I installed the Alta CAI today and it really increased the supercharger whine.

Quick question though....there's a weird sound that seems to be pretty constant. If I really romp on it, I dont here it that much....just the screaming supercharger. It's under light acceleration that I hear it..even just tapping the gas.

I've read all the threads on the "whistle" associated with the Alta CAI, but I'm not sure this is the same thing. It's like a "whoosh" noise that sounds like air being sucked in rapidly. Is this just that infamous whistle, or do I have something else to worry about?

Thanks everyone

 

yeah, most intakes for any car add a "whoosh" noise, that's your intake doing its job!

The whistle is more like a whistle, if u don't have this then it's great.

 

Yep - whistle is like a teakettle whistling -

whoosh = good.

I have the whistle and it drives me MAD...

 

I consider the whistle a tune and the engine singing to me!

 

"I'm a MINI teapot, short and squat,
I have an intercooler, so my air isn't hot..."

 

On the highway I get the whistle a lot with the Alta, and love it. It really gives the car added character, and I love the way this intake brings the engine to life. Much more entertaining than the stocker.
TJM

 

check out the ALTA thread.. the last page..

Depending on the "pitch" of the whislte... I would think..

Rushing sound at part throttle =
Very normal.. Yuu hear more air sounds becasue their are less plastic parts between the throttle body and your ear to muffle this sound..

High pitched whislte.. =
might have to trim a little bit on the inside of the intake tube.. See this post for where..

All in all the Alta CIA is a great upgrade..
Enjoy..

 

Blimey, this will reflect my ignorance but:
I was considering the Dinan CAI, because I thought it didn't have the whistle -- I take it that's not the case?

 

the squelching sound at part 1/4 throttle is your throttle body opening i believe.

 

Not ignorant... that's part of the reason I got the Dinan CAI also. But I also have an Alta hose, which contributes to the problem possibly more than the intake I think.

Yes, that's my understanding as well. It's at a VERY specific throttle position that is easily repeatable.

My theory is the "baffling" inside the stock intake hose helps muffle some of this. The chambers in the snorkel muffles it some more. But it's always "there" - it has to be, becuase it's air rushing past the edge of the throttle butterfly...

But the combination of an open CAI and the Alta hose leaves it un-muffled...

I'm going to experiment with K&N and Uni filters to see if that makes any difference compared to the Dinan filter I'm using now...

Overall I LOVE the Dinan CAI plus Alta hose - nice SC whine, not as loud as the Alta intake, very good flow, stock look (except for the funky hose). And the whistle isn't as annoying as it was at first. But I'd still like it to go away...

 

Thanks everyone

I dont have any teapot like whistle, so I guess I'm lucky..hope it stays that way.

The whooshing sound to me sounded a bit unrefined at first, but over the past two days its gotten much less noticeable.

I installed it with my friend, and we had one problem. I have the red silicone Alta hose, and I installed it in such a way that I couldnt screw on the clamp where the hose connects to the throttle body. Everything else IS clamped though. The hose seemed to fit VERY snuggly down at the throttle body, so it doesnt seem like it's gonna budge, but I plan on re-doing it asap.

Anyone know if this will create any serious problems?

EDIT: Clamped the hose this morning, problem solved

 

I had a whole thing typed out about not clamping the hose to the TB but then I saw your edit. It was definately a good thing that you got to that as soon as you could (unfiltered air). It didn't seem like it was that snug to me, but every hose isn't identical. If there was a problem you would have noticed that the idle would have been unstable.

 

I have the whistle with the stock tube. in fact my whistle is the loudest I have heard in a mini. but I like it, its just letting you know to drive faster.

I have no sound deadening in the engine bay though.

 

Thanks for the giggles!

 

I get this sound that comes on later in the rpm band. At first when I step on it the whine is all I get, but from about 4500 there is another sound. Been wondering if that is normal.

Edit: I think the sound I am hearing in the higher rpms might just be the normal sucking sound from air rushing through a foam filter, correct?

 

Another thread:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ht=cai+whistle

 

Great... now I'm gonna be singing that all day long!