How quiet is your engine?
Lexus Champion
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 88
From: SoFlo
I'm sure someone with a more scientific answer will chime in but from what I do know is that fuel is injected directly (duh lol) into the combustion chamber at over 2000 psi as opposed to port injection, which pushes ~100 psi. The tick is the actual fuel being squirted I think.
Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 252
Likes: 4
From: VA
This was in reference to a Cadillac, specifically, but this is Car and Driver's explanation:
The ticking noise is probably the main control solenoid on the high-pressure fuel pump. Like other direct-injection engines, the 3.6-liter in the CTS uses a low-pressure pump to send fuel from the gas tank to the engine and a second, high-pressure pump to send fuel to the injectors. In GM’s DI V-6, this pump is mechanically driven by the camshaft. The reason for the noise level is the extremely high pressures at which the direct-injection fuel system runs. While a port-injection system runs at about 40 psi, GM’s direct-injection system can run as high as 1740 psi. Turning a high-pressure flow like that on and off makes noise in a couple of ways. First, there’s a “water hammer” effect, such as when you abruptly turn off a sink faucet and then hear noises reverberate through the pipes in your house, only with a lot more force over a shorter period of time. Second, the solenoids that control the fuel flow, both at the high-pressure pump and in the injectors, need to be much stronger in a DI engine and are consequently noisier.
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Brett Foote
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only person to notice the volume of this cars engine. I've spent the last 10 years driving Evo's and STi's, and you kind of expect those motors to be loud, but not an engine in a Lexus. Do all direct injected engines sound similar to this motor, or is this just a Lexus thing?
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 434
Likes: 5
From: Moscow
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 246
Likes: 2
From: PA
I don't think the engine is unusually loud, nor does the ticking sound bother me. Haven't really noticed it.
The engine sounds pretty good and higher RPMs, WOT. It's also pretty quiet when cruising on the highway. But during standard acceleration, I don't find the engine noise very pleasing. It's just kinda "standard." Nothing special. I miss the sound of the I6 in my 335. It sounded great and distinctive at all speeds.
The engine sounds pretty good and higher RPMs, WOT. It's also pretty quiet when cruising on the highway. But during standard acceleration, I don't find the engine noise very pleasing. It's just kinda "standard." Nothing special. I miss the sound of the I6 in my 335. It sounded great and distinctive at all speeds.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I do notice the ticking a lot at complete stop/when I first start the car. Yes, it is annoying. Never experienced that on my previous cars (Acura's). I didn't notice this on the test drove, only once the car was delivered to me I thought something was wrong with the car initially believe it or not.
As far as noise, slow acceleration and cruising speeds it is quiet (which I don't mind). But once you open it up and accelerate quickly it does have a nice growl (IS350), which I could hear more often. But in the end I bought this car for comfort, quality, and some sportiness
As far as noise, slow acceleration and cruising speeds it is quiet (which I don't mind). But once you open it up and accelerate quickly it does have a nice growl (IS350), which I could hear more often. But in the end I bought this car for comfort, quality, and some sportiness