# Squealing sound as I start the car **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 1, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-sound-as-i-start-the-car/157715 "2020-02-01T18:53:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kristen\_Reed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Kristen\_Reed](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Kristen_Reed)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-sound-as-i-start-the-car/157715/1 "2020-02-01T18:53:31Z")
Hi all, I have a Chevy impala ls 2011 and when I started it, I heard a high pitched kinda screaming it subsided once I drove around a bit but still there… I’m thinking the fuel injectors need cleaned so is it ok to put transmission oil in the gas to clean the injectors ?? Could I be low on transmission oil? ---
**Author:** ![Kristen\_Reed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Kristen\_Reed](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Kristen_Reed)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-sound-as-i-start-the-car/157715/2 "2020-02-01T18:55:23Z")
The oil is at 58% so it’s good there. But the squealing is so annoying!! Please help ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-sound-as-i-start-the-car/157715/3 "2020-02-01T19:12:17Z")
My prime suspect is the serpentine belt. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-sound-as-i-start-the-car/157715/4 "2020-02-01T20:55:58Z")
As to your question about adding transmission fluid to your gas, no. ---
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 12:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-sound-as-i-start-the-car/157715/5 "2020-02-02T00:19:07Z")
I would have to concur with my man @circuitsmith … Its either a stretched out serpentine belt… or its spring loaded tensioner. Serp belts seem to last so long these days that I actually replace the Belt along with the tensioner and idler all at the same time. None of those parts really got a break during the life of the old belt…and shouldn’t be asked to last the life of a new belt either. They usually dont go that distance. So I just used possibly the maximum number of characters to simply agree with Mr Smith about the belt. I tend to be a bit verbose its a character flaw…sorry. ---
**Author:** ![p.g.i.holmes\_156524](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@p.g.i.holmes\_156524](https://community.cartalk.com/u/p.g.i.holmes_156524)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 4:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-sound-as-i-start-the-car/157715/6 "2020-02-02T04:33:46Z")
+1 for the belt or tensioner or idler pulley (high efficiency agreement there. Fewer characters = fewer flaws?) But could potentially also be: - the A/C compressor clutch - or water pump. In that order of likelihood. Belt, pulley, A/C, WP. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 12:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-sound-as-i-start-the-car/157715/7 "2020-02-02T12:59:34Z")
Don’t use AT fluid in the gas, use a fuel system cleaner. I use Techron. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/squealing-sound-as-i-start-the-car/157715/8 "2020-02-02T14:40:11Z")
I agree with the serpentine belt being the prime suspect. However, years ago my A/C compressor seized and caused the same squeal. So anything driven by the serpentine belt should be suspect as well.