Hey everyone,

I'm a software engineer that happened to fall in love with cars as a hobby. Recently, I've been toying with an unconventional idea and I'd love to get some feedback from the community.

I've been wondering if it's possible to install a turbocharger in a way that solely enhances the sound of the engine, without any performance gains. Essentially, I'm curious about whether it's feasible to harness the distinct noise of a turbocharger for auditory pleasure, rather than for its intended purpose of boosting engine power.

Here's the concept I've been pondering:

• Installing the turbo right after the downstream O2 sensor, connecting only the exhaust side while leaving the intake side disconnected.
• Potentially include oil and coolant lines, although these may not be essential given the turbo's intended use solely for generating noise.
• Also, is it possible to connect the turbo intake side to some sort of closed loop that opens up if a certain pressure threshold is reached, possibly integrating a blow-off valve for added effect.

I'm particularly interested in how the engine noise would be affected by this setup. Would it produce the distinct turbo whine or whistle I'm envisioning?

I realize this might sound unconventional or even impractical, but I'm genuinely curious about the potential outcome. Any insights or advice from those more experienced in automotive engineering would be greatly appreciated!

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

 

You want to spend thousands of dollars for no real gains and in increase in under hood heat, and maintenance? Something about that doesn't make much sense.

You cannot have a turbo freewheeling with no load, it will overspeed and destroy itself.

You cannot run a turbo without some sort of lubrication, and oilless turbos are a significant investment.

Blow off valve doesn't make noise if there is no boost.

Get yourself one of these "turbo simulators". You can be "just as cool", with a lot less hassle.
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Better yet: install the turbo properly, make boost and improve the performance of the car.

 

Record the sound you want, set up a stereo/speaker system wherever you want then play the sound over the speakers.

I'm not sure this forum is the type of forum for your project since this forum is for building actual turbo vehicles.


ks

 

the turbo won't last without oil, and it also won't last if it has nothing to pressure the air into you will overspin the turbo and ruin it.

sell your car and buy a factory turbo'd car.

 

Turbos make that noise by virtue of what they're doing to the engine. They don't JUST make sound. So if its not installed correctly and working as designed its not going to make any noise... That'd also be a pretty expensive way to make some noise that your car's performance won't back up.

 

remember the old school interfoolers?

 

The fake ones people mounted? Yup. I actually SAW one at a car meet a bit ago on a 90's Civic. There's also those bumper 'turbo' whistles you can buy that sorta vaguely sound like a turbo maybe.

I'm not personally a fan of trying to fake a performance sound, but people do it. I don't think I've ever heard one that REALLY sounds like what its trying to be though. I know of people that have used straight cut nylon timing gears on V8's too because they sound kinda sorta like supercharger whine.

 

Ppl still use straight cut timing stuff to fake the sc whine

 

The old electric superchargers were funny too

 

Lol

#ad

 

If I ever have to own a Tesla I’m going to put the Jetsons car sound lol

 

I'm gonna add a blender on the roof with lights in it then simulate the DeLorean sound..

ks

 

Thank you all guys for taking the time to respond to such stupid thread lol
I will check out those turbo simulators things although I remember checking them out one time and they did not in any way sound like a turbo
but as you also said, the turbo will make the intended noise only if installed correcrly which something I am not willing to put the effort to do at the moment, maybe in the future I will
thanks again

 

People spend thousands and thousands of dollars to achieve a specific sound form their car with exhaust systems. Although a bit silly and childish… I don’t think there is anything *stupid* about this topic.

if you’d go through the trouble of mounting a turbo for the sound… just add a charge pipe and have boost as well. You don’t need to run much or have a complicated system.

My first turbo setup was pieced together with Ebay junk on a SOHC civic. The only fuel management I used was some aquarium check valves going to the MAP sensor so it didn’t see boost. And an adjustable FMU that raised the fuel pressure 6-7psi every pound of boost. That setup ran for years… no intercooler… no drama at 5psi on pump 93. It worked surprisingly well and made all the noises... lol

They even make T51R modded compressor housings *cheapish* these days through VS racing. For an even more pronounced turbo “whistle”.

I thought of this quite a bit… to me it seems modifying the compressor housing isn’t the way to go for increasing the pitch/whistle of a turbo. I’d be designing some sort of compressor nut that would howl… that would make production super cheap… and even if its just a noise… I know A LOT of turbo car owners that would pay decent money to make their turbo scream like a jet engine.

Compressor wheel itself could also be designed in a way that would make more “whine” and likely not hurt performance much. I had a box full of Grand National turbos at one point (several diff models). I mix and matched a few compressor wheels and housings and had a turbo that made a crazy siren like howl and didn’t seem to have any issues making boost or hurt performance.

Some designs have super loud exh wheel notes as well… the SXE S475 1.10 T4 turbine wheel was extremely loud on my RX-7. Great sounding unit… I swapped to a larger S476 and later and S480. Both with larger turbine wheels. They had little to no whine.

 

I agree it will need good oil flow to live. If sized right I am not sure I agree with the over speed. The outlet of the compressor could be restricted, and ran back to an air filter box. With enough restriction a blow off valve might "work" make whoosh sounds.

I agree sounds a car make are important. It's just hard to get a group of people to agree what that sound should be. I agree with everyone that says it would be easier to boost the car that fake boost the car, and more fun!!

 

Or put an undersized BOV for the sound

 

I rana fmu for years a 5.0 mustang and it hauled ass and ran great

 

I find it funny how everybody has their own ideas on how a vehicle to sound. Some like em loud and obnoxious...been there done that. Some like em quiet...been there done that. Some like to hear just a bit of noise. Personally myself I like many different exhaust notes. On my hot rod with a 671 blown 427...it's loud as it should be. The lake style headers look good and sound good...even with the only 6 inch long muffler inside of them. On top of that you hear the distinct sound of the blower belt...awesome sounds together. Then there's my wife's big block square body with Flowmaster mufflers and alot of 2.5 inch pipe. Sounds great and she loves it! Gets a bit of a drone at certain speeds the I don't care for, so you avoid that speed. Then there's my turbo v6 s10. Quieter than my daily driven 4 cylinder s10. Inside the cab even at wide open it sounds stock. When you let out the blow off opens for a brief woosh! I can't tell you what my favorite is...they all make us happy in different ways. I will say though my s10 isn't an all out deal. For what it is, it is one of the most impressive things I've pieced together. Personally myself, I wouldn't want the turbo sound without the turbo performance. That's where the enjoyment comes from...the whole package! It's also a very good sleeper...makes for fun surprises to the unexpecting guy riding your bumper from time to time! There's my two cents! Just enjoy what makes you happy!
Joel