i have a '92 3.1L v6. has broken down once. got on it and rpms went high and then car died. would try to turnover then would have a harder and harder time, but never start. tried starting fluid (ether spray) and vapor locked the egine. pulled driver side spark plugs and car starts rite up. was low on gas when it broke down. few weeks later had to replace the water pump that went out. week or so went by and now engine makes a whining noise. quiet at low rpms and gets lowder. almost sounds like a supercharger whine or something. of course i have no supercharger. other thing, have a bad oil pan that the plug will not come out of, car is about 13 or thousand miles overdue for an oil change, i do add oil when needed however. what is wrong with my engine? still runs great but what is the whine?

 

Basically, the only things that cause an engine to whine are power steering low on fluid, automatic transmission low on fluid, alternator charging like made and possibly a bad water pump bearing. Check all of these.

 

thanks for the help tjq, i'll have to check all of those this weekend. after all, i'm in college rite now and dont have a lot of time.

 

I had the same whine... and it does sound like a supercharger! I wasn't going to think twice about it till my battery gauge went - and I had to replace my alternator...

 

Just to be sure before you go and do any major work or anything, check and makesure its not your radio. Disconnect it and then run the engine and see if you have the same noise. And yes this does happen.

 

i changed my water pump and i get the same noise..i kindda like it...doesnt bother me