Hello all,

As the weather got colder, I noticed a high pitched whine that formed when the car hit 2500-3000 rpm and higher. It literally sounds like a supercharger. I know that the car naturally has a high pitched whine but this one sounded different. Louder even. The best way I can explain it is a supercharger that engages at around 2500 rpm. I thought it was a belt or some pump. As the revs climb, so does the whining sound. There is no power loss or rough idling and stays on even though the engine is warmed up (the weather is in the 50s).

I have a 2004 auto RX8 with 130,000 miles. Any ideas what it can be? Thank you.

 

air pump

 

From what it sounds like he's not describing the air pump. The air pump doesn't usually climb with the RPM's. I would say the bearings in one of the tensioners or pulleys are going out.

 

Yea, I wouldn't say the air pump also. I thought it was a belt of some sort too. There's no sound below 2500 rpm, but as soon as you hit that range, it's a loud whining sound. It's definitely not an intake sound where the air is being sucked in. I'm too scared to take it above the 3500 rpm range, so I don't know if it exists above that. I just wanted to know if anyone else experienced sound as well. Thank you again.

 

Vacuum leak?
The check valves can sing if there is flow through them.