96Camry loud engine like a Mustung(110k audio clip), need help!!

[popeye08]

After 500 miles continus driving on last Friday, my engine is obviously much louder than before, it just like a Mustung's roar . Here is the audio I recorded:

http://web.umr.edu/~yy6yd/96Camry_loud_engine.WAV

At first it is in idle, then I step on the accelerate padel. Is this knock, metalic or something else? Now the dilemma is I have to drive 500 miles back soon. If the engine is damaged I am in trouble.

I checked the engine oil level when I just arrived, it was at the minmun line(leaking). Is this a cause? but I haven't seen the engine oil light come on. Or because I drove too fast (80mph for a while) for the old car?

Any thought is welcome, thank you very much in advance!

[BlueFusion6851]

You wouldn't see the oil light because it's for oil pressure, not level.
Try getting your oil level up and see if the sound is still there. I really hope you haven't wrecked your engine by letting the oil level get so low.

[popeye08]

Thank you.Yes, I've top the level and it still roar loudly.

I am usally very cautious about the engine oil level, because I know the engine is leaking. When I went out, the level was full and I have severl long distances trips before, it will down to the middle between minumun and maxmum mark, but this time it suddely leak so much. I should have checked it on the way. Prabably because last time I tighted the bolt on the oil pan.

Originally Posted by BlueFusion6851

You wouldn't see the oil light because it's for oil pressure, not level.
Try getting your oil level up and see if the sound is still there. I really hope you haven't wrecked your engine by letting the oil level get so low.

[OEMonkey]

exhaust leak.

[abew330]

^^^^^^^^^yeah.. might be a exhaust leak..but
it does sound like its knocking a little

i think if you spray some tb cleaner carb cleaner whatever around the exhaust you should hear the engine rev a little higher

[Venom_5]

I4 or V6?

and lol - listen to the whine

[popeye08]

It remind me that last time when I put the seafoam into the brake line I can see smoke come out from the bottom of engine, it should be come from the exhaust, right? I hope it is an exhaust leak, I will try to find, it.

Originally Posted by abew330

^^^^^^^^^yeah.. might be a exhaust leak..but
it does sound like its knocking a little

i think if you spray some tb cleaner carb cleaner whatever around the exhaust you should hear the engine rev a little higher

It is a I4, if it is a exhaust leak, lol.

Originally Posted by Venom_5

I4 or V6?

and lol - listen to the whine

Thank you guys.

[Venom_5]

rev the engine while ur under the hood - see if anything looks funny

if u dont kno how to rev it urself, have someone else do it [3000 rpms should be enough] while ur lookin

[shingouki808]

That whinning noise means it's probably a 5sfe. After so many miles, I think most of them do that. Doesn't hurt, but it's annoying sometimes. I have to agree with the others and say it's an exhaust leak.

[Venom_5]

yea, my 5sfe whines like that ... but thats the only noise it makes except the dying a/c compressor

[popeye08]

Well, I took pictures from the bottom and found two problems:

1. I can easily feel that the exhaust gas come out from the location where I put a red dot: it seems the loud noise come from here too. Any thought about the solution?




2. The bolts that support the exhaust pipe are missing: I think I just put two bolt there is fine. Does anybody know the size of the thread?

[renmike]

This might sound like a stupid question, but I'm guessing you recorded the sound while you were sitting inside the car with the window rolled down, right? I'm only asking because while mine does not sound that loud, it sounds a lot like yours. I've been trying to find a sound clip of another I4 to compare.

[bigbird]

that sounds like an exhaust leak to me. ive herd that same sound come out of a 2.2 before and thats what it was.

[Unco]

well, if you can feel exhaust gas coming out of the flex pipe, then it's definitely an exhaust leak. there shouldn't be any exhaust gas escaping out of there. i had the one in my celica replaced a few months ago at an exhaust specialist, they just cut it out and welded a new one on. can't remember how much it cost, but it wasn't too expensive.

[popeye08]

Acutally I open the hood and stand on the front of the car holding the recorder. It is very loud to me, everyone who hear it tells me the car has a problem.

Originally Posted by renmike

This might sound like a stupid question, but I'm guessing you recorded the sound while you were sitting inside the car with the window rolled down, right? I'm only asking because while mine does not sound that loud, it sounds a lot like yours. I've been trying to find a sound clip of another I4 to compare.