New whining noise after topping off my oil
 

New owner of a 2007 Sport 6spd with 21k miles.

Before: Reving while idle from 1.5k to 2.5k gave a health rotary sound
Now: Same rotary sound but now there is also a higher pitched whine

Something that happened in between: I topped of my oil for the first time. I checked my oil and saw that it was at the 2nd to last dot on the dip stick. So, I went into the gulf gas station and picked up 5w20 generic non-synthetic oil and poured a quart in. I also spilled a little to the left (passenger side) of the oil hole (this has a name?). I'm not 100% sure that the spilling of the oil or even the topping off it self is what cause the whine but I noticed the whine less than 24 hours after topping it off.


The whine will go up in frequency with the rpms. I can rev 1.5k to 2.5k and hear the whine get higher. I also hear it at the high rpms. I can't quite pinpoint where it's coming from. It sounds like it's coming from the console (engine area) or from the shifter (gearbox).

I'd like to get the car back to how it sounded before, when all I heard was the hum of those sweet ass triangles...

Any ideas fellas (and gals)?

Have the same problem but on my 04 with 73000 miles. I changed spark plugs/ wires, and ignition coils. Then the whine started. No loss of power. Wtf

Mine was doing this the other day.
Sound like the fan motors to me, it's was hot.

I like the car cool down and fired it up again and it was gone.

I was guessing that I have a fan motor bearing on the way out .....

Interested in learning what you guys find out .....

edit: Mines a 2005 MT

That's interesting, Larkin. I think I might be facing the same issue after having my oil cooler lines replaced: https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/abnormal-whining-sound-after-replacing-oil-cooler-lines-221936/. There was a bit of an oil spill over the engine bay on the driver's side during the install, so it might be related. I don't have any idea where the noise is coming from except, like you said, that it's louder from inside the cabin than when listening to it outside.

I think the best way to reproduce the sound so that it's obvious is go up to 4k in 2nd gear and then let off the gas. The deceleration and lack of engine noise will make the whining sound the most dominant one. It's slightly louder when it's cold.

Initially I thought it was the belt driving the A/C because it was removed for the hose install. I removed the belt and still heard the whining noise. I loosened and tightened the belt driving the alternator and didn't hear any difference.

My guess is either I need new transmission oil or something is getting stuck in the radiator fan but none of these items are engine rpm sensitive. The whine is there while not in gear and follows the engine rpm.

Larkin, where are you located in MA? Maybe we can meet up to compare the noise and see if it's the same?

I've been wanting to take it back to the mechanic but he's a little deaf (FML) so I want to eliminate possibilities as much as I could.

Hi downshift. I'm in central mass near umass medical center. You?

I'm west of Boston inside the I-495 loop. I took a video of the sound during cold start here: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...96#post4072196. Does that sound like yours?