Whine

[intrigueing]

Had a pulley noise so I took off the SC belt to check to see if the growly noise was gone, and it was. Turns out the tensioner pulley was toast (grabby and very hard to spin by hand). So I drove off to the parts store to get the part without the SC belt on.

I always thought my loud whine under acceleration was my SC, but without the SC belt on it the car sounds almost the same (so it cant be the SC making the noise). Has anyone else had similar conditions? I took off the other belt and spun everything and everything spins fine. I'm guessing it is the power steering pump. Is this normal?

And without the SC belt on I was getting 28 MPG (normally like 21 (frequent short trips). Anyone drive the without the SC belt on for better mpgs?? Car is obviously slower but was not that bad. Could you run 87 octane without worrying about KR with the SC belt off?

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[10sec]

It's probably the PS pump, pretty common failure for 3800s.

 

[10sec]

Well not "failure" more like a lot of them whine. I'd say 1-3 i see drive by me, has the whine.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

if the fluid level is ok... its usually caused by the use of friction modified atf oil in the PS system instead of actual PS fluid

-atf works in a pinch...but it doesnt have the lubricative properties of actual PS fluid so the pump and rack wear out faster, so if atf is used flush it out asap

 

[intrigueing]

ps

Fluid level is fine no leaks or steering issues, but maybe the guy that had it before me put in atf. Is it regular ps fluid or some GM only type fluid (manual has some GM part # but does not say anything else)???

 

[SleeperLS]

I agree that it is the PS pump. I actually changed mine out 3 times to find out the noise is almost impossible to get rid of. You just find a pump a little less noisy.

You could drive around without the sc belt on, but what fun is not having boost any more

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

regular PS fluid....stay away from any that mention "leak stopper" etc as the seal swellers will fuck shit up on a system where the seals are fine

some manufacturers require mineral oil in the PS system but GM does not

 

[Aircal]

Mines always loud, but thats my intake, even worse when cold. Don't see why takeing your sc belt off is saving you gas, unless your driving it different. I average around 26 in mixed. 33.4 on the highway.