No matter whether you’re commuting to work, driving down the highway, or cruising around town with a friend, the noise coming from the road, the wind and your car’s engine can be distracting and oftentimes make the drive less pleasant. And while many people get accustomed to driving with all the extra noise, some people want to reduce as much of it as possible. 

While the solutions to do so may seem expensive, they’re actually quite affordable and easy to implement. There are a few different ways to reduce the noise coming from outside your car and the noise coming from the engine, of which the two most efficient are getting a car window visor and placing sound deadening materials on the floor and the doors.

Understanding Wind Noise 

Wind noise is a common problem, especially for people driving in the open at higher speeds. Understanding what causes wind noise to get into your car and disrupt your comfort will help you find suitable solutions to the problem. Two of the most common causes for wind noise are the aerodynamics and air pressure that’s a result of your car moving forward. Some cars are purposely designed to face less resistance when going through the air than others. As a result, these cars don’t experience as much wind noise. This phenomenon is known as aerodynamics. Sports vehicles feature better aerodynamics, so they produce less noise than other vehicles, such as 4WDs when moving.

Whenever your car is moving forward, it’s pushing air which results in pressure changes. The air in your vehicle has higher pressure and it starts looking for ways to get out where the air is under lower pressure. This results in wind sounds when you’re driving. All the openings in your car enable the inside air to flow outside and stabilise the pressure in your vehicle. These openings are typically located in places away from the driver and passengers so that the resulting noise isn’t as loud, and doesn’t disturb people inside the vehicle.

How to Reduce Noise Inside Your Vehicle

Find the Source 

Locating the source of the noise is the first step. You can do that by driving around in a quiet area and carefully listening to your vehicle. Make sure you aren’t playing any music so you can clearly hear where the noise is coming from. You can get a friend or your spouse to pay close attention to the windows, doors and the exterior of your vehicle. The weatherstripping and seals on your windows and doors can wear down, which can lead to increased wind noise. Once you identify the main cause, inspect your vehicle properly to check if there are any deformities on the parts where the noise is coming from.

If the noise is coming from your engine, you should also check the oil, as it may be old and dirty. This type of oil won’t lubricate as well as fresh oil, causing the engine to make more noise than it usually does. The moving parts inside the engine aren’t lubricated properly, and the come in contact with one another, they’ll make a louder noise. Most engines run quieter if they use synthetic oil rather than mineral oil. If the oil is not the issue and you still hear sounds coming from the engine, check whether you have worn down parts. If you can’t do this yourself, take your vehicle for inspection to an experienced mechanic who can help identify the worn down parts and replace them.

Window Visors

Installing wind visors, also known as wind deflectors or weathershields, is one of the cheapest ways to reduce wind noise. These are some of the most sought-after 4×4 accessories Australian off-roaders opt for, as they’re affordable, yet very effective at what they do. Typically, car window visor products are made plastic, and they cover the top of your front windows to minimise the amount of wind reaching the area where the weather stripping is installed to the window. 

You’ll find a wide range of window visors, most of which are designed to fit specific vehicle makes and models. There are also some universal models that fit multiple vehicles. Installing wind visors is pretty straightforward and only takes a few minutes. You don’t need any extra tools, just clean the area around your windows to make sure the adhesive sticks properly. Besides reducing wind noise, weathershields provide a few other benefits, such as reducing glare and drag, making them the ideal 4×4 accessories Australian drivers should definitely consider.

Sound Absorbing Mats

Sound absorbing mats are made of a thick material that can be used to reduce a wide range of noises in your vehicle’s cabin. They’re quite affordable, but require some work to install them. You’ll have to reach the bare metal of the door or the floor, meaning you’ll have to pull everything out and then put everything back in place. 

As tedious as it seems, installing sound-absorbing mats is one of the best ways to reduce any noise from getting inside your car. Install them on the door to reduce noises coming from the engine and the road, and install them on the doors to reduce noises coming from the wind and other traffic. The mats, just like wind visors, come with adhesive, so you don’t need to buy any type of glue or tape to install them.

Door Seals

Doors feature seals and weather stripping that wears out over time. The worn-out seals may have some gaps and holes in them, which allows air to escape. The seal may be fine, but it may be slightly displaced, allowing for air to escape. The fix is pretty easy, and you can do it yourself. All you have to do is get a weatherstrip adhesive and reseal it to the door frame. You can apply the adhesive directly onto the seal and press it into the frame. These adhesives are available in a variety of colours so you can choose based on personal preference. 

The same applies to weather stripping on the windows and doors. If the seal wears down, you can get a new one and install it on your own. All you have to do is remove the old seal, clean the area of the adhesive left by the old seal, and place the weather stripping.