It's going to be hard to explain an issue when it's a noise that's the only culprit, but I'll give it a go.

 

Basically, my car (skoda fabia mk1 1.4 16v elegance) started to growl at me a couple of weeks ago and has consistently done so since.

 

When I say growl, I mean it is a low, deep noise. It is not rattling anything like that, it sounds similar to the car revving normally except much lower in pitch.

 

The main thing that confuses me is that it is not related to revs nor acceleration. The sound doesn't start until around 30mph, and it gets louder/increases slightly in pitch around 45 mph.

 

When I say it doesn't get affected by revvs or acceleration I mean that I can put the car into neutral and it will continue to make the noise. If I'm going down a hill in neutral then the noise will get louder/increase in pitch as the speed increases.

 

After around 45mph the sound seems to die down a bit - either that ore the normal engine noise drowns it is. And yes, the normal engine noise remains.

 

I can also sort of feel the growling, mostly on the clutch pedal. I can feel the vibrations matching the noise of the growl on my left foot, and also a little on the steering when it gets loudish.

 

I'll also say that it sounds louder from within the car. That is, if you open the windows the sound gets drowned out by wind/engine noise. It's when the windows are closed that you hear the sound loudest from the interior.

 

I have no idea what this sound is coming from or whether it means there is a problem. The car seems to run fine (I've been having issues with egr 'insufficient flow' and the car is starting to consume a lot of oil - but I've been trying to help those by cleaning egr/throttle control).

 

Any ideas on what the cause is? I believe there is a small hole in the exhaust that came up on the last MOT as an advisory. Don't know if that relates to it. Appreciate your help, guys.

My Fabia Vrs has developed a similar noise ( about 3 months now) in which I had the garage check-out and found nothing they could explain, but heard the sound also, with a road test drive.

It sounds as though I have fitted a big bore exhaust, and increasing the speed beyond 45mph the sound also increases with this 'deep roaring continuous exhaust note'.

I have put it down the exhaust system innards are collapsing ie: (baffles) but exhaust emissions remains well within perimeters..

It is the original exhaust system now 8 years+ old, from the car being new with 74,000 miles on the clock.

The garage and myself will have to wait till somethings goes bang, then we'll know what it was. LOL

 

Most things concerning how/when you hear the noise, and speed are very much on par to my car.

I have no clutch sensation at all, and feels fine with no vibration/s.

I could be a million miles off, but, wheel bearing?   Only say because you say issue starts at 30 Mph and have been in cars where you get a low constant noise that is brought about by speed on a wheel bearing that needs changing.

Saw toothed tyres?

I could be a million miles off, but, wheel bearing? Only say because you say issue starts at 30 Mph and have been in cars where you get a low constant noise that is brought about by speed on a wheel bearing that needs changing.

i was going to say wheel bearing as it gets louder when speed increases

Due to the age could some of the internal baffles have rotted through in the exhaust giving a deeper tone. It might still look ok from the outside but might be blowing a bit.

Vehicle movement and/or  engine revolutions related.

Can be induced whilst stationary and increasing engine revs.

 

Tyres good, even wear.