Gear whine (6 speed 5)

[TheShark]

Hi all. Manual 2022 5BW here. Since day one (now 11,000 miles) the car has had an annoying "drone" while cruising on the highway. At 80+ it gets really bad and we have suspected it was either the tires or the exhaust. Now we have a new culprit?.... the gear box? Our son is an certified Volvo tech and now an SA. He's in the back seat and I inquire on the noise level.... it sucks. He asked me to shift from 6th to 5th.... guess what, the "drone" is instantly gone. Despite the revs increasing and the exhaust opening up a bit, the interior is quieter. We play around with on and off throttle between 5th and 6th gear and he believes it's the differential. Anyone have a similar experience? I'm not a "it's making a noise go to the dealer guy" but am debating if this is worth a look by a tech.

 

[doublethebass]

Hi all. Manual 2022 5BW here. Since day one (now 11,000 miles) the car has had an annoying "drone" while cruising on the highway. At 80+ it gets really bad and we have suspected it was either the tires or the exhaust. Now we have a new culprit?.... the gear box? Our son is a certified Volvo tech and now an SA. He's in the back seat and I inquire on the noise level.... it sucks. He asked me to shift from 6th to 5th.... guess what, the "drone" is instantly gone. Despite the revs increasing and the exhaust opening up a bit, the interior is quieter. We play around with on and off throttle between 5th and 6th gear and he believes it's the differential. Anyone have a similar experience? I'm not a "it's making a noise go to the dealer guy" but am debating if this is worth a look by a tech.

If you’re at the same driving speed, the differential isn’t changing speed when you shift from 6th to 5th. Sounds like it could be an issue with 6th but I’m not following how it might be the diff

 

[jbawden]

My SS made a speed related drone-ish sound and my BW does the same, around the 80mph mark (plus or minus). It's hard to describes sounds with words, but in my case its more like a high frequency vibration but not one you can feel as much as hear. I think about the only thing in common between the two cars is the TR6060. But I agree with others that if its not happening in 5th but you're still going the same speed, its not the differential.

 

[rubberduck]

I think it still could be the differential since the loading on the gears is different between 5th and 6th. But I would think it would do it in any gear that produces a bogged down low RPM. My experience reference point is with my Jeep Atlas transfer case. The gears will make noise if the engine is bogged down in a gear that has low RPMs.

 

[doublethebass]

I think it still could be the differential since the loading on the gears is different between 5th and 6th. But I would think it would do it in any gear that produces a bogged down low RPM. My experience reference point is with my Jeep Atlas transfer case. The gears will make noise if the engine is bogged down in a gear that has low RPMs.

but at 80mph+ in 5th or 6th it's not low RPMs...

 

[BW56M]

Mine (5BW) had a slight drone when it was brand new, but it's basically gone away at 1100 miles. Could have been the rear diff during break in. Dunno! That's why I'm having it changed in the fall before winter storage.

 

[rubberduck]

but at 80mph+ in 5th or 6th it's not low RPMs...

what#&@?

 

[doublethebass]

what#&@?

relatively low RPMs - it's not bogged at highway speeds

 

[TheShark]

thanks for all the inputs. I forgot a word - vibration. It is present in 6th at 80 and ramps up noticeably as it accelerate further. Son said at 90, 90+ he felt it in the floor and seat back. Shifted to 5th, vibration and "drone" gone. Guess I'll take it in. Partially because we don't enjoy long highway drives and secondly cuz our son wants to buy it from us used at some point.... he's like fix that under warranty! LOL. Appreciate everyone's knowledge share.

 

[shbox]

thanks for all the inputs. I forgot a word - vibration. It is present in 6th at 80 and ramps up noticeably as it accelerate further. Son said at 90, 90+ he felt it in the floor and seat back. Shifted to 5th, vibration and "drone" gone. Guess I'll take it in. Partially because we don't enjoy long highway drives and secondly cuz our son wants to buy it from us used at some point.... he's like fix that under warranty! LOL. Appreciate everyone's knowledge share.

Service dept will have fun duplicating concern.

 

[BW56M]

Deleted

 

[TheShark]

Service dept will have fun duplicating concern.

100% a concern! I moved 155 miles away from a trusted dealer and am pondering having her flat-bedded there as I have no interest in driving 12 hours - 3 there and back to drop off and pick up.

 

[Neveready]

100% a concern! I moved 155 miles away from a trusted dealer and am pondering having her flat-bedded there as I have no interest in driving 12 hours - 3 there and back to drop off and pick up.

What was the outcome of this?

 

[BimmerFan]

So much of this kind of thing is interpretation, terminology, supposition and other large multi-syllabic words, so the odds of the dealership technician understanding, recognizing, replicating and repairing this issue are slim.

My car makes a unique and distinctive sound while in 6th gear. I never once thought it was the gears or diff or tires, it's simply the noise of the engine and intake under a very heavy load. Pushing a 4000 lb. car through the air at 70+ MPH is not easy. Then it makes a totally different and also unique noise when deaccelerating in 6th (I have a thread about that here somewhere) from the exhaust.

It's all part of the character and the special experience that is the Blackwing. At least, that's how I rationalize it. Still, I'd like to hear from the OP and see if he found anything.

 

[TheShark]

Sold her a few months back. Not because of this issue/non issue that I never investigated, but just due to recently sailing our boat to Florida from Maryland and an RV on order. Our plan is to live 6 months on the boat and 6 months in the RV (on order) during hurricane season, so the BW just doesn't fit in. Traded it for a 24 Nautilus Blacklabel and got $78k with for our 2022 6M with 11,000 miles (MSRP was $92k). Chose it as it is one of the few non-truck/trucky vehicles you can tow.