Strange Engine Noise, Anyone Else Heard this?

[K3OVN]

I have had a strange engine noise develop, particularly after washing the car on my 2023 Lotus Emira Manual V6. It almost sound like a cricket.

You can hear it on idle and when revving / accelerating, it’s definitely coming from the engine and doesn’t appear to be related to the gear linkage vibrating noise.

In addition in cold start and get some white smoke from the exhaust, that I believe is condensation burning off as it’s gone when the engine is warm, however does appear to be quite abit of carbon on the exhaust tips, is this normal or?

Please see the below videos and pictures, if anyone can offer any advice it’d be much appreciated.

 

[virtualmacho]

Definitely the crickets from Lotus Customer Care. Exhaust tips look cleaner than mine.

 

[seriously]

Same. My exhaust is dirtier than that. And I definitely hear crickets.

 

[K3OVN]

Looking at Evora forms, the noise seems similar to the belt and pulley issue they sometimes suffer from, I’m hoping it’s not this, but I’ll be taking it to be checked under warranty.

It seems to be louder on mines when the car is cold and particularly after it’s been washed, almost like something had gotten wet and needs to dry.