Lack of Turbo Whine
09-10-2009, 08:45 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 03-25-2008
Location: Southern New Jersey
Posts: 69
Lack of Turbo Whine
I love my '09 HHR SS Auto. It's the first turbo I've ever owned. I've driven a couple of VW turbo's and some Saab turbo's and in each of those cars you could hear the turbo start screaming about a 1/2 second after you mash the pedal. But in my car, I can't hear it at all. I've listened real hard but all I think I can hear is the air rushing through the intercooler duct work. I know it's working from the boost gauge, and the sweet acceleration. Is my hearing going bad or did they do a real good job of sound insulation, or is the dual scroll turbo just a real quiet design?
Thanks,
Richard
'09 HHR SS
'07 HHR LT
'99 Chevy/Geo Metro
'69 Pontiac Catalina
Thanks,
Richard
'09 HHR SS
'07 HHR LT
'99 Chevy/Geo Metro
'69 Pontiac Catalina
09-10-2009, 08:57 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: 03-29-2009
Location: Quebec City
Posts: 1,097
I love my '09 HHR SS Auto. It's the first turbo I've ever owned. I've driven a couple of VW turbo's and some Saab turbo's and in each of those cars you could hear the turbo start screaming about a 1/2 second after you mash the pedal. But in my car, I can't hear it at all. I've listened real hard but all I think I can hear is the air rushing through the intercooler duct work. I know it's working from the boost gauge, and the sweet acceleration. Is my hearing going bad or did they do a real good job of sound insulation, or is the dual scroll turbo just a real quiet design?
Thanks,
Richard
'09 HHR SS
'07 HHR LT
'99 Chevy/Geo Metro
'69 Pontiac Catalina
Thanks,
Richard
'09 HHR SS
'07 HHR LT
'99 Chevy/Geo Metro
'69 Pontiac Catalina
I wish I could. 
At some point, I thought the turbo wasn't working. 
Then again, my hearing is not as good as when I was 20.
But I know it works, as my Aeroforce gauge reminds me frequently.
09-11-2009, 06:38 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: 07-05-2008
Location: Akron Ohio
Posts: 5,464
The design is quieter as are most turbo's today, THe HHR is quiet for a small vehicle too.
Just like the pop off valve it is only as noisy as it is because they made it that way. It could even be quieter too.
Just like the pop off valve it is only as noisy as it is because they made it that way. It could even be quieter too.
09-11-2009, 09:13 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: 08-06-2008
Location: Grand Haven, MI
Posts: 1,761
It's the design.... marketing people believe that quiet is good.
If you want to hear it once, take the cover off the air cleaner and drive it a bit
, but put it back on as you will loose power as compared to having it on.
If you want to hear it once, take the cover off the air cleaner and drive it a bit
, but put it back on as you will loose power as compared to having it on.
