The FB20 engine is chain driven, hence the whine. You may want to check out the Forester with the same engine perhaps?

My experience is that the whine in my CVT is during hard acceleration but when cruising up to 150kph, it's very silent.

 

Thanks arnoldc - I have heard that it may be the chain-driven engine. However, most of the posts refer to the noise being heard whenever they are accelerating ie- when the accelerator is pressed.

I can only here mine at around 100kmh and does not change if I take the foot off the accelerator - it is constant and only decreases in pitch as the car slows down.

 

Varsuda, Mine has the exact same sound I thought it was the roof racks or something at first. Have had my car for 5 weeks but your right the strange whine sound is weird. Thought I would have it checked on the first service.

 

Yeah Kez the roof racks cause some wind noise but definitely not the whine.

Be good to know what Subaru tells you...

 

have the same problem with mine at 100 k

 

@varsuda, had an opportunity to test again at exactly 100kph yesterday, for a stretch of about 15km x 2 (back and forth on the expressway), and I'm sorry (for your XV) to say my XV is very quiet in that condition. I also engaged Cruise Control for about 6-7km just to test if it has any effect, but car is still silent.

 

We have done a1000km in the last two days and no whine. Took the Thule roof bars off to stop the whistling after 300km. Some very smooth bitumen surfaces can change the tyre noise to make higher pitched sounds! Do you think it could be from the tread pattern of the tyres?

 

Hey redskiesoverparadise, what kph did you wind it out to.? Clock says 240 but brochure states top speed at 187 kph.

 

Awesome I'll have some tails soon
Going to QLD in 4 weeks time towing a camper trailer ( got to have some tail there)
Then off to the Snow for 2 days ( I'll share all my awesome tails )
Can't wait to test out this awesome beast

 

Thanks arnoldc it's good to hear yours is fine...goes to show that some do it some don't. @debath - pretty sure it's not the tyres - the sound has no real direction it just kinda fills the cabin. I do hear some road noise but nothing unexpected when on a highway. The rattle from the dash is getting worse though, so hope that gets fixed properly at the 12k service.

redskiesoverparadise - I had heard that the CVT had the issue as well, but sounds like yours is not one of them!

Be good to hear others issues as well, I'm sure sheep and I aren't the only ones. Kinda getting sick of Subaru telling me it is normal is some vehicles; just wish it wasn't mine...

 

I too get the same whine at 100kph, sounds more like mechanical than aerodynamic. Thought it was coming through the sound system at first but switched that off and still there.

 

Thanks redskiesoverparadise for the advice and will look into some of it. However, have to agree with ppk88 in that it sounds more mechanical. The noise disappears after about 105km/hr which might suggest it is not aerodynamic. However, keen to give anything a go and will let you know...

I have had a passenger in the vehicle and they have not been able to place the noise directly, though it is worth trying again.

ppk88 - be good to know what you find out about your whine.

 

Can somebody record the sound and post a link?

 

Does this whine only affect the 6 speed manual? I have the same whine at 100km/h, to me it sounds like the gearbox. It's very subtle though. I might check the oil level to see if it's right.

 

No whine at all at 100km, or at any other speed for me. Very quiet, I have the CVT

 

No whine on my unit at 100km or at 140 even...although OT, i did note a clicking noise behind the HU a few weeks back. It went away after a few steady drives of 100+ km/hr. I'll be going to the local dealer tomorrow. I'll see if there have been any reports about this....

 

Very strange ? No whine at all in my CVT either...

 

Is it only the Manual transmissions that whine like this?
Most of those who say they don't hear anything I know have CVTs?

 

Mine is CVT. No whine also.

 

I only noise I hear is the tires, depending on road conditions. Also with CVT

 

I only hear BOXER RUMBLE through my sports muffler lol

 

I took my 2 week old car into the dealer for 3 things to be checked: wheel alignment which was slightly out and causing the steering wheel to be slightly turned to the left, dash rattles and "the 100kph whine".

They fixed the wheel alignment and rattles and reported that their initial impression was that the noise was the timing chain, but when they checked the Subaru website there is a dealer advisory note saying that the 100kph whine is coming from the transmission and is currently under investigation by Subaru. The dealer said the wording implies that all the manual transmission XVs have it but not everyone can hear it.

I suggest that if you have the whine you register the fact with your dealer asap so that if they come up with a fix it is known that you and your car are among those affected.

 

There it is, post no.23.


Sent from AutoGuide.com App

 

Mmmm, thanks for that info Gail. That was my theory, whine is specific to the manual transmission. Very astute of your dealer, do you mind telling us who the dealer is? Other people in your area might want to take their XV there!
Keep us posted on any more information you get. I guess the Impreza has it too, being pretty much the same?

 

I have the CVT. I only hear a 'growl' from the engine. I love that sound.

 

Thanks Gail for the info. I have the manual and you can add me to this growing list who have noticed the 100kpm whine. I can hear a hint of it at lower speeds too but it is definitely most prominent at this speed. This is my first Subaru so at first I thought it was just the way the boxer engine sounds but apparently this is not normal like the "growl" people talk about.