V6 Camaro owners....HELP with Exhaust Noise - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

trossit · 08-03-2020, 09:37 PM

I am a new owner to a 2012 V6 Camaro and noticed something strange with first start up exhaust noise and curious if this is normal? My Camaro 1LS has 58,000 miles and when you first start it the auto-choke takes the engine to about 900 RPMs but the exhaust tone is loud near the drivers side of the engine until the RPMs drop to their normal 500-600 RPM idle. The strangest part of this is it sounds like a muffler with a hole in it (small puffy motorboat tone) until the engine warms. Once the engine is warm you can still hear the sound but its diminished 80% to a much lower level. Has anyone else who has a Gen 5 V6 Camaro experienced this or do I have a leaky exhaust near the engine? Are the exhaust manifolds noisy when cold?

Sir Nuke · 08-04-2020, 05:25 AM

no they are not ….what you are describing is exactly what you think it is....an exhaust leak. the fact that its gets quitter as the car heats up means its a small one....but with time it will get louder and eventually won't go away as the leak won't be able to seal itself off.

KenKat · 08-04-2020, 08:21 AM

My V6 is definitely louder on a cold start but it’s more of a growling sound and quiets down after about 10-15 seconds.

LilyAnna · 08-04-2020, 05:20 PM

Mine is louder too, it growls like KenKat says and settles after 10-15 secs as well. I have a 2013 LFX.

Also, mine revs up to about 1100 when cold starting after sitting overnignt.

GrandAmGT · 08-05-2020, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenKat

My V6 is definitely louder on a cold start but it’s more of a growling sound and quiets down after about 10-15 seconds.

My V6 Camaro does this too. I assume it's intentional so to get the catalytic converter warmed up sooner since the engine has direct injection, and they make more pollution on start up than port injection engines do.

trossit · 08-05-2020, 06:45 PM

There is definitely some kind of exhaust leak off of the drivers side of the engine, I can smell it. It's getting checked out by the dealer tomorrow. I am hoping it's just a failed ring gasket where the engine mates with the cat converter.

LT1Zob · 08-05-2020, 11:27 PM

It's possible the previous owner had an exhaust system on it, swapped back to stock prior to selling and didn't do a good job or tightening things down.

trossit · 08-06-2020, 12:05 AM

That's possible but seems to be coming from the drivers side manifold flange area just before it dumps into the cats. I am hoping it's just a bad gasket.

ADVMax · 08-06-2020, 01:01 PM

My Caddy CTS Wagon has the same 3.6 as the V6 Camaro.

All I hear when I crank it is myself thinking, "this thing needs a damn LS in it!"

xstuntman · 08-06-2020, 02:35 PM

Ok i tried to remain silent but the devil in me was busting up at the "growl" comments and i own a six! More of a big kitty kinda purr.

My '85 350 with Cherry Bombs is a growl!

KenKat · 08-06-2020, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xstuntman

My '85 350 with Cherry Bombs is a growl!

No, that’s makes a rumble sound!

trossit · 08-15-2020, 12:38 AM

Good news, my Camaro is fixed! Bad news, it was a cracked catalytic converter pipe meaning the cat required replacement $$$. It also received a new post cat O2 sensor. it was a $1000 repair from the dealer but it sure does run smoother from low to mid throttle range and I think I gained some horsepower too which is always a good thing.

TheFlyingBananaSS · 08-15-2020, 06:24 AM

That's just your engine crying for its missing cylinders ��

Just kidding ��

redcoats1976 · 08-15-2020, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenKat

My V6 is definitely louder on a cold start but it’s more of a growling sound and quiets down after about 10-15 seconds.

this...the bad thing is i kind of like it and wish it would always sound that way.

08-03-2020, 09:37 PM	#1
trossit Drives: Chevrolet Camaro LS Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 73	V6 Camaro owners....HELP with Exhaust Noise I am a new owner to a 2012 V6 Camaro and noticed something strange with first start up exhaust noise and curious if this is normal? My Camaro 1LS has 58,000 miles and when you first start it the auto-choke takes the engine to about 900 RPMs but the exhaust tone is loud near the drivers side of the engine until the RPMs drop to their normal 500-600 RPM idle. The strangest part of this is it sounds like a muffler with a hole in it (small puffy motorboat tone) until the engine warms. Once the engine is warm you can still hear the sound but its diminished 80% to a much lower level. Has anyone else who has a Gen 5 V6 Camaro experienced this or do I have a leaky exhaust near the engine? Are the exhaust manifolds noisy when cold? Last edited by trossit; 08-03-2020 at 10:03 PM.

08-04-2020, 05:25 AM	#2
Sir Nuke Master of All Things Drives: '20 Corvette Stingray Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Southeast of Houston, Texas Posts: 22,322 View My Garage	no they are not ….what you are describing is exactly what you think it is....an exhaust leak. the fact that its gets quitter as the car heats up means its a small one....but with time it will get louder and eventually won't go away as the leak won't be able to seal itself off. __________________

08-05-2020, 11:27 PM	#7
LT1Zob Drives: 23 LT1 / 19 Z06 / after 6 5th gens Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: MI Posts: 1,984 View My Garage	It's possible the previous owner had an exhaust system on it, swapped back to stock prior to selling and didn't do a good job or tightening things down. __________________ "Make yourself sheep and the wolves will eat you"

08-06-2020, 02:35 PM	#10
xstuntman Drives: 2012 Victory Red LFX Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: west central Texas Posts: 1,310	Ok i tried to remain silent but the devil in me was busting up at the "growl" comments and i own a six! More of a big kitty kinda purr. My '85 350 with Cherry Bombs is a growl! __________________ 2018 SS wheels, red Heritage grille, actual driving lights, ZL1 strut tower brace, GM Performance billet aluminum fuel door, front grille Bowtie delete, painted red rotors and calipers, 1/4 window American Flags, splash guards, AEM dry panel air filter.

08-15-2020, 06:24 AM	#13
TheFlyingBananaSS Evil Genius of Chevrolet Drives: 2017 Z06, 2019 XTS, 2013 SS Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: New York Posts: 3,260	That's just your engine crying for its missing cylinders �� Just kidding �� __________________ GPI SS2 VVT cam, ECS Novi 1500 supercharger, Corsa Extreme, Detroit Speed and BMR suspension, Circle D triple disc, Melling oil pump, LS2 chain tensioner, ATI 10% UD, DSX E85 kit, High Energy coils, BTR springs, LS2 Lifter trays, Titanium retainers, hardened push rods, FIC 1000 injectors, ZL1 pump, Mighty Mouse catch can, AEM gauges, Tial BOV, Richmond 3.91 gears, Custom gauge bezels, Speed Engineering headers, Stainless Works HF cats, DSX Aux pump, 710rwhp on E85.

08-04-2020, 08:21 AM	#3
KenKat Drives: 2014 2LT RS Summit White Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 622	My V6 is definitely louder on a cold start but it’s more of a growling sound and quiets down after about 10-15 seconds.

08-04-2020, 05:20 PM	#4
LilyAnna Drives: 2013 Camaro LFX 2LT Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Sunny Mexico Posts: 64	Mine is louder too, it growls like KenKat says and settles after 10-15 secs as well. I have a 2013 LFX. Also, mine revs up to about 1100 when cold starting after sitting overnignt.

08-05-2020, 06:45 PM	#6
trossit Drives: Chevrolet Camaro LS Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 73	There is definitely some kind of exhaust leak off of the drivers side of the engine, I can smell it. It's getting checked out by the dealer tomorrow. I am hoping it's just a failed ring gasket where the engine mates with the cat converter.

08-06-2020, 12:05 AM	#8
trossit Drives: Chevrolet Camaro LS Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 73	That's possible but seems to be coming from the drivers side manifold flange area just before it dumps into the cats. I am hoping it's just a bad gasket.

08-06-2020, 01:01 PM	#9
ADVMax Sporting Foole Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Alabama Posts: 500	My Caddy CTS Wagon has the same 3.6 as the V6 Camaro. All I hear when I crank it is myself thinking, "this thing needs a damn LS in it!"

08-15-2020, 12:38 AM	#12
trossit Drives: Chevrolet Camaro LS Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 73	Good news, my Camaro is fixed! Bad news, it was a cracked catalytic converter pipe meaning the cat required replacement $$$. It also received a new post cat O2 sensor. it was a $1000 repair from the dealer but it sure does run smoother from low to mid throttle range and I think I gained some horsepower too which is always a good thing.