[amsat-bb] Re: Automobile Noise

Gordon JC Pearce gordonjcp at gjcp.net
Thu Apr 16 04:15:22 PDT 2009


Edward Cole wrote:

> I had a 1978 International Scout Traveler (think 
> diesel powered 2-door explorer).  It used a 
> 6-cylinder Nisan diesel engine with standard 
> mechanical rack injector.  I had such a low RF 
> noise level that I heard all the noisy vehicles 
> passing by on the road. 

A couple of years ago, I had an '88 Citroën CX 25DTR turbodiesel, which 
was so (electrically) quiet I could pick out individual interference 
sources in cars parked beside me.  Mechanically it sounded like a 
Caterpillar D9, though - not the smoothest diesel I've ever had but then 
300lb/ft at 1800rpm with 16psi boost will do that.

I had it running electricall silent once, when the main power fuse blew 
disconnecting everything except the starter motor feed - no electrics at 
all.  All I did was remove the brass slug from the stop solenoid valve, 
tickle the starter lead (there's a handy plug and socket beside the 
battery for doing this) and ran about 40 miles with no electrics.  Lack 
of brake lights was a bit scary, but the roads were quiet ;-)

Gordon


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