D5 full-power whine

[JimAitken]

I think I have made a stupid mistake... recently when I had the nose cone off my '05 D5 (290k on the clock), I noticed the AC radiator fins were almost completely blocked with crud. I put the nose back on and headed off to my local powerwash. I sprayed Gunk cleaner over the rad, and allowed it to do it's job while I washed the rest of the car. I then 'gently' hosed the rad clean. All good so far.

The bad news... now, when I put my foot down on full power, I hear a whine. It's a bit like those passenger jets when you hear them about to take off! I can power through it, but it sounds quite loud when the window is down. It does not whine under normal load.

Any ideas... my first thoughts were vibration noise, a slipping belt, noise from alternator, or a hole in the intercooler?

And yes I know I should have gently cleaned the rad with a soft paint brush instead!!

[davebb]

Hi did all the stuff you washed of look very black and oily, if so it sounds like you have a bad intercooler, the D5 are known for having bad intercoolers,
Dave

[JimAitken]

Originally Posted by davebb

Hi did all the stuff you washed of look very black and oily, if so it sounds like you have a bad intercooler, the D5 are known for having bad intercoolers,
Dave

Yes oily and dirty. Is the intercooler the one in the middle of the three rads or is it the one at the frontmost?

[davebb]

Hi Jim yes it is the one in the middle,
Dave

[davebb]

does the car smoke when you are driving it under load
Dave

[JimAitken]

Originally Posted by davebb

does the car smoke when you are driving it under load
Dave

Not normally. I only get a puff of smoke if I've been cruising on the motorway for say a hundred miles, and then floor it. I don't use any oil between changes and no loss of power.

[davebb]

Hi Jim,
The smoke will not be from loss of oil, it will be because of the intercooler leaking, But oil on the coolers does show that it is time for a new intercooler,
Dave

[JimAitken]

Originally Posted by davebb

Hi Jim,
The smoke will not be from loss of oil, it will be because of the intercooler leaking, But oil on the coolers does show that it is time for a new intercooler,
Dave

thanks Dave. Another weekend job coming up! Will update thread when I get round to replacing it.

[davebb]

OK Jim,
if ever you want to put the car on the Volvo tester (vida and dice)
just come over to Emsworth and I will do it for you,
Dave

[JimAitken]

Originally Posted by davebb

OK Jim,
if ever you want to put the car on the Volvo tester (vida and dice)
just come over to Emsworth and I will do it for you,
Dave

Thanks very much for the offer. I may do that once I get this job done.