Test Drive Video of Harsh 3.8 Sedan Engine Sound

[JimInNashville]

Hello Everyone,

Some of you may be wondering what I've been talking about when I tried to describe the somewhat harsh noise my 3.8 V6 Genesis Sedan (2010, 4850 miles) makes under acceleration around 2000RPM.

So I've posted an extensive test drive video, made on some quiet residential streets in Tennessee.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n7-BEnrVBQ"]YouTube - Genesis 3.8 Sound.flv[/ame]

The sound is audible on the video, especially between 3:00-4:00. and a sequence starting at 8:00. Believe me, it is more noticeable in the car than it is on the video. Turn your sound up and listen on decent speakers and you should hear it.

Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tarche]

I drive a 4.6 and hear a similar rumbling sound, but I haven't tied it to an rpm band like you have. I experience it when driving uphill in the 35-45 mph range. I figure it is related to the transmission being in too high a gear and needing a downshift that doesn't come. It lasts a few seconds and is only mildly annoying. I don't know if your sound and what I'm describing are exactly the same, but the rumble I heard in your video is definitely similar. I'll see if I can get it to occur at lower speeds like in your video.

 

[radicaltimes]

I also have a 3.8. I could be wrong but mine seems to be from the exhaust system.

 

[kev4]

I have a 2009 3.8. The sound is similiar in tone, but yours is much louder as if the exhaust is touching the frame somewhere. The best way I can explain the tone of my exhaust is a grgrgrgrowl through each gear. It is not loud like yours but it is the same tone, this is why I figure it might be the exhaust touching the frame somewhere and therefor amplefies the sound through the frame. Just my opinion. Good luck

 

[JimInNashville]

I have a 2009 3.8. The sound is similiar in tone, but yours is much louder as if the exhaust is touching the frame somewhere. The best way I can explain the tone of my exhaust is a grgrgrgrowl through each gear. It is not loud like yours but it is the same tone, this is why I figure it might be the exhaust touching the frame somewhere and therefor amplefies the sound through the frame. Just my opinion. Good luck

Thanks, kev. I can actually here a slight rattle at highway speeds, and indeed this might be it. Perhaps a slightly misaligned exhaust pipe or some missing insulation material.

 

[Platgen]

The noise sounds similar to a loose exhaust heat shield. Very simple for dealer to fix. Good luck.

 

[hbv2020]

I have had the noise from day one. It reminds me of a knock caused by low octane gas. I put in premium with no change. Other have said that to get great milage out of the car, the engineers have advanced the timing to the absolute max and it almost cause a knock.