Whistle/wail on accel when cold

OK, so I'm new to diesels, so this may well be an obvious question, but my 2 -yr old just-acquired 2.2 i-CDTi diesel CR-V when cold makes a noticeable whistle or wail when accelerating in first and second gears (at least that's when I notice it -- maybe, in an urban area, I'm not accelaerating so hard in higher gears). I get the impression that it's coming from the engine rather than the transmission or exhaust. It goes away when the engine warms up (or else becomes too quiet to notice). Is this a diesel thing, or something I should have looked at?

Thanks, guys.

I had a whistle around 1500rpm when engine is cold. I understood that it was some kind of recirculation of air when the engine is cold.

After a year the noice became louder and also when the engine warm. I took the car to the dealer and they replaced the turbo. There has been a small number of noisy turbos in Sweden. Now the bad sound is gone and I can hear that low aircirculation noice when cold again.

Let your dealer check if it is the turbo that makes the noise.


Regards

Robert Wejdenstal
Sweden

OK, so I'm new to diesels, so this may well be an obvious question, but my 2 -yr old just-acquired 2.2 i-CDTi diesel CR-V when cold makes a noticeable whistle or wail when accelerating in first and second gears (at least that's when I notice it -- maybe, in an urban area, I'm not accelaerating so hard in higher gears). I get the impression that it's coming from the engine rather than the transmission or exhaust. It goes away when the engine warms up (or else becomes too quiet to notice). Is this a diesel thing, or something I should have looked at?

Thanks, guys.

I'm new to diesels too and mine is not yet 12 months old but wails and whisles like yours. The steering is also a bit strange and gives the impression that the contact with the road is too light when turning, but only when a specific lock is applied (then the steering wheel rocks as well). It also is using >8 liter for 100km. The Germans dont seem to know whats wrong with it. I think it need to go back to swindon. I hope you are not having the same problems?

I don't have any experience with the CRV diesel but it is normal for a turbo diesel to "whistle". The sound is the turbo spinning 30,000+rpms to compress the air charge. It's likely louder on a cold engine because the air charge is cold and thus more dense putting a little more stress on the compressor wheel than when the engine is hot and ambient air is less dense.

The thing about a diesel engine is they have to run at a certain temperature to promote proper cylinder burn, on a cold start most diesels will run noticeably rougher than after they are warmed up. Does the CRV diesel have a block warmer (like a built in heating-pad that plugs into house A/C outlet to keep engine warm over cold nights)?? If it does then plug it in about an hour before a normal cold start and see if the whistle is still as noticeable. The only other thing that may help, and I recommend to every diesel owner, is to purchase "Diesel Kleen" made by a company named Power Service which is an awesome fuel additive that made my Ford diesel run very noticeably smoother and is 100% safe. Not sure if it's available to those of you outside of USA though.

I'm new to diesels too and mine is not yet 12 months old but wails and whisles like yours. The steering is also a bit strange and gives the impression that the contact with the road is too light when turning, but only when a specific lock is applied (then the steering wheel rocks as well). It also is using >8 liter for 100km. The Germans dont seem to know whats wrong with it. I think it need to go back to swindon. I hope you are not having the same problems?

More than 8L/100km is not unusual with this car ... see http://www.spritmonitor.de/de/uebersicht/18-Honda/174-CR-V.html?fueltype=1&constyear_s=2007&page=2

It depends on the driving conditions and outside temperature as well.

In February 2010 I purchased a 2.2Diesel CRV 09 plate with only 5k mileage on the clock from the main Honda agents and noticed an annoying continual whining noise when accelerating away and when the engine was just ticking over.I went back the next day and Honda agreed to change the Diesel Turbo. It was thankfully under warranty as it would have cost me approx £2500. Now it`s a completely different car so quiet and a pleasure to drive.

I am happy that fully synthetic oil is the best, but does anyone know if I am doing any harm using 5-40 - I couldn't find 0-30

I am happy that fully synthetic oil is the best, but does anyone know if I am doing any harm using 5-40 - I couldn't find 0-30

My Honda dealer puts 10w-40 100% synthetic old in my i-CTDI ;)