How to figure out what an unfamiliar car engine noise is

“A few seconds after we started the engine up, it started making a kind of chk-chk sound that speeds and slows with the engine’s rpm.”source ↗

“Any idea what could it be?”source ↗

“Kia rio 2014 i hear that sound when i start engine”source ↗

“A couple days ago I noticed my car making a chattering sound with some squeaking and lots of stuff”source ↗

“When I use my steering wheel however, it makes more noise.”source ↗

“I'm very confused at what could be broken.”source ↗

“It recently started making this whining weasel noise as soon I start driving then quiets down after 20 miles not sure what could be it's a 2016 Chevy Cruze lt second Gen 1.4l automatic Auto start.”source ↗

“I recently noticed a high pitched sound during idle.”source ↗

“I’m not a mechanic, so I’m out of my element here.”source ↗

“i just wanted to see if these were noises I should be worried about or not.”source ↗

“I have a 2015 toyota camry SE with about 160k miles on it. A few months ago I started hearing a strange noise coming from the engine, only occasionally and it was very faint. It’s slowly become louder and more noticeable, I can hear it sometimes when i’m driving at very low speeds with my window down but usually once I speed up I can’t hear it anymore. Really hoping it’s not something too bad.”source ↗

“Hi all, now it is subtle but after a long drive or a spirited drive when I’m letting the car cooldown I notice this noise. Just curious if it’s normal as Iv owned a few cars and haven’t experienced this”source ↗

“Hello this noise has been going on for a few months and I want to understand what it is before taking it in to the workshop, any advice would be really appreciated.”source ↗

“Hello, my car started making a whistling noise about 2 weeks ago. Any ideas what it could be?”source ↗

“I’m going to the mechanic but wanted to have an idea on what it could be beforehand.”source ↗

“Its a 2016 Chevy Cruze Lt second Gen 1.4 L turbo I started thinking is was the turbo but now I'm sure what it is please help.”source ↗

“recently ive been hearing this noise while idle and while driving. any advice? what could it be?”source ↗

“The noise is comming from the engine, not the exhaust”source ↗

“Honestly I’ve thought that but I never noticed it before. I’ve done this with my other car before because it sounds like lifter tick but that’s just what it sounds like”source ↗

“I have a 2005 Buick rendezvous cxl 3.4L I don’t use much and it started making this noise when I started it today.”source ↗

“Not sure what the sound is. Very noticeable when outside the vehicle.”source ↗

“There’s a very slight ticking sound coming l, any chance it’s rod knock?”source ↗

“I’m comparing it to YouTube videos of rod knocking but this doesn’t sound the same.”source ↗

“When the car is in idle but when in drive or reverse it’s not there. Sound also goes in park.”source ↗

“When it has a battery in it as well it makes a clank or popping sound and I'm wondering what it could be”source ↗

“Not turning on just before starting”source ↗

“Didn't come out until after a few minutes the engine was started.”source ↗

“I just got a used motor in it, and after driving 1000 km I started to sound like this at high rpms.”source ↗

“I 2016 Chevy Cruze lt second Gen 1.4 I been having problems with this noise it just started I'm not sure what it could be pleave help”source ↗

“What could this scraping and crackling noise be?”source ↗

“I only hear it while in motion and braking”source ↗

“And yes I did look under the truck, nothing is scraping on the ground.”source ↗

“it was fine up until today it started making this noise, I topped it off with some oil but it seems to be coming from serpentine area so I wasn’t sure if it had anything to do with the other fluids”source ↗

“It drives normal but it sounds concerning and would prefer to fix it myself. The air filter is knocking when I pop the hood, was wondering if that could cause the issue.”source ↗

“Went to Firestone for oil change. I asked about the thumping on idle and they said it might be an underlying issue that they’d need to run under diagnostic but I had already done that”source ↗

“I replaced the serpentine belt all of the spark plugs and fixed the overheating but it still makes the slight sound in the beginning help”source ↗

“I literally just changed my oil and filter”source ↗

“Started after driving my usual 7 minutes to work. Hindsight after thinking kinda sounds like a timing chain guide/component of some sort.”source ↗

“Paid $1k for it 4 years ago, thinking this might be it since Im too broke to afford a mechanic to do it and im not comftorable enough messing with timing repairs.”source ↗

“That was changed around 6 months ago with an aftermarket one.”source ↗

“Yes, the oil was changed a month ago and it still has a good level.”source ↗

“Follow up question, how much is it going to cost me 😅”source ↗

“It makes the noise whether or not the AC is on.”source ↗

“We thought so too but even if the air is completely off, it still makes that noise. I don’t know enough about compressors to know if that’s a thing”source ↗

“My engine has been making this noise recently and before I sell it what is it and is it an affordable fix? I got an oil change last and after that this noise just began.”source ↗

“Hi everyone, could anyone help me identify this mid/high pitch noise ?”source ↗

“The noise seems to precisely follow the rpms of the engine with no delay so I believe the turbo is not guilty (may be wrong)”source ↗