Thread: Flutter sound around 4k and up, maybe VVL kicking in and out?

http://www.organisum.com/forums/sr20/ve/ve_flutter.mp3

At about 8.5 seconds in you can just make out the flutter. The better the speakers the more you can hear.

When the VE gets to about 4,500 RPM, it sounds like the VVL is kicking in and out. Even without the cam solenoids connected to the window switch. It almost seems to be at a similar resonance to the motor vibration.

When I popped the valve cover recently, I noticed the VVL lobes were still varnished in spots. This makes me think the locks are popping in and out very quickly. With each stroke of the oil pump perhaps.

I'm beginning to think that the inside solenoid may be letting oil through as oil pressure increases. The flutter seems to be less obvious after replacing the leaking outside solenoid. And, the inside solenoid seems to be weeping a little oil into the electrical connector.

Thoughts?

My other wonder was the dizzy. It's a B15 sr20 converted to fit the VE. So the bottom is not anchored to the head and has a little give. After the years the oil seal is weeping just a hint. Ignition seem plenty powerful and silky smooth. Especially with the new cap, rotor, wires and n-11 plugs.

Check your engine bay for one of these:

We have too many raptors around.

Might be running a bit Rich on the AFR. You can try advancing the ignition a bit and see if it goes away, and then retune ignition map. You can also check the VVL solenoids, they get clogged and the car starts having issues, take it out and use some carb cleaner on it. Hope that helps!

Running right about 15 base on a JWT ECU. I'll play with that a bit.

Advanced to 17, dang. Really comes alive, almost zero wait to get on the cam.

Seems like the flutter is almost gone. Still seems like the flutter becomes more apparent as oil pressure climbs.

did you clean the solenoids?

could also be going lean.

if that makes any sense. the sound your describing as a raspy vvl activation, ive heard before and usually happens when the motor goes lean under wot and vvl activates.

stratton.

Not yet, though one is new. When I dismantled the other it replaced, it looked as if the leaking was a design intent, to show wear.

I wonder. I really need to get proper monitoring setup.

If I slowly build up speed, load and oil pressure I can sometimes avoid the flutter. I started off in second today after advancing the timing and pulled all the way to 7500 with no flutter. Pulled like a SOB.

In the rain BTW, this LSD rocks.