Apologies that my posts are all about interesting sounds, but I have a new one...

Over the past few days I've heard a loud low-pitched whining sound coming from (what I think is) the oil pump. It's the front-most, drivers-side-most part of the serpentine belt, connected directly to the front of the motor. Maybe that's not the oil pump, but that's where the sound is.

It gets higher pitched as the engine revs. Goes away when the engine is fully warm.

Has anyone ever heard this before? Maybe I'll get a recording of it to make this post more interesting...

 

Just an idea, but it could be an idler pulley bearing going bad. They tend to make a whining sound when needing to be replaced!

 

great thinking. That's exactly the area it's coming from. Is that actually the oil pump then? Maybe what I need is an oil pump pulley bearing set.

 

Your oil pump is located inside of your oil pan, so you likely wouldn't be hearing the sound from there.

Idler pulley(s) bearings are located on the front of your engine. Your serpentine belt wraps around the pulley and the bearing will be behind it. You can remove your serpentine belt and test them to see if they have any play in them. I would recommend doing this asap because they do go bad very quickly!

-Adam

 

Thank you for the explanation. I'll see if my local shop has the bearings. They just closed our local dealership and are building a new one 50 miles north next year. Probably have to order the parts.

 

Is it a DII? http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/ERR6439K.cfm

Replace the Tensioner at the same time.

 

Sorry, meant to say. It's a 1996 D1. 87k miles.

 

Change your power steering fluid.
DI's take Dexron III in the power steering system, if it is worn out or the fluid level is low the power steering pump will make noise.

 

a quick test run first draw a diagram of the belt routing then remove the serp belt start the truck and see if you hear the noise,
YES= oil pump failing, remove the dipstick and drip some engine oil onot a black piece of cardboard look at the oil in the sun for metallic particles, you might have to remove the front cover to inspect the oil pump
NO= one of the pulleys that run on the belt is going bad spin them and see what one isnt spinning smoothly, have you washed the engine recently ?
This usually takes out the alternator bearings and the tensioner bearings.
Dont run the engine long without the belt as it will overheat