Turbo whine...why do we like it?

[Glowplug]

The whine of a turbo is OK, I guess, but nothing shivers my spine like the sound of a V-12 Merlin in a P-51 at takeoff power. There ain't no dumb conveyor that could hold that sucker back!

WWII buff, eh? I think the P-51D Mustang is one of the most beautiful pieces of machinery in the history of man!! The scene near the end of "Saving Private Ryan" when the German tank explodes and the P-51 flies over after having dropped its load on it just gives me chills. I'm only 37 years old buy I built my first P-51 Mustang model at age 12.

 

[RobJ]

Really you should only hear the whine when under a heavy load when the turbo is turnning over 100,000 rpm. At idle you might hear sort of a flutter sound in the exhaust.

Funny I can't say I ever remember hearing the turbo while driving the tractor. Probably with all the exhaust noise, implement noise and stuff.

Best way to here them work is drive next to a semi on a flat surface approaching a hill. You don't hear to much then all of a sudden that sucker will kick it. That's cool.

 

[daTeacha]

Oh Yeah! I used to drive the Ohio 'pike about every 2 weeks. It was highly entertaining to position myself next to a big Freightliner as we came to a long grade.

 

[schmism]

The scene near the end of "Saving Private Ryan" when the German tank explodes and the P-51 flies over after having dropped its load on it just gives me chills. .

or when your watching it on a full (good) home theater and it flys over and you duck becaus it sounds that close.

dam i love my HT.... (sufficent volume of course)

 

[Fredex]

The whine of a turbo is OK, I guess, but nothing shivers my spine like the sound of a V-12 Merlin in a P-51 at takeoff power. There ain't no dumb conveyor that could hold that sucker back!

Another WWII aircraft with interesting sound effects was the Corsair (F4U, I think) at speed. The Japanese pilots nicknamed it "Whistling Death." Air rushing through the cooling ducts caused the whistling. Death referred to the 11:1 kill ratio the Japanese endured trying to fight against it.

 

[daTeacha]

I think the Corsair looks at least as good as the Mustang. Both look very effective, both invoke feelings of pride and respect, it's just two different approaches, kind of like a broadsword and a rapier.

 

[masscity]

No turbo on my little tractor, darn!

When I was still working some of the tractor/trailers had a nice whine.

I go to the diesel/pickup sites and some of these guys remove the silensor ring so they can hear the turbo whine better.

I have a 97 Dodge diesel, but it doesn't whine.

 

[scott_vt]

I've read more than one post over the years about how people love hearing it (I admit that I too, find it a pleasing sound)

Why do we love it so much? Isn't it "engine noise"?

I'll find myself (even with hearing protection on) listening for it as low as being at idle, and all the way through the rpm range.

Afternoon Richard,
I think its something similar to likin the "smell of diesel in the mornin " !

 

[RobertN]

Another WWII aircraft with interesting sound effects was the Corsair (F4U, I think) at speed.

My favorite plane! Seems to me I read somewhere about the only F4U/P51 combat ending in an F4U victory? It was some conflict in South America? Those two planes remained active in other countries Air Forces for an amazingly long time. The "G" version of the F4U was pretty amazing, but too late for WWII.

Re: turbo whine, my '01 Cummins does it. I have not noticed it on the Fire Engines I have been around, maybe because of all the other noise while on a run. Had friends that used to have a '99 F250 and '01 F450; you could hear them whine. Not a bunch, but just as an accent note

 

[daTeacha]

My favorite plane! Seems to me I read somewhere about the only F4U/P51 combat ending in an F4U victory?

Pilot error?