MK1 Noise Polution

WildChild · Post by **WildChild** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:46 am

All major work on my MK1 is finished, the only things i need to do are little things like recover the doors with anti-mould e.t.c and sort my driver side window out.

However, the one thing thats slightly annoying is that when i start the car, running no choke.. the engine is running all by itself (this is the quietest is gets) but it's still very loud if your standing anywhere near the car..

The exhaust isn't rattling, its just plain loud..

I'd really like to try to silence it, or perhaps not even that, just to have a more pleasant and consistant tone to it..

Any suggestions? Silencer?

WildChild · Post by **WildChild** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:07 pm

Any suggestions?

Chrome Trim or a cheap muffler?

GroovyCarrot · Post by **GroovyCarrot** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:56 pm

Check the condition of the exhaust and replace bits as necessary.. but apart from that I don't think you're going to get much quieter than a standard pipe. As long as it isn't blowing/rattling I wouldn't really worry about it.
You say it doesn't have a very consistent tone.. what do you mean by that? Is it idling roughly?

omicron · Post by **omicron** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:01 am

Doesn't look like you've got any soundproofing under the bonnet.

Is the exhaust fitted right and not blowing?

NornIron · Post by **NornIron** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:53 pm

omicron wrote:Doesn't look like you've got any soundproofing under the bonnet.

Mk1's never had any soundproofing fitted under the bonnet, although I often wondered whether the insulation pad off the Mk2 diesel would fit

Only other suggestion is to give the exhaust a once over, checking the joints and jubilee clips.

WildChild · Post by **WildChild** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:20 pm

I've checked the exhaust and it's fine, there are no holes or cracks of any sort as i replaced the exhaust a few months back just before MOT and it passed MOT without any notice..

Yes the exhaust is rough when idling..

I really think it's most likely just because it's an old car and its probably perfectly normal, but i just want to make it slightly quieter..

omicron · Post by **omicron** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:28 pm

Stick your hand over the exhaust when it's running and listen for a little bit of blow coming out somewhere, might just need a little bit more gum on.

Sound proofing the bonnet might help matters. Go up a scrapper and grab some sound proofing out of something (Sierra's have a nice big flat lump under the bonnet IIRC) and contact adhesive it on.

WildChild · Post by **WildChild** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 4:15 pm

OK sound proofing sounds like a good idea, what do you mean by "guming"

omicron · Post by **omicron** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 4:59 pm

Exhaust gum. You use it when fitting exhausts to make the seal.

SteB · Post by **SteB** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 10:57 pm

Possibly exhaust manifold not being tight - would make a s**t load of noise if this was the case

Also, the factory silencer might be shafted - if they start loosing baffles, it gets loud very quickly

WildChild · Post by **WildChild** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 6:02 pm

I'm not sure if the MK1 has baffles? i thought they were only on from the late MK2's/early MK3's onwards..

Also, i havnt had a chance but i believe it's due to the fuel i've been using.. i've been putting in Premium 5 Star (it was only originally designed for 2 Star)..

So i've been filling it with very rich fuel which apparently would make it seem as if it's got a *tickly cough*

Anyway i'm going run the car empty and start putting only unleaded in it (a full tank to start with, and go for a long drive)..

omicron · Post by **omicron** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 7:34 pm

I'm not sure how well an 895 will actually run on unleaded. Might be needing some valvemaster in there.

Don't use tesco's fuel either, my old Mk2 1043cc hated the stuff.

WildChild · Post by **WildChild** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:44 am

Well i've been advised by NornIron (who has a working VW Polo L (exactly the same as mine) that i should use unleaded..

Don't worry i've never used Tesco's anyway..

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:50 am

They were using unleaded on the continent long before we were

makes me wonder how foreign cars coped coming over here and having a choice of leaded or leaded...

Old cars are just noisy, I shouldn't worry too much about it - if you even put the '91 and the '98 i've had next to each other, there's a hell of a difference even though the '91 is A-OK... noise reduction has come on a lot of late

WildChild · Post by **WildChild** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 4:06 pm

I'm just being picky i suspect, i was low on fuel anyway so i took it for a drive with a spare can of unleaded in the boot, and when it started to reach almost completely empty i stuck it in and went put a full tank of unleaded in, then went for a big drive all of today and its almost empty again, but it sounds alot quieter on idle..