How many people have a way to measure decibels? I already know my car loses though
mine too lol.
you can get a ROUGH estimate of the dbs if you have an iphone, itouch, or android device. they all have very rough db meter applications. they arent great, but if you calibrate them they arent HORRIBLY inaccurate
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09:30 PM
Carver1 Member
Posts: 2840 From: Edgewood, New Mexico Registered: Nov 2000
My current project is rather loud - no mufflers! But I have had a Duke with a glass pack - loud and crappy sounding. My Formula sounds great - all stock and my V8 Coupe has a crappy 2 into one glass pack and sounds terrible. None of them are quiet!
[This message has been edited by katatak (edited 04-23-2010).]
I have a dB meter (I do live sound production type stuff) but I haven't taken any measurements. I don't think my V6 is going to win any awards for quietness.
I'll have to take a reading at idle and at 3k.
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12:18 AM
PFF
System Bot
faaaaq Member
Posts: 3856 From: Madison WI, USA Registered: Sep 2009
I have a dB meter (I do live sound production type stuff) but I haven't taken any measurements. I don't think my V6 is going to win any awards for quietness.
I'll have to take a reading at idle and at 3k.
not that you dont know already, but make sure you take the measurement from a reasonable distance.... and actually, we should all agree on where to take the reading from lol. 10 feet away? 5 feet?
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12:55 AM
Rickady88GT Member
Posts: 10082 From: Central CA Registered: Dec 2002
faaaq, I was thinking of measurements at 10 inches, 2 ft, and 5 ft. The 10 ft measurement will be optional to whomever else does the test - I don't plan on doing it from that distance but I may do that anyway.
I can check mine with my Iphone or a DB meter/analyzer either one. I thought you were talking about doing it inside the car though,I could care less what people hear outside the car.
I say we do it at idle inside the car. If we do it while driving i'm betting the rattles and creaks will be louder than the engine in mine.
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10:48 AM
americasfuture2k Member
Posts: 7131 From: Edmond, Oklahoma Registered: Jan 2006
I would love to know how to quiet down my bone stock v-6. The cold start 1500 RPM idle sounds like a freight train. Suggestions welcome! Sorry if this qualifies as a thread-jack.
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06:36 PM
americasfuture2k Member
Posts: 7131 From: Edmond, Oklahoma Registered: Jan 2006
I have an 88 gt with a 2.0 turbo, no cat but I have a factory v6 exhaust bolted up and the turbo essentially is a muffler in itself. (The govt even classifies the turbo as a muffler on diesel engines) It's very quiet at idle and has a great scream to it when you open it up. If I had to guess it probably sounds something like bmwguru's vr6 fiero when you open it up. Wish I had a db meter
[This message has been edited by fieroguy123 (edited 04-24-2010).]
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10:18 AM
joshh44 Member
Posts: 2166 From: Nanaimo, B.C, Canada Registered: Aug 2007
I have 2 mufflers on my stock v6 4 speed fiero, I had a little one where the cat was and when I redid my exhaust I also put the stocker one on it.
It has NO sound at idle and I think its all engine internal noise you hear when its revved up, but it sounds pretty good 3300-4600 or so. Once its warmed up it reminds me of the sound of a tug boat lol. It drives me NUTS.
Just got done taking measurements from 1, 2, 5, and 10 feet at idle... Also, I took a measurement of idle inside the car and the ambiant sound at 2800rpm (hwy speed)
Will update this post after lunch
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01:52 PM
30+mpg Member
Posts: 4031 From: Russellville, AR Registered: Feb 2002
I have 2 mufflers on my stock v6 4 speed fiero, I had a little one where the cat was and when I redid my exhaust I also put the stocker one on it.
It has NO sound at idle and I think its all engine internal noise you hear when its revved up, but it sounds pretty good 3300-4600 or so. Once its warmed up it reminds me of the sound of a tug boat lol. It drives me NUTS.
now THATS what ive been looking for. how has it affected performance of the engine, if any at all? acceleration? how is it at the low end and the top end?
Originally posted by faaaaq: not that you dont know already, but make sure you take the measurement from a reasonable distance.... and actually, we should all agree on where to take the reading from lol. 10 feet away? 5 feet?
That makes sense, and as your last two questions imply, it should be at one distance to expedite a decision.
quote
Originally posted by americasfuture2k: yea, idle inside the car would be better. a quiet idle outside the car would be good too.
I suggest picking one to expedite a decision. Not doing so reminds me of an old saying in the research business: "A person with two watches almost never can decide what time it is."
quote
Originally posted by skuzzbomer: Just got done taking measurements from 1, 2, 5, and 10 feet at idle... Also, I took a measurement of idle inside the car and the ambiant sound at 2800rpm (hwy speed)
It sounds like you've created and taken six different measures of car quietness with your dB meter. Taking different measures of car quietness --- or anything else one is researching --- yields a nice, warm, comfy feeling ---- if all those measurements point in the same direction regarding the question you're researching (in this case, who has the quietest non-electric, running Fiero).
However, please remember...
If six different measures point to the same conclusion (which typically gives a person a nice warm, comfy feeling when that happens), one could have much more efficiently addressed the question raised originally by using only one measure instead of six because the remaining five measures were irrelevant; they didn't change the conclusion drawn from just one measure, whatsoever.
If different measures point to a different conclusion (which typically does not give a person a nice warm, comfy feeling when that happens), now you've likely on your hands an after-the-fact argument about what could be concluded from the different numbers you'd gathered --- avoidable by establishing either specific, before-the-fact decision criteria up front based on all six measures (typically very difficult for people to agree upon in advance), or somehat more easily, by just picking one measure in the first place.
I commend your efforts with your dB meter, skuzzbomer, and have no desire to single out your six measures for criticism. In fact, I hope my comments may help you avoid criticism from others who otherwise might ask you, "Can you take a dB reading at x-distance, in addition to those you've already taken?"
Well, at idle (or near it ... auto + warmup = it varies depending on outside temp).
All distances are approximate. Measures taken with a C-weighted Db meter outside near a busy road (sorry, didn't have a lot of time for it).
from 1ft away: 97db
2ft: 91db
5ft: 87db
10 ft: 84db - at this point, the sound levels put out from my exhaust (pretty much) blended into the background noise generated by traffic (I was getting around 82db just standing there before I started the car)
Note: these measurements were taken while sitting still; wind noise is not taken into account in the 'cruise speed' picture (which is why I believe there isn't a real difference with the db meter placed where it is). Also, the interior of my car is stock - no attempts have been made to quiet the ride whatsoever. Though, after this, I'm going to invest in some sound-deadener.
idle: 76-78
engine cruise speed: 79-82
------------------------------------------------------------------------- I chose ~2.8k RPM as a compromise between the automatics (which is what I have), and the manuals (which run a lower highway RPM). I think it provides a decent inbetween. That being said, I think I need to retest the interior levels while actually moving....
On an unrelated note: I discovered that my stereo system can play Zero at 107DBc before it starts to distort. Pretty good considering that its just a Pioneer head-unit/amp running aftermarket 4x10s in the front and -what I would assume- stock (replacement) speakers in the headrests.
Hmmm I may have to download a dB meter app for my phone and see how loud it is inside (putting it on the center console seems like a good spot). This would be a cool way to see if any improvements on sound deadening were worth the $ if you went that route.
------------------ 1995 Pontiac Firebird - 3.4 V6 5-Speed (Engine outta commission awaiting V8/6-Speed swap someday), 93-97 to 98-02 Trans Am body conversion My Firebird's Cardomain Page 1988 Pontiac Fiero - 2.5 I4 5-Speed My Fiero's Cardomain Page
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06:14 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
I arrived at the local smog rep station today. I was on time (this time), but the referee wasn't so we're even and everything went okay with no issues.
Referee armed with weapon in hand! '
The legal distant (20" inches) at 45 degree angle and 1 feet above the ground.
The device used;
quote
Originally posted by madcurl:
In park with engine running;
At 4500 rpm;
unknown exhaust, hehe.
Happy Camper;
------------------
"Friends don't let their friends drive stock."
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06:22 PM
faaaaq Member
Posts: 3856 From: Madison WI, USA Registered: Sep 2009
Originally posted by skuzzbomer: On an unrelated note: I discovered that my stereo system can play Zero at 107DBc before it starts to distort. Pretty good considering that its just a Pioneer head-unit/amp running aftermarket 4x10s in the front and -what I would assume- stock (replacement) speakers in the headrests.
makes me wanna see what mine is now, and in a week or so when i put the amp in (dad is being lazy and wont install his new one...).
do you have to calibrate you db meter? the downloadable apps for Android phones and iPhones require to be calibrated to read accurately (Droid version wants to have a deadline calibration of something at 90dbs, approx a standard conversation....but from what distance? lol)
Back On Holidays dads fiero is by far the quietest fiero i have heard. Than again its an electric fiero. Only thing you here is a faint long humm while driving it.
'
