Sound levels
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 219
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From: Calgary, AB
Sound levels
Decided to try and shed some weight by removing the sound deadening materials in the car. Figured I would see approximately what the sound levels are before and after, and thought some of you may be interested in my results.
I purchased a reasonably priced digital sound level meter off eBay, that has supposedly been calibrated recently. The meter is accurate +/- 1db, and seems to get pretty consistent results - so I figure it should be sufficient to gauge the relative difference.
Car has all the standard deadening materials inside, and is missing about half of the material from inside the engine compartment. 3.8l, primary bypass, Wevo mounts, currently the back seats are out.
All the tests were taken from the drivers seat, with the meter held toward the center of the car. Not going for absolute accuracy here, but I tried to be consistent in placement and engine speed. Results are rounded to the nearest db.
engine off: below 30dba
at idle, warmed up: 57 dba
1500 rpm: 61 dba
2000 rpm: 62 dba
3000 rpm: 69 dba
4000 rpm: 72 dba
Tried some rolling tests (with help) the other day as well.. don't have them all here, but absolute peak was 87dba @ redline on reasonably rough pavement.
Weather permitting, I will be removing the sound materials over the next few days, and will update the thread accordingly.
I purchased a reasonably priced digital sound level meter off eBay, that has supposedly been calibrated recently. The meter is accurate +/- 1db, and seems to get pretty consistent results - so I figure it should be sufficient to gauge the relative difference.
Car has all the standard deadening materials inside, and is missing about half of the material from inside the engine compartment. 3.8l, primary bypass, Wevo mounts, currently the back seats are out.
All the tests were taken from the drivers seat, with the meter held toward the center of the car. Not going for absolute accuracy here, but I tried to be consistent in placement and engine speed. Results are rounded to the nearest db.
engine off: below 30dba
at idle, warmed up: 57 dba
1500 rpm: 61 dba
2000 rpm: 62 dba
3000 rpm: 69 dba
4000 rpm: 72 dba
Tried some rolling tests (with help) the other day as well.. don't have them all here, but absolute peak was 87dba @ redline on reasonably rough pavement.
Weather permitting, I will be removing the sound materials over the next few days, and will update the thread accordingly.
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From: Auburn, WA
I doubt it was 105 EPNdB. You would be losing hearing every time you drove it for longer periods. Mic needs to be calibrated for any measurement to mean anything anyway.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Calgary, AB
105dba is incredibly loud, I would be amazed if it was anywhere close to that..
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 219
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From: Calgary, AB
Started tearing everything out today.. man that glue is TERRIBLE stuff. Just inside grabbing more memory for the camera actually, but figured I would post.
Came across a 1.2AH battery and a mysterious box under the padding on the passenger side..
No idea what this is..
Came across a 1.2AH battery and a mysterious box under the padding on the passenger side..
No idea what this is..
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 219
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From: Calgary, AB
Started on the removal a couple days back, did some testing with the padding partially removed and now with it almost all removed.
Partial removal included driver/passenger footwell, as well as anything upward from the padded part of the rear seats.
Idle: 58dba
1500: 62dba
2000: 64dba
3000: 68dba
4000: 75dba
I continued removing material, and have essentially everything out now. There is still the odd small chunk of foam and a TON of glue, but the bulk of the material is out.
idle: 63dba
1500: 65dba
2000: 67dba
3000: 72dba
4000: 77dba
So overall it looks like I have gained 5-6 dba, and made a royal mess.. I actually prefer the sound of the car this way, and don't find it too loud for street driving, even with the wevos.
Overall, seems like a good way to drop a lot of weight from the car, as long as you don't mind a good bit of work.
Partial removal included driver/passenger footwell, as well as anything upward from the padded part of the rear seats.
Idle: 58dba
1500: 62dba
2000: 64dba
3000: 68dba
4000: 75dba
I continued removing material, and have essentially everything out now. There is still the odd small chunk of foam and a TON of glue, but the bulk of the material is out.
idle: 63dba
1500: 65dba
2000: 67dba
3000: 72dba
4000: 77dba
So overall it looks like I have gained 5-6 dba, and made a royal mess.. I actually prefer the sound of the car this way, and don't find it too loud for street driving, even with the wevos.
Overall, seems like a good way to drop a lot of weight from the car, as long as you don't mind a good bit of work.
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Joined: Feb 2008
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Is it the foam over the engine ?
The one that tends to fall down on every other 964 ?
Mine is completly coming off and was thinking about removing it all, I was told I would need to remove the engine to fix it ???!!!!
I'd rather take it off and let it rest in peace.
The one that tends to fall down on every other 964 ?
Mine is completly coming off and was thinking about removing it all, I was told I would need to remove the engine to fix it ???!!!!
I'd rather take it off and let it rest in peace.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 219
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From: Calgary, AB
I weighed the materials as I took them out, using my ultra-accurate methodology: using a bathroom scale.
Overall I took out approximately 50lbs of foam/vinyl, not including carpet or the copious quantities of glue left behind. I need to finish removing the glue and then go weigh the car...
I was removing the deadening from the interior of the car. My engine sound pad is still in place, though approximately half had fallen down and been removed previously.
Overall I took out approximately 50lbs of foam/vinyl, not including carpet or the copious quantities of glue left behind. I need to finish removing the glue and then go weigh the car...
I was removing the deadening from the interior of the car. My engine sound pad is still in place, though approximately half had fallen down and been removed previously.
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From: Washington, DC
A bathroom scale can be fairly accurate if you weigh yourself holding the removed items and then subtract your body weight. This is also helpful for accurately weighing cats and small dogs.
I am not entirely sure most bathroom scale are accurate in the 0-10 lbs range.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 219
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From: Calgary, AB
A bathroom scale can be fairly accurate if you weigh yourself holding the removed items and then subtract your body weight. This is also helpful for accurately weighing cats and small dogs.
I am not entirely sure most bathroom scale are accurate in the 0-10 lbs range.
I am not entirely sure most bathroom scale are accurate in the 0-10 lbs range.
