There’s a whining noise coming from the engine at idle and it goes away when you pull the oil dipstick out
i noticed a few hours ago when my car was idling it had a whining squeaking noise so with the car running i opened the hood to locate where the noise was coming from and checked the oil. As soon as i pulled the oil dip stick i herd a puff of air and the noise went away, a few seconds after putting the dipstick back the squeaking starts again. I tried this a few times with the same results.
My car has 48000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
If you are getting too high of suction in the crankcase what is happening is the engine is sucking in air through the crankcase ventilation hose in the air filter housing most likely due to an air filter that is dirty and needs to be replaced. Check the air filter and replace it if it is dirty.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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Common reasons for this to happen: Low Transmission Fluid: For both manual and automatic transmissions, the primary cause for whining when in gear is low transmission fluid. If the fluid is too low, then the internal components of the transmission are not lubricated properly.
Whining Car Noise When Idling
If you are hearing whining noises when your car is idling, you are probably either low on oil due to an oil leak or your valves are stuck and need adjusting.
Other common sources of whirring noises and water pumps, alternators, air conditioning pumps and worn clutches – anything that spins, will have a bearing in, and can wear out. A worn water pump can cause parts such as the pump pulley to wobble as they rotate causing the noise as you drive.
These types of noises are normally associated with an exhaust leak. Over time, your exhaust system will rust due to the temperature swings and moisture in your exhaust gases. This rust can eventually cause holes in the piping and mufflers allowing exhaust gas to escape which can cause a lot of noise.
Worn Belt Tensioners
Modern vehicles come with belt tensioners that perform this job automatically. However, a worn-out or damaged belt tensioner may cause the belts to become loose. If this is the case, replacing the belt tensioners is a quick way to get rid of the whining.
You will need to flush the power steering fluid in order to get rid of the pesky air pockets if you find this is the cause of the noise. However, to avoid any more air getting trapped in the fresh fluid, ensure you check all the connections from the reservoir to the pump, tightening any loose ones.
Should the whining noise of your transmission continue whenever your vehicle is in gear, this can mean there is a problem occurring in your torque converter. Check to see if the noise desists when you shift the vehicle to park or neutral. A constant whining noise when your car is in gear needs professional attention.
Failing alternator bearings:
The alternator has several bearings which allow the alternator`s rotor to spin freely. If these bearings begin to fail, you will notice a loud whining noise, which will increase when you accelerate or the car is under heavier load.
Finally, if you hear a high-pitched whining noise that comes from the front of your vehicle`s engine, it could be a sign that the water pump is dying. The water pump uses a pulley or belt in its operation, and if this pulley is too loose, it will make a whining sound that some describe as harmonic buzzing.
If it takes your car longer than usual to reach a certain speed – say, 60 MPH – catalytic converter issues might be the cause. A whine, squeal or other weird noise during acceleration can indicate that your exhaust gases aren`t being processed and filtered properly.
A humming or whining noise in an automatic transmission vehicle often means that you are low on automatic transmission fluid. If this is the case, you want to refill that fluid immediately. Transmission fluid reduces friction, which means heat, which in turn is bad news for transmissions.
A damaged fuel pump might make a loud, whining sound that you`ll hear from your gas tank. The pump may also make this noise if you`re low on fuel or the fuel in your tank is contaminated. The normal noise your pump makes is a low hum. Loud whining indicates there is a problem.
If there is a lack of fluid in your power steering system the fluid reservoir will get low. Your power steering pump draws fluid in from that reservoir and if there is a low fluid level it can also draw air in along with it causing the same bubbles and whining sound.
Check the Fluid`s Condition
If the fluid is a dark or murky color, then it`s time to replace it. On occasion, this fluid can also acquire air pockets that interfere with the pump`s operation and cause that irritating power steering whine.
Dirty Air Filter
If you hear a whistling sound coming through your air vents, one of the easiest steps is to replace your current air filter with a new, clean one. As air filters fill up with contaminants and unwanted particles from the air, they restrict airflow and could cause a whistling sound.
When it gets louder or higher-pitched as you accelerate, it is a tell-tale sign it`s probably coming from the transmission and not from something else like the wheels or brakes. It may also be more prominent when you go into reverse gear. This whining sound can be caused by any number of transmission issues.
If your transmission makes a humming noise, you may be driving with low transmission fluid, or else your transmission fluid may be contaminated with metal shavings.
Using WD-40 to repel water from spark plugs, distributors, alternators, and batteries is a good way to prevent corrosion and keep moisture away. You can also use it to ease the removal of spark plugs, especially if there is any rust or corrosion.
Alternator whine is caused by a difference in electrical potential (voltage) between two points. It`s usually caused by a ground connection that is less than ideal. The main culprits are the amp, the head unit and any intermediate components such as crossovers and equalizers.
Rattling and grinding – impeller damage is usually signaled by an obvious grinding sound. Whether caused by debris or a broken assembly, the sound varies from grinding to loud rattling. Screaming, screeching – when pump bearings go bad the sound of metal on metal make a terrible noise.
The verb whine means to make a high-pitched noise or to complain or beg in a childish way. The noun whine refers to the act of whining or to a complaint uttered in a whining tone.
Some examples of whining behavior are: A child who won`t take No for an answer. He keeps repeating his demand for something you`ve told him he can`t have or do. A younger child demands “one more” snack, book, game or back ride.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
There’s a whining noise coming from the engine at idle and it goes away when you pull the oil dipstick out
ANSWER : If you are getting too high of suction in the crankcase what is happening is the engine is sucking in air through the crankcase ventilation hose in the air filter housing most likely due to an air filter that is dirty and needs to be replaced. Check the air filter and replace it if it is dirty.
Low oil pressure light comes on when idle. Check engine light is on as well. Both came on after getting an oil change 3 days ago.
ANSWER : It is possible that they put in the wrong viscosity oil. In rare instances, a defective filter will also cause low pressure. If there is too much oil, it will aerate and cause low pressure. Be sure the oil level is really not above "max". The P2187 code will appear if the oil fill cap is not tight but it will also appear due to a myriad of causes because that code only "generally" identifies a lean running condition. Consequently, numerous parts would have to be tested including the O2 sensor, gas cap seal, manifold air leaks, any vacuum leak anywhere including PCV and EVAP systems, exhaust leaks, and fuel system faults such as failing fuel pump, clogged filter and more. Since the car has relatively low mileage, you would not expect a failed oil pump, although the pressure sensor (or switch) could be bad. However, the occurrence of the oil pressure warning light is quite coincidental to the oil change, thus I would suggest bringing the car back and asking them to redo with a new filter and double check the viscosity of the new oil that they use. If the problem persists after that, you will have to test actual operating oil pressure (at idle for instance) as well as the oil pressure switch. Finally, if the oil pressure warning light comes on continuously, unless the warning circuit itself is malfunctioning, that means the oil pressure is too low to operate the engine without damaging it. Anytime the light comes on for more than literally an instant, you should shut down the car and thus an issue like this obviously has to be repaired.
If you’d like, a YourMechanic certified mechanic can come to your home or place of business to inspect the vehicle and perform an oil pressure light is on inspection to diagnose the vehicle and suggest potential repairs.
Ticking noise from engine after running with low oil from leaking oil pan.
ANSWER : Depending on the ticking noise will depending on if it is a camshaft follower or a camshaft noise. If your engine was ran without oil you may have low oil pressure at idle and the engine can get noisy if the pressure drops. A mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, can come and listen to the noise and check the oil pressure to see if it is within specifications.
Burning engine oil and have gray smoke coming from below the engine and the tailpipe.
ANSWER : Hi there. If you are getting gray smoke from under the vehicle and in the engine compartment, then there is an external oil leak. The oil is leaking onto the exhaust pipe and then burning off. This is why you are not seeing any oil on the ground. As for the engine smoking some oil, then the valve guide seals on the cylinder heads are possibly leaking causing oil to enter the combustion chamber through the intake valves.. Another way that the engine could be getting oil into the combustion is having a positive crankcase ventilation valve (PCV valve) being stuck causing oil to enter the intake system. To check this, check the intake tubing and see if there is any oil present. If there is oil present, then I recommend replacing the PCV valve to prevent any oil from going into the combustion chamber. The external oil leaks could be, a leaking front engine seal, a leaking rear main seal, a loose oil filter, oil cooler lines could be split or loose, or a valve cover gasket could be leaking. If you need further assistance with your engine using a lot of engine oil, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Just noticed a huge oil leak trailing my car. It seems to be coming from below the engine. I recently had my oil changed a month
ANSWER : You might have a problem with the oil filter leaking when you rev the engine and increase the oil pressure. This can be from a collapsed oil filter media or excessive oil pressure from the engine. I recommend having the oil and filter replaced using a good quality filter and have the oil leak verified to be from the filter. Make sure to not run the engine low on oil. If you are finding you do not want to drive with the leak, a mobile technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office, and replace both your filter, and oil.
Oil was leaking, put in over 4 qts of oil and oil leak stopper. White smoke coming tailpipe,engine shakes, car dies. Oil leaking.
ANSWER : Oil additives are not recommended by any vehicle manufacturer for any reason. Additives that purport to resolve oil leaks are useless, a waste of your money, and may result in engine damage. Every vehicle manufacturer strongly recommends against use of these materials. There is only one recommended and approved repair strategy when it comes to oil leaks: fix the leak.
You can only add the manufacturer specified amount of oil to an engine. If you add too much oil, or too little oil, that will cause engine damage. You should check the engine oil dipstick to determine if there is presently too much oil in the engine. If there is too much, the excess will have to be removed to prevent engine damage.
The leak that you are referring to can be repaired if you request an oil leak diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns as you decide what to do, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic because we want you to make the most of your repair dollars and help you get the best possible results.
The engine is making rattling very high noise when you start the engine and constant.
ANSWER : The fact that the oil pressure drops when slowing down or stopping would suggest that the oil pressure is lower at lower engine RPM’s. This means that the oil level volume is low. The oil capacity in an engine is designed to correlate with oil pressure at any given RPM. When it is full, there should always be constant oil pressure assuming there is no oil leaks. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home to diagnose your vehicle and make appropriate repairs to your vehicle.
Would low engine oil cause the check engine light to come on in my 2002 Toyota Corolla
ANSWER : Hello. Typically low engine oil will not cause the check engine light to come on in your vehicle. Unless the oil level is low enough to cause a drop in engine oil pressure, the oil light will not even come on. I am glad that you checked the oil though before it caused any issues. Since the check engine light is on the computer needs to be scanned for codes. With the codes I would be able to diagnose what is going on with the car. It may be as simple as a loose gas cap or it may be something more serious. If you are going to have this fixed, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to you to [diagnose why the check engine light is on] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/check-engine-light-is-on-inspection
