Me and Everyday Noise — A Daily Challenge (Car Enthusiasts Here?)

Hi there,

I have been fighting the last weeks to stay calm around everyday noises but I still have my weak moments. Especially so with unusual sounds and situations. And this is my latest:

The battery of my car died and someone had to give me a jump start. I did not wear plugs or muffs. We opened the hood of my Volvo and then I got inside my car to start. But then I had to stand with the engine in idle and the hood up in front of my car checking the contacts and finally unhooking the cables. Maybe 1-2, maybe 3 minutes in total.

Obviously no race car, no oldtimer either, a Volvo C 30 from the mid 2000s.

Is a car with the engine running in idle WITH THE HOOD UP (so laying bare the engine in front) and me bending over the engine in idle to check contacts in the area of dangerous decibel levels? What is the range we are talking about? At no point was there acceleration of the engine while the hood was open.

My tinnitus is a bit more noticeable now and I am a bit worried it might be due to the exposure to the bare car engine close to the head.

Thank you!

 

How could a engine at idle cause damage to your hearing ? Do you damage your ears in the shower?

 

@Telis I am concerned because I bent over the bare engine with my head (and ears) with the hood open. I did not stand next to the car with closed hood at idle (I do not worry about that).

Is this a problem or is there potential for damage?

 

I think that anxiety is more to blame, than the car engine noise, for the rise in your tinnitus. It will probably subside soon.

 

I don’t know, are your ears damaged? You would know better than I would

 

@Telis There is an increase in my level of T if that is indication of damage. I have been trying to find db values for an engine with open hood but I cannot find anything. Do you happen to know if what I describe is in the damaging ranges of 90+db?

@Luman I sure hope so!

 

Just take it easy for a few days and I'm sure it will go back to baseline

 

You are being paranoid. Just forget about it and move on.