will be the issue by removing it and checking that it's collapsed and folding in on itself.

-Mark
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Old 09-22-2012, 12:44 AM   #25
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I have this same sound on a basically stock 12' WRX.

Whenever I go WOT in 3rd it will whistle exactly like the first video. I have had the sound since 400 miles. Checked and tightened all hoses I could get to, but the whistle sound still shows up.

I took it to the Dealer and they put me in a rental for a day and said what I am hearing is normal turbo spool.

I don't get any loss in power just a quick whistle only under boost and WOT.

Everything I have read on this leads to the IC to TB hose clamp being loose or the hose blowing out. Its the only hose I haven't checked, but involves removing the IC to get to. I will bring it up with the dealer again on my next oil change.
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