[Vwdiesel] Diesel noise levels

[Nate Wall]

I wear a pair of hearing protectors (ear muffs made
for the purpose) when I have the hood open and the
engine on when I'm in there. Wonder what the neighbors
think.

--Nate
--- Bob Soukup <bobs at chemdec.natsci.csulb.edu> wrote:
> The "quieting a vanagon" post prompted me to pull
> out my notes on some
> noise level tests I ran on my '81 RabbitTruck.
> Thought it might be of
> interest to the list members.
>
> I borrowed a recently calibrated sound level meter
> (Simpson model 886) from
> the safety and risk management office at work after
> spending a lot of time
> tracing down and fixing a number of rattles & other
> noises in my truck.
> (It still has one horrific body rattle at 34 mph
> that only occurs when the
> truck is in motion, can't get it occur standing
> still, really hard to find
> those kind).  I then made the following
> measurements:
>
> Measured a static background noise level of 50db to
> 60db.  This is the
> combined general noise in my neighborhood (kids
> playing, dogs barking,
> traffic on nearby streets, etc).
>
> Measured a noise level of 55db inside the cab of the
> truck from the seat
> belt warning buzzer with the windows up and engine
> off.
>
> Started engine & made measurements, windows up, in
> the cab.
>    Cold idle = 72db
>    After one minute warmup, at idle = 69db
>    Put "foot to floor", vehicle stationary (high
> engine rpm) = 75db to 80db
>
> Made outside measurements, engine at normal idle.
>    Drivers side door, near handle = 72db
>    Left front tire area = 80db
>    Front grill area = 87db
>    Right front tire area = 81db
>    Passenger side door, near handle = 72db
>
> Opened hood, took readings at idle and high, but
> unknown rpm.
>   Over injection pump:
>      93db at idle
>      106db at high rpm
>   Over valve cover:
>      97db at idle
>      111db at high rpm
>
> On the road (average readings)....
>
>  0 to  5 mph (gear 1) = 73db
>  5 to 10 mph (gear 2) = 69db
> 10 to 15 mph (gear 3) = 68db
> 15 to 20 mph (gear 3) = 73db
> 25 mph (gear 4) = 68db
> 30 mph (gear 4) = 68db
> 34 mph (with body rattle) = 80db
> 35 mph (gear 4) = 75db
> 40 mph (gear 4) = 73db
> 45 mph (gear 4) = 73db
> 50 mph (gear 5) = 75db
> 55 mph (gear 5) = 77db
> 60 mph (gear 5) = 75db
> 65 mph (gear 5) = 74db
> 70 mph (gear 5) = 82db
>
> Couldn't find a place here in the Los Angeles metro
> area the day I did the
> tests to go any faster than 70 mph.  By the time I
> finished the study
> traffic got so bad the best I could do was 50 mph.
>
> As I recall, OSHA sets limits on occupational noise
> exposure of no more
> than 80 db over an eight hour day.  (Since I'm not
> employed to drive my
> truck, if I loose my hearing I guess I have no
> recourse.)
>
>
> Bob Soukup
> '81 diesel RabbitTruck
>
>
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> vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel


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