My TL has an occasional engine crackle sound, but only when it's cold and I get up to 45-50 MPH. Has anybody else had this? I've been using Techron Concentrate Plus at the last few oil changes, but the sound still shows up now and then. I'm thinking of trying Redline SI-1 or Gumout All In One or Regane products. What do you think?

 

Welcome to the Zine!! It's hard to diagnose sounds over the internet.... What do you mean by crackle? When I hear that word I think fire. Hopefully your car isn't on fire but if it is then problem solved

 

It's like a tick, but it's not exactly an engine knock tick. I've heard of the Vtech noise or crackle, and that could be it. I'm also wondering if it's the belt tensioner because I've heard of a crackle or marble sound that can develop in that when it's cold. I don't have a super charger.

 

Ive never heard an engine sound associated with this engine as being described as a crackle.

other words that describe this engine noises include; ping/knock, ticking, whining, squeal but NEVER a crackle.

as said, its VERY hard to help you over the internet.

 

You should try to make a video of what your talking about and post it because your choice of vocabulary to describe the issue is making it difficult to understand. I would also stop dumping those "Fix all" fluids in your engine.

 

Is it only between those speeds?
Is there a certain RPM that you hear the sound?
Is it only under load,or will the sound occur at the certain RPM in Park or Neutral?

P.S : Additives suck.

j/k Sometimes different fluids can help. But as far as fuel injector cleaner and "oil treatments"...meh :/ I don't feel so strongly about those as i do about using the correct oil and premium fuel grade. I used the Lucas Oil Stabilizer in my old CL with over 200k just to quiet down the valves cause i didn't want to do a valve adjustment. It's like honey and it gunked up the insides, that's all they're good for.

To each their own.

 

Sorry about my description of the sound. I am just trying to tell you how it sounds to me. I guess you would call a ticking sound. It does not happen at idle. It's only when I get up to around that speed range and it happens under load or coasting. But it usually goes away when the engine gets warmed up. I realize it's hard to analyze this over the internet, but I'm just trying to see if anyone has any ideas or has had it happen to them. I'm not pouring that many fluids in my gas tank, just the Techron at each of the last 2 oil changes. I have my oil changed at my local Acura dealership and I've been using the Costco premium Clean Power gas. Sorry again for the confusion.

 

How long have you owned your TL? I wonder if it's a normal noise, kind of like another guy on here had posted up a video of his motor "ticking" and was worried about it.

 

I've owned it since 2007. It's a 2008 TL that I bought new in the fall of 2007.

 

our engines light off the cat at start up.
my car cackles at start up.
loudly.
because I dont have any cats.


but what you are saying is that this noise developed over time, because it wasnt there when new?

 

If it sound like a few small rocks inside a tin can then it might be the heat shield under the car. I have the same sound and havnt fixed it yet.

 

It does sound like rocks in a tin can. I've asked my local Acura dealer mechanic about the intermediate heat shield issue and he said the 2008's don't have the problem, but I think I'll take a look or have them do it.

 

That's true. But it could happen. Honestly, check them yourself if at all possible. It's a waste of money to have them replace the shields if that is the problem. You can easily get a couple of big clamps and wrap them around yourself. We do it all the time at the shop because the little bolts that holds both shields together rot out.