2010 6.0 Driveline Whine

Ridgerunner30 · March 20, 2011

I have a 2010 CC 2500HD 4X4 6.0 with a 3.73. It has the factory Bridgestone mud and snow tires. No modifications to the truck. Since new it has a minor high pitched driveline whine at about 40 mph while driving at a constant 40 mph or slowing down through the area of 40 mph. No other unusual driveline noises. The dealer tells me this is normal. How many of you have a similiar "normal" whine? I have 11,000 miles on the truck and there has been no chage in the sound since I drove it off the lot with about 10 miles on the odometer.

2006 K1500 HD CCSB · March 20, 2011

I too have the identical problem (noise) in my truck witch is the exact same truck as yours. I'm at a lot less miles 3200 but yes its definetly there. This is my 6th gm truck and i'm sad to say that i'm kinda getting used to odd noises!!! Let me know if you have any luck with your dealer, as i'm going to mention it to mine the next time it goes in for something.

06yz125 · March 25, 2011

Exact same truck..exact same issue.

no problems with it so i "assume" its normal.

was also thinking it could be the vvt..or whatever its called.

greezy · March 27, 2011

I noticed this today. It's right at 40mph when i hear like a whine noise. It's not real loud but noticeable with the radio off. I wonder if it is a faint exhaust drone cause when i let off at 40 i dont hear it but when i give it a little gas it comes back and when i get to 45mph its gone. I have stock exhaust.

Doug_Scott · March 27, 2011

Higher (numerically) ratio differentials are more likely to "hum" at about that speed than lower ratio diffs. As long as the noise does not get louder, it will be fine. The noise will appear if you maintain that speed, but will stop as soon as you either increase or decrease speed.

Ridgerunner30 · March 27, 2011

I am taking the truck to the dealer in the morning for an oil change and I am also going to have them change the oil in the rear differential to see if this helps with the noise. I also plan to take the service rep for a ride and give him the opportunity to once again listen to the noise and tell me that this is a normal noise. Perhaps the noise is perfectly normal but as trucks have moved north of $40K my expectations of truck mechanical perfection seem to be more apparent.

Doug_Scott · March 27, 2011

I am taking the truck to the dealer in the morning for an oil change and I am also going to have them change the oil in the rear differential to see if this helps with the noise. I also plan to take the service rep for a ride and give him the opportunity to once again listen to the noise and tell me that this is a normal noise. Perhaps the noise is perfectly normal but as trucks have moved north of $40K my expectations of truck mechanical perfection seem to be more apparent.

Let me reword what I said. Gear noise is more likely to happen with higher numerical ratios, but does not mean it is something you have to accept. While under warranty, I personally would want it corrected. Common does not necessarily mean normal. Now if they take you out in other new trucks on the lot and they exhibit the same noise, you will not likely get it "fixed".

Z45 · March 28, 2011

I have a 2010 with the Bridgestone on/off road tires and have the same noise. I am sure its the tires because when I drive on different types of pavement that whine changes.

Ridgerunner30 · March 29, 2011

I went to the dealer today as planned. I took one of the techs for a ride to let him hear the noise I am hearing. He recommended that we first change the oil in the rear differential before getting elbow deep into the differential. The service writer told me that if the new oil did not solve the problem they would go into the differential and figure out what is going on. Believe it or not the new oil has resulted in the differential becoming quiet. Nothing now but normal truck noises (tires, exhaust, etc...).

I have no idea why just changing the differential oil should quiet down the differential. According to the service ticket they replaced the oil with the normal GM synthetic 75W-90 gear lubricant. Can any of you gear heads explain why changing the oil would quiet down the differential? Could this mean that the wrong lubricant was placed in the differntial when the truck was built?

greezy · March 30, 2011

I went to the dealer today as planned. I took one of the techs for a ride to let him hear the noise I am hearing. He recommended that we first change the oil in the rear differential before getting elbow deep into the differential. The service writer told me that if the new oil did not solve the problem they would go into the differential and figure out what is going on. Believe it or not the new oil has resulted in the differential becoming quiet. Nothing now but normal truck noises (tires, exhaust, etc...).

I have no idea why just changing the differential oil should quiet down the differential. According to the service ticket they replaced the oil with the normal GM synthetic 75W-90 gear lubricant. Can any of you gear heads explain why changing the oil would quiet down the differential? Could this mean that the wrong lubricant was placed in the differntial when the truck was built?

Hmm, I will mention this to my dealer next time i go in. Thanks for the info