Do you eventually get over the claterring of a diesel?

Do you eventually get over the claterring of a diesel?

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Discussion

TazLondon

Original Poster:

322 posts

218 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
quotequote all
My next car will almost certainly be a diesel car. I've only ever had one diesel in three decades of driving. That lasted 6 months for various reasons.

I often hear a premium-sector car start up in the mornings and it sounds very much like my Sainsbury's (other supermarkets are available) delivery van!

It makes me wince.

So, a question for diesel owners: do you eventually get used to the clattering sound of a diesel engine? Or do you still do that 'Oh no!' face every time you start the engine?

I'm pretty sure I'll get used to it and appreciate that some sound less noisy/van-like.

Dog Star

16,079 posts

167 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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You are now going to get fifty sheep asking you if your mileage justifies your diesel engine.

I've got a new E class coupe diesel and I don't really notice it on startup, and it's not noticeable at all under way.

I could hear my previous two SLKs engines - although if pressing on along a nice open road it was a pleasingly gruff sound.

I can live with it. smile

Gary29

4,131 posts

98 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
quotequote all
Close the door before you start the engine and let the extra ton of sound deadening do it's job.

Phon_E87

198 posts

92 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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I like the sound of mine. smile

MrAverage

821 posts

126 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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i enjoy the sound of diesel motors, its probably some sort of perversion.

our daily is a 1.5 diesel and makes a lovely little growl like a jack russel warning 'intruders' away. and the truck is an old school 3.1 turbo diesel that makes a real tractor noise

Escort3500

11,829 posts

144 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Gary29 said:
Close the door before you start the engine and let the extra ton of sound deadening do it's job.
^^^ This. My 320d sounds terrible with the door open when I start the engine but the insulation is so good I'm unaware of it once I've moved off. Apart from the crap performance of course smile

jayemm89

4,005 posts

129 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
quotequote all
As above, from inside most of the "premium" diesels you can't hear. Some of the six pot ones even sound semi-nice under load.

phib

4,464 posts

258 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Audi A6 cant tell its diesel when driving at all, maybe on startup when door open but I usually start it when I am sat in the drivers seat with the door shut !!

Nice V6 growl too

Phib

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Gary29 said:
Close the door before you start the engine and let the extra ton of sound deadening do it's job.
It is this. I can't say I tend to hear mine?!

Bill

52,483 posts

254 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
You are now going to get fifty sheep asking you if your mileage justifies your diesel engine.
Sheep? Bizarre.

After 5 years I don't notice the clatter, but my last car was a V8 and that made me grin every time I drove it. Other people's V8s make me smile. I want a V8...

andy-xr

13,204 posts

203 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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It's completely uninteresting to me what it sounds like at idle/startup and even on the go. Generally I prefer less engine / induction / exhaust noise though, I dont necessarily want to hear what's going on, would rather just feel like I'm moving. I do think electric cars and hybrids on battery at slow speeds should make some noise though, I've been hit twice by a reversing Prius, both times were my fault

DoubleD

22,154 posts

107 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Get a PH fav, get one of those diesels that play V8 sounds through the stereo

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
quotequote all
The clattering slowly but relentlessly erodes your soul until you lose the will to rid yourself of it and resign yourself to a lifetime of frugal but depressing motoring, years of diesel followed by electric before your inevitable death.

The best you can hope to do is insulate yourself from it and the erosion will be slower still (but no less relentless)

Vitorio

4,296 posts

142 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
quotequote all
Gary29 said:
Close the door before you start the engine and let the extra ton of sound deadening do it's job.
This, and not all diesels sound like a bunch of spanners being thrown around a tin tub.

I still dont know exactly how or why, but i had a mapped A3 1.9, and compared to the non-mapped ones, it sounded a lot better, no clatter, and when pushing on, even a decent git of angry growling noise.

And the 1.5 DCI powered renaults ive driven all have had so much isolation there was barely any real engine noise to speak of.

The 1.2 TDI polo bluemotion though... that dreadful noise just made me flog the little depraved excuse for an engine harder

Phon_E87

198 posts

92 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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HustleRussell said:
frugal but depressing motoring
Speak for yourself.
I'm assuming you're joking though.

I must be weird - (according to this thread) - because I like the sound of my car whether I'm inside it or outside it...

DoubleD

22,154 posts

107 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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The fact is that some are better than others. Its not all diesel doom and gloom like many would have you believe.

Phon_E87

198 posts

92 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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DoubleD said:
The fact is that some are better than others. Its not all diesel doom and gloom like many would have you believe.
Absolutely.

SirSquidalot

4,039 posts

164 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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The astra i have sounds like its being fueled on nuts and bolts when its cold laugh cant stand it!

Dog Star

16,079 posts

167 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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Bill said:
Dog Star said:
You are now going to get fifty sheep asking you if your mileage justifies your diesel engine.
Sheep? Bizarre.

After 5 years I don't notice the clatter, but my last car was a V8 and that made me grin every time I drove it. Other people's V8s make me smile. I want a V8...
Similarly the V8 thing. Prior to having my SLK diseasels I had a 500SL. All very nice etc but sorry, I really cannot see the point of spending more than double the amount of money on fuel in exchange for the noise and not a really noticeable increase in real world performance.

Dunno why I'm getting involved in this endless argument...

Monkeylegend

26,226 posts

230 months

Wednesday 24th August 2016
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It gave me pleasure every time my 4 pot diesel fired up, it meant it was working and was earning me money. I love it so much I kept it when I retired cloud9