Continuos whine. (Not me, the truck.) Lol!

[johnyrover]

Hi all

Just wondering if all your trucks whine like mine. Its not very loud, kicks in at about 40kph, and changes slightly in pitch but not volume level as speed increases. The tone changes slightly in quality if the throttle is backed right off (almost as if whatever is being strained against is straining in the opposite direction because of going from momentum to impetus ).
If I had to give it a location, I would put it in the transfer case, or a wheel bearing. I have done the VC test and passed. High and Low range work a treat, auto is fine, motor is smooth, diff oil is clean, uj's and drive shafts are firm, cv's are not crunchy.
My old man had a Toyota cruiser way back when, and it sounded the same. It wasn't broken, it was just the way it sounded. Also my old HR holden had a wheel bearing go, and it sounded similar.
Like I said its not that loud, and it could even be tyre noise, but I don't think so. It has a gentle grinding quality about it. It could also be perfectly normal. Its almost soothing, but if somethings on the way out it would be good to know.
I have done a good search, and am not being lazy, but 4 hours searching is about my limit.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Cheers

[wayneg]

Turn your music up :D
That`ll fix it

[johnyrover]

One volume increase coming up. I'll try and pick something complimentary. Lol!
Cheers

[mtb_gary]

One volume increase coming up. I'll try and pick something complimentary. Lol!
Cheers

Cold Chisel "Cheap whine and a 3 day growth" :D

[johnyrover]

Too right! Jimmy it is! :D

[sheerluck]

Followed by Red, Red Whine by UB40?

[johnyrover]

As John Denver would say "And whine-ding down the road"
I feel a pretty good songlist building here.
Keep em coming. :D

[Hoges]

My P38 has what I would describe as a whining sound... guess it all depends on the ear of the hearer! Anyway finally determined that it seemed to be coming from the transfer case but could be reduced by "floating" the throttle on a flat portion of road at say 60 kmh so there was minimal stress on the driveline...

I'll get friendly fire at this point :rocket: but having read good reports on Rangerovers.net about Mobil Agrifluid 424 ...now superseded by Mobilfluid424...I drained the T/F case and refilled with this stuff. The whine reduced virtually straight away from a "what's that noise?" level to a noise you could detect if you listened intently... 5yrs/40+ thousand km later...still good. And a hell of a lot quieter than the transmission whine inside the BIL's petrol V6 Prado of same vintage (1999)

[johnyrover]

I read another thread about the Agrifluid, but they did not have 40,000 k's travel to back it up. I think this definately warrants a bit more research and some consideration.
I'll let you know how it goes.

Cheers

[Keithy P38]

I notice if my tyre pressures are a bit low ill hear it a bit more - could it be the humm of a slightly deflated tyre?

[33chinacars]

Could just be the person sitting next to you :wasntme:

[benji]

Mmm, i've the same kind of whine; at speed it's load dependant (unlike the 'are we there yet...')

I would prefer the Captain bring me my whine though, rather than from the other seats in the car.

Interesting about the Mobil fluid - I can get that stuff cheap:).
A while ago I put a Nulon fully synthetic trans fluid in the classic Borgwarner, and it made some awefull noises. Changed it back to the Mineral stuff and it was all good.

[UK_P38]

Interesting, I was about to put a post up regarding a whine/hum mine has developed after a pretty full on and wet weekend. Sounds very similar to this, starts at 30km/hr, reduces in volume and increases in pitch as you speed up. Like you, when the load is off the driveline the noise is reduced. Changed the diff fluid and re-greased the drive shafts marginal improvement. Next will be the tranmission fluid, so is this Agrifluid is good? What Fluid would people recommend? Synthetic or mineral based? Googling reveals a wealth of issues with fluid compatibilty! Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't tend to change all the fluid, merely dilute old with new so you want to be sure the new is compatible with the old??

I don't mind a hum every now and then but getting bored of this tune ;)

[Hoges]

Mobilfluid 424 is the 'new name' for Agrifluid 424. NOTE: it's NOT to be used in automatic transmission. more details here Mobilfluid 424 (http://www.mobil.com/Australia-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENCVLMOMobilfluid_424.aspx).
I found several Google references (positive) to the use of Mobilfluid 424 in Jeep(1999-20xx models) transfer cases.

[TheTree]

Having owned a 1957 Series One I thought the whine from my P38 was just normal transfer case noise :blink:

Since I have it on my to-do list, I think my transfer case is due for some MobilFluid 424 !

Steve

[TheTree]

MobilFluid 424 seems hard to get, but the guy from Central Coast Tractors rang Castrol and they said AGRI S AF TRANS is their equivalent. $40.00 for 5 litres though he did offer me a 50 litre drum :o

Apparently the "S" stands for anti-squawk, probably works as anti-whine as well

Tomorrow I am servicing my ZF Transmission and replacing my diff oils etc, so the transfer case is getting some of that good juice in it !

Steve

[UK_P38]

Ahhh, I'm talking about an auto, preety sure the manual fluid would not have the desired effect :D has anyone has this whining/hum on their auto box? Any fluid recomendations?

[TheTree]

Ahhh, I'm talking about an auto, preety sure the manual fluid would not have the desired effect :D has anyone has this whining/hum on their auto box? Any fluid recomendations?

Mine is an auto and i get the whine between 40 and 60 kph, I shall let everyone know what happens once i put that Agri S in it.

Steve

[benji]

Was talking to an ex oil depot manager today and he was saying the mobil424 and the agri trans is a 30w dexron oil with additives for heavier duty use, but cant be used in the zf because of the type of transmission that it is.

[johnyrover]

Not the tyres Keith. Having read a few posts on the pro's and cons of keeping to the specified pressures, have been a bit neurotic about keeping the front at 28 and the rear at 38. Truck seems to like it there. When I did have a short rush of blood to the head and thought "what do the makers know?", I put a few extra psi in the front and the noise was exactly the same.
It's not that loud, but it's the first vehicle I've owned that does it. I'll do a search for TC,s that have blown up using Agrifluid. If I can't find one I'll drop a bit in and have a listen.
I've have a feeling though, that my noise is at the low end of the "things to worry about" register, and theres probably not a lot to worry about. I have taken Wagneg's advice and turned up the stereo.

Will let you all know how the experiment goes.

Cheers for now

[TheTree]

I am going to use Penrite BMV in the ZF, it's manufacturer approved ad has good reports, and i am going to try the Castrol AGRI S ATF in the transfer case.

I will know by tomorrow afternoon ;-)

Steve

[UK_P38]

I was going to use the Castrol ATF Dex 11 - Please shout if there is any reason not to or another fluid might be better :(
Plan to do it on Anzac Day and hopefully be able to stop my whining :)

[Hoges]

I was going to use the Castrol ATF Dex 11 - Please shout if there is any reason not to or another fluid might be better :(
Plan to do it on Anzac Day and hopefully be able to stop my whining :)

SHOUT:D both boxes require DexIII as minimum...

[UK_P38]

So it sounds to me like either the Penrite ATF Dx111 or ATF BMV, they are pretty similar in properties but are both semi synthetic? The BMV is slightly more viscous and breaks down less so I think I will go for this. Will either of these will be fine in the transfer case too? I doubt I will be able to get hold of the Agrifluid before Anzac Day...
Will there be any issues with mixing the old with new?
Thanks as always :D

[TheTree]

My mates hoist is outside so the weather defeated us last Saturday, so it will most likely be next Saturday.

BTW I had to go to a Tractor place to get the Castrol AgriFluid, so ring a couple in your area.

Steve

[wanglemoose]

mine had a tc whine when i bought it so changed to the same 80-90 gear oil that's in my diffs. stopped the whine and no problems with it apart from the added dent to fuel economy.

[TheTree]

Well since it was such a beautiful day on Saturday, what a better way to spend it than changing the "precious bodily fluids" of the Rangie.

I can never get enough of the view when you have one of these beasts on a hoist !

So we serviced the transmission, it was a bit easier on my 99 than the earlier models, the oil return tube does not connect to the pan :D

Changed the filter, loved the way there was a magnet just sitting in the bottom of the pan :wasntme:
Still needed to remove that center bolt from the snubber bar.

Refilled with Penrite BMV and did all the voodoo with moving it through all the gears and continue to fill while idling etc. It only took about 6 litres, so I guess there was still 6 litres in there somewhere !

Put the Castrol Agri AS Trans Plus in the transfer case, seems to have quietened it a little .

Put Penrite Transaxle 75W90 in the diffs since it meets manufacturers specs etc

All in all the beastie seems happy so far

Steve

[Matplat]

I'm glad I found this thread!

By the sounds of things it seems this whine is fairly normal, just going off the number of people that report hearing it.

My disco (96 tdi) has a very similar whine and I had been suspecting the T/C as I hadn't changed oil in it since I bought the car (18months). The whine has been there since I bought the vehicle and never really gotten any worse, and only recently did I start thinking that was possibly a problem.

I replaced the oil with Nulon SAE80 API GL-4 smooth shift over the weekend. And I'm pretty sure it didn't make any difference. I'm kinda happy about that because otherwise it would have meant I have been driving the vehicle improperly lubricated for 18 months!

BTW that grade of oil is what is specified in the Haynes manual. In another thread around this topic, someone posted that oil specified at API GL-5 is not suitable as it tends to eat the brass shims in the diff.

A side issue was that, despite the specified volume of 2.8l (haynes again) I was only able to get approx 2l in there before it overflowed. Is it normal to hold 800ml when replacing the oil?

Cheers, Matt

[UK_P38]

I too had the joyous event of changing the fluids on Wednesday night, they definitely needed doing and the driveline 'feels' smoother. I am still getting the whine/hum starting at 30km/h. I think it is now a case of seeing if it gets any worse, passangers have said I'm being a bit picky but you know how it is when you notice something on your car :)

[johnyrover]

So after a bit of good natured ribbing, it seems this is a subject close to a number of Rangie Addicts hearts. As always it is really good to share ideas with fellow enthusiasts and come up with solutions.
After reading all the posts and thoughts in this thread, I am going to go with the Dex III as specified. Like others in this thread my noise has not gotten any louder, or changed since I have started driving the truck (3 months). One intersting thing about this situation is that I had occasion to sit in the passenger seat while my hot wife drove, and I noticed that the noise was a lot quieter. This has me wondering if indeed it could be a wheel bearing, and not the transfer case, as this was a possibility all along. Also, it could be just a normal running noise. I am hesitant to take it to a mechanic, because it is so hard to find one that can resist ripping you off, and even harder to find one that actually cares about what they are doing.
I will keep an ear out for any change in "The Noise", and update if there are any changes.
As mentioned before it is pretty cool to know that I am not alone in this strange addiction, and as mentioned by Steve Farmer -I can never get enough of the view when you have one of these beasts on a hoist !
Could not agree more.

Cheers all.:)

[TheTree]

BTW that grade of oil is what is specified in the Haynes manual. In another thread around this topic, someone posted that oil specified at API GL-5 is not suitable as it tends to eat the brass shims in the diff.
Cheers, Matt

HI Matt

Thanks for the heads up, I checked on the GL-5 and there is definitely no brass in a P38 diff, so all good there.

Regards
Steve

[Keithy P38]

Have a feel of your wheels, my front left wheel bearing died a horrible death (ok, maybe it didn't and I picked it up in due course), but I noticed the steering got a little wobble about it, got a bit worse over a few months, then I decided to check. Low and behold it was buggered. In order to change wheel bearings in a P38 you need a 20t press and loads of enthusiasm!

Otherwise just order a new hub assembly from the UK like I did and robert's your dads brother.

[Keithy P38]

HI Matt

Thanks for the heads up, I checked on the GL-5 and there is definitely no brass in a P38 diff, so all good there.

Regards
Steve

Unless you have a locker... Brass fittings on mine! Buyer beware!

[TheTree]

Here is a web page i found on P38 Lubricants, pretty helpful

http://www.dingocroft.co.uk/acatalog/Rec_lubes_RR2.htm

Steve

[UK_P38]

Have a feel of your wheels, my front left wheel bearing died a horrible death (ok, maybe it didn't and I picked it up in due course), but I noticed the steering got a little wobble about it, got a bit worse over a few months, then I decided to check. Low and behold it was buggered. In order to change wheel bearings in a P38 you need a 20t press and loads of enthusiasm!

Otherwise just order a new hub assembly from the UK like I did and robert's your dads brother.

Cheers Keithy, will have a check

[johnyrover]

Put some Castrol EPX 80W90 in the diffs and it muffled the whine nicely. It is GL-5 and is listed as an alternative for Tex 75W90R. Initially I added Nulon teflon to what looked like pretty clean oil. It took the edge off the noise but not that greatly. When I dropped it out it was quite thin and milky. Wont be doing that again. I can now hear the motor and tyres. Sweet. Went for Dex III for T/C and it took some slack out of that. Now that the diff has stopped complaining I can hear it wasnt the T/C. Winning. Now to find out why Madje (Her Majesty) has developed a thirst for oil. I found a tribe of oil loving midgets showering under her the other day. I suspect the stopleak the car dealer put in her has finally run its course. Ha ha. Love this truck.

Cheers.:D

[TheTree]

I used the Penrite 75w90 semi syn and my diff is still pretty noisy, least i think it is my diff.

When we changed the oil, there were a few shards of metal attached to the magnetic sump plug, so something is wearing there :(

Might be worth me trying some of that slightly heavier Castrol Oil

Regards
Steve

[johnyrover]

Hi Steve
The more I drive it the quieter it gets. Sorry to hear about the bits in your diff. I had a few tiny flecks of what looked like gold dust, probably enough from both diffs to coat the top of one finger tip if you spread them out. I'll let you know how this oil goes long term. Hopefully I'm on to something and the previous oil was too thin to start with.

Cheers.:D

[TheTree]

Hi

Thanks :)

My mate who worked as a mechanic for many years said, "that's not to bad, I have seen bits of chewed up bearings in there!"

Still more than you could coat your fingertip with, and the front diff was 100% clean.

When i eventually replace the rear diff, might be a good time to fit an Ashcroft LSD :D

Regards
Steve

[johnyrover]

The good news is the EPX 80W90 works an absolute treat. Even after about 4000k's it still got quieter (though I think it's levelled out ). Bad news, but not too bad, the mechanic (yes I finally took Her Majesty to a real mechanic) said he put it on the hoist with all four wheels spinning, listened with the stethoscope, and pinpointed the front pinion as the culprit. So good news, I know what it is. The bad news, I don't think it's gonna be cheap. Still for a car this complex and this old I'm doing really well, cause thats the only major issue as far as he is concerned. Woo hoo! Drive on!


Cheers:D