Yesterday morning started with a new sound. As soon as as the engine is started the whining noise starts, it increases and decreases with enging RPM. The fan isnt running at the time so its not the fan clutch, it sounds like its coming internally from the block on the passenger side on the engine. The noise never goes away even when the engine is warmed up. Thanks for the help.

 

You mean the electric fan(s) isn't running. Hope the viscous drive one is.... the fan clutch just makes it go full or low power.

Vacuum leak? Usually goes away under full throttle.

PCV system clean?

Take off serpantine belt and crank engine, which kills off all the things that normally spin. If noise stops, it may be one of them. Rotate each by hand to feel roughness.

 

Yes im sorry the viscous drive fan is running. The noise doesnt go away with full throttle, vacuum leak was my first thought too. I just noticed that there was a pool of oil on top of the coolant pump that wasnt there before. When I get home from work ill take the belt off and see what that leads to.

 

Bearing on an engine component? Water pump? steering pump? alternator?

 

Take the belt off and see if it goes away. My guess is a pulley or the alternator.

 

On my 1997 the whine was the alternator - at about 150k.
Then another whine - and it was the power steering pump.
The rumble was the water pump.

At 167k I am out of things to replace.
That's fine with me.
And, there are no whines

 

re: And, there are no whines

except the one that goes "you spend too much time on that truck" .....

 

idler pulley or alternator

 

I got home and had a chance to look at it closer and it is definatly the alternator bearings. How hard are these to rebuild or is it just better to get a new/used one?

 

Can be rebuilt by a local shop, or you, there have been posts. Junkyard or pre-owned is another. Reman for big box store is usually where you get problems, high failure rate.