Turbo Whistle

[Reven]

I still haven't acquired my Stinger but during my test drives i cant seem to remember ever hearing the turbos on the V6, at least not during cruising.
Of course there was a mild amount of intake vacuum noise but nothing major.

I am coming from a Saab with GM's LP9 V6, and when it was newer i remember there wasn't a massive amount of on power turbo noise but it was definitely audible during cruising at highway speeds. Now that the car is older (93K miles) most of the sound isolation seems to have deaggregated and turbo spool, blow-off, and load are much more noticeable.

Personally i love the way my current turbo sounds, the engine has a single 60somthing mill turbo from Mitsubishi so its not a tiny turbo, and since its a Saab there might be some Swedish magic mixed with the Japanese turbo and the Australian engine to make the tune of the turbine more pronounced and enjoyable.

I guess my questions are:

1.) How loud are the turbos on the Stinger when new?
2.) How loud are they after some miles at least 20k
3.) Do you like Turbo noise and why?
4.) Are there any videos of in-cabin turbo whistle/spool at cruise?

 

[Callum]

Reven,

No turbo/induction sound with the stock intakes. You'll need to install an intake to increase turbo noise. My K&N is loud...I mean it's like I'm about to suck a human up off the side walk when accelerating mildly. I can try to take a video when I drive it on Saturday. She's relaxing right now in the garage.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I might have heard the first hint of a whistle on my last road trip. But if I did, it isn't continuous and has not repeated. Almost 19K miles here.

 

[Reven]

Callum,

I'd love to hear that if you'd get the chance. Most of the vids I've seen are flybys or on a dyno, not much of in cabin experience.

Merlin,
Glad to know, so i guess my first mod should be intake.
though i don't plan on doing any mods until after the second oil change and get my oil tested. No glitter please.

 

[robz32]

@Reven you can listen to it here

The OEM instakes do a great job silencing the turbos and restricting the airflow.

 

[Chucky]

From the factory the turbo's and intakes are almost silent; as others have said you need an aftermarket intake to achieve this beautiful sound. I looked at k&N and Injen; went with Injen because it looks better and is louder than the K&N in my opinion, the plastic box around the K&N muffles some of the whistle; also get loud blow off sounds from the turbo now which were imperceptible before. I will take a video during lunch

 

[MerlintheMad]

I will never understand why deliberately created noise is desirable on a car that is designed to be quiet inside.

 

[Revvdmedia]

I opted for the DIY route, small 90 degree elbows with the new filters sitting in the lower half of the intake boxes (no heatshield yet). They are reasonably loud, but I don't have a comparison to how much louder they could be. This is the cheapest route to take.

 

[Revvdmedia]

I will never understand why deliberately created noise is desirable on a car that is designed to be quiet inside.

Merlin, this isn't noise, this is sound. Very beautiful, pleasant sound. Everything we don't want is noise.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Merlin, this isn't noise, this is sound. Very beautiful, pleasant sound. Everything we don't want is noise.

I appreciate the difference. But you can't exactly turn it off. And it won't help the quietude of the "sound room" (aka surround sound). This isn't a sports car or hot rod. It's a GT. You're tipping the balance in an unnatural direction. Our mileage doth vary!

 

[Revvdmedia]

I appreciate the difference. But you can't exactly turn it off. And it won't help the quietude of the "sound room" (aka surround sound). This isn't a sports car or hot rod. It's a GT. You're tipping the balance in an unnatural direction. Our mileage doth vary!

I traded in my V8 Coyote soundtrack for a silent turbo V6 with no sound. I need SOMETHING to remember I'm driving a petrol fueled vehicle, otherwise I would have bought electric, lol.

 

[robz32]

Technically you can turn it off @MerlintheMad, just dont drive it hard.

As a CAI owner, the noise is not an issue during regular driving, city and highway. The only time you are able to hear the air whooshing sound is when the car is under heavy loads and high RPMs.

 

[MrSmoofy]

Wouldn't the whistle the OP is looking for come from replacing the stock BOV and adding a whistle to it?

 

[Reven]

Wouldn't the whistle the OP is looking for come from replacing the stock BOV and adding a whistle to it?

Not in particular, I am more use to a constant turbine whine sound while driving which increases pitch with load, I plan to do a send off compilation for my car soon hopefully its loud enough for my phone to capture.

And I do mean whine, there really isnt any whooshing, and its completely different to any car I've been in before.

I've been checking out the aftermarket intakes and I do really like the look and sound of the SSR kit but looks like a pain to change/clean filters if you have to take the bumper off everytime.

 

[Revvdmedia]

Not in particular, I am more use to a constant turbine whine sound while driving which increases pitch with load, I plan to do a send off compilation for my car soon hopefully its loud enough for my phone to capture.

And I do mean whine, there really isnt any whooshing, and its completely different to any car I've been in before.

I've been checking out the aftermarket intakes and I do really like the look and sound of the SSR kit but looks like a pain to change/clean filters if you have to take the bumper off everytime.

One thing you may notice is if you are not in Sport mode, I find the car hardly pushes boost under the other drive modes unless you get on the throttle good, it seems to be tuned to use the normal V6 grunt before boost builds. This means you will not hear the turbo as often as you are used to most likely. Think of the Dodge Dart 1.4L, that thing spools just in parking lots, the 3.3T, not so much.

 

[cncBilly]

I appreciate the difference. But you can't exactly turn it off. And it won't help the quietude of the "sound room" (aka surround sound). This isn't a sports car or hot rod. It's a GT. You're tipping the balance in an unnatural direction. Our mileage doth vary!

I don't know Merlin, Stingers are pretty sporty and they sure look "hot".

 

[Reven]

I don't know Merlin, Stingers are pretty sporty and they sure look "hot".

I fully agree, and just because something is meant to be a GT car doesn't mean it has to be docile.

The current stinger does look amazing but to each their own, as far as millage goes I've already accepted 5 to 6 fill ups a month and if i go more just means I'm enjoying the car

 

[Doel]

The only time you hear the turbos on a stock car is under mild acceleration with the windows down, but you really have to listen. With an intake, it's loud, but only when accelerating. When just cruising, it's still quiet. Funny thing is, under full throttle, it's still pretty quiet, the turbo spool is loudest when between 25%-75% throttle.

Don't mind Merlin, he's isn't really a performance car enthusiast, he doesn't appreciate things like "turbo sounds" like a lot of us do. Not a bad thing, just a different perspective.

 

[MrSmoofy]

This is my first car with any real performance. It's still quieter then my 2006 v8 Titan. I'll be looking to make it rawr like the animal it is.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Don't mind Merlin, he's isn't really a performance car enthusiast, he doesn't appreciate things like "turbo sounds" like a lot of us do. Not a bad thing, just a different perspective.

Lol. I agree. But time can change things. I am slowly being altered by this car experience. Old dogs, new tricks: not a very apt aphorism in some cases!