Whistling within the engine

STEFFATTACK

MEMBER
2000 DODGE STRATUS
165,000 MILES

Recently my car has begun to make a high pitched whistling sound while driving. It generally takes about 10 minutes before it shows up at all (so the first 10 minutes the car drives fine without any noise). The engine light is not on and the whistling does not affect the capability of the car at all. The whistling will change pitch and loudness with acceleration. When I press on the gas the whistle becomes lower pitched and much quieter but as soon as I let off of the gas or level out in speed it stays as high as possible in sound and pitch. The sound is coming from the center of the engine, near all four cylinders (but that is also near the air intake).

3 Replies

DOCDTC

MECHANIC
53 POSTS

What you have is classic vacuum leak- the pitch changes coincide exactly with the vacuum level present in the intake. Look first carefully at all the vacuum hoses, looking for cracks or collapsed lines. But I tend to lean more toward intake/ pleneum gaskets- given the tempature of the engine is relevant to the sound. Listen for the sound source, and spray suspect area with a non flammable cleaner ( mass air, etc) using the little tube on can. When leak area is found a noticeable change in sound will be heard. If it does, it needs to be rescaled with new gaskets. Hope this helps, Doc