so what makes my (or any) engine sound "old"

[tomtoc]

seems like every "old" car i've been around has the same nasty sound. the sound is hard to describe. it sounds like an engine, but with a pile of dry leaves mixed in.

anyone else know what i'm talking about or can describe it better? a new engine is missing the leaf sound...and that's what i want mine to sound like.

what is that noise? is it cheaply/easily repairable?

 

[d-kuzmen]

Im afrade that the only way to make it sound new again would be an overhaul. What your hearing is normal wear and tear, excessive clearences and such lead to noises.

 

[6L PWR]

I would only add that it sounds old, because it IS old.

 

[john112deere]

I would only add that it sounds old, because it IS old.

Just because you can't get more than 20k on an engine without throwing parts of it all over the place, doesn't make that normal...

What makes you say his is old? 10 years isn't new, but years don't wear out an engine. 64k is pretty young in my book....

Tom- I'm not really sure what sound you're talking about, but one thought that occurs to me would be power steering and other accessories driven by the serpentine belt- they're getting closer to worn out than your engine is, I'd guess. Try taking off the belt and running the engine for a minute (not long, so it won't overheat), see if the noise goes away...

 

[Blue Goose]

Like Ian said, 64k is not a lot of miles in my book either. That goes especially for a 460 that doesn't work very hard moving an unloaded pickup around.

 

[tomtoc]

it's not just my truck - i've had/driven older cars too that sounded the same (granted, they all had twice the miles on them).

could be age, could be accessories. while i'm NOT contemplating an e-fan, that did cross my mind - just the drone of the fan causing the noise.

does the power steering pump operate/make noise when parked...and not steering. it's when totally still that it sounds its "oldest".

 

[Lost]

I know the tap that comes and goes on passenger side valve train drives me nuts.

 

[john112deere]

On thinking about it...

The sound that I most associate with an "old" car is an exhaust leak... I'd call it a ticking or maybe rattling more than "leaves" but everybody hears things differently. Might be worth looking at.

 

[d-kuzmen]

Just because you can't get more than 20k on an engine without throwing parts of it all over the place, doesn't make that normal...

What makes you say his is old? 10 years isn't new, but years don't wear out an engine. 64k is pretty young in my book....

Tom- I'm not really sure what sound you're talking about, but one thought that occurs to me would be power steering and other accessories driven by the serpentine belt- they're getting closer to worn out than your engine is, I'd guess. Try taking off the belt and running the engine for a minute (not long, so it won't overheat), see if the noise goes away...

Im not saying the engine is shot, 64k isn't bad, mabe it was a hard 64k though. Anyways the longer the engine is run the more it's "broken in" not so tight anymore, when it's new it's tight clearences are good, the longer it's run the clearences get larger giving parts extra movement, it's not bad it's normal, thats all.

 

[john112deere]

I was responding to Todd's comment that it was old, not so much your statement. I understand that as stuff wears, it gets looser and consequently noisier, and that a tear-down is the only fix, but I can't think of too many stock engines I've been around that are noticeably louder after 64k miles, especially in a truck as clean as Toms. But I'm no good at hearing things, either.

 

[tomtoc]

Im not saying the engine is shot, 64k isn't bad, mabe it was a hard 64k though. Anyways the longer the engine is run the more it's "broken in" not so tight anymore, when it's new it's tight clearences are good, the longer it's run the clearences get larger giving parts extra movement, it's not bad it's normal, thats all.

i agree, and this was kinda my assumption all along. if that's the case, i'm fine with it, but i'm just more curious than anything.

still worth looking into the accessories and stuff i suppose

EDIT: it's no beauty queen. i'm pretty sure for the first 50k it had a hard, pulling life. underneath is a rust bucket. inside is nice and the paint is in awesome shape. the inside of the bed is beat to crap, gooseneck, etc - i'm pretty sure it worked hard. it's only got 64k miles on it, but for being 10 years old i'm sure that every time the PO started it, it was workin' hard

 

[6L PWR]

Just because you can't get more than 20k on an engine without throwing parts of it all over the place, doesn't make that normal...

This wasn't my first vehicle and it WAS the first I've ever blown up. I had a '96 F250 351W with 110,000 on it when I sold it. It was a HARD 110,000 as you can imagine. It's still running around town too. Didn't mean to offend, just being sarcastic.

What makes you say his is old? 10 years isn't new, but years don't wear out an engine. 64k is pretty young in my book....

I do still agree with d-kuzmen that it's just getting "loose". It happens as they age.

 

[john112deere]

This wasn't my first vehicle and it WAS the first I've ever blown up. I had a '96 F250 351W with 110,000 on it when I sold it. It was a HARD 110,000 as you can imagine. It's still running around town too. Didn't mean to offend, just being sarcastic.

No offense taken, at least not by me...I probably could have worded that better. It's been a week from hell.

I do still agree with d-kuzmen that it's just getting "loose". It happens as they age.

I don't disagree with him, but I do find it interesting how the underhood noises of my well-worn engine change when I remove the serpentine belt...and those are mostly cheaper, easier fixes.

 

[6L PWR]

I don't disagree with him, but I do find it interesting how the underhood noises of my well-worn engine change when I remove the serpentine belt...and those are mostly cheaper, easier fixes.

I wish I had the old one back just to try that.

 

[john112deere]

You might not... Mine sounds like power steering until I take the belt off, then it sounds like valve clatter.

 

[6L PWR]

You might not... Mine sounds like power steering until I take the belt off, then it sounds like valve clatter.

I'm pretty sure mine had ALOT of valve noises!! I tried HARD to blow it up!! ROFL

 

[TheRoadVirus]

I like the old sound, gives it character. As long as old don't mean knocking or clattering.

 

[6L PWR]

I like the old sound, gives it character. As long as old don't mean knocking or clattering.

You should hear my "new" diesel then! ROFLMAO

 

[TheRoadVirus]

Damn man! Don't you ever get tired from all that rolling on the floor?

 

[6L PWR]

Damn man! Don't you ever get tired from all that rolling on the floor?

Nope, trying to be more like Tony.