• About
    Us
    • About Our Agency
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Our Insurance Carriers
    • Insurance Blog
  • Auto, Home &
    Personal Insurance
    • Auto Insurance
    • Boat & Marine Insurance
    • Condominium Insurance
    • Flood Insurance
    • Homeowners Insurance
    • Motorcycle Insurance
    • Renters Insurance
    • – View All Personal
  • Business
    Insurance
    • Business Interruption Insurance
    • Business Owners Package Insurance
    • Commercial Auto Insurance
    • Commercial Property Insurance
    • Commercial Umbrella Insurance
    • General Liability Insurance
    • Manufacturers Insurance
    • Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance
    • Surety Bonds
    • Workers’ Compensation Insurance
    • – View All Business
  • Life
    Insurance
    • Individual Life Insurance
    • Fixed Annuities
    • – View All Life
  • Policy
    Service Center
    • Online Billing & Payments
    • File A Claim
    • Certificate of Insurance Request
    • Policy Change Request Form
    • Auto ID Card Request Form
    • Insurance Resources
    • – View All Policy Service
  • Contact
    Us
    • Oshkosh Office
    • Refer a Friend
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Secure Contact Form
Insurance Services by Karen

Insuring Oshkosh
and All of Wisconsin
Call (920) 252-2575

Home / What’s That Weird Sound That Happens When I Open My Car Window?

What’s That Weird Sound That Happens When I Open My Car Window?

Article originally posted May 4, 2022 on www.erieinsurance.com(opens in new tab)

You’re driving down the highway and decide to let in a bit of fresh air. You roll down one of your windows, and suddenly it’s like a freight train is running right next to your car. The overwhelming, rhythmic “thumping” sound feels like it’s about to blow out your eardrums.

We’ve all experienced it. But what is it?

That’s wind buffeting ‒ a loud and annoying phenomenon that happens when you roll down a lone window in your vehicle. But why does that happen, and what can you do to stop it?

Let’s find out.

3 Facts About Wind Buffeting

1. It’s Caused When Two Pockets of Air Crash Together

Get ready for some science. Wind buffeting is caused by an occurrence known as Helmholtz Resonance. In a nutshell, when you open just one window in your vehicle ‒ or the sunroof or moonroof ‒ the air inside your car thumps up against the faster-moving air outside the window.

When they clash, these two bodies of air compress and decompress over and over again. The result? Small wind vortexes that create that loud thumping sound.

These factors can affect wind buffeting:

  • The size and shape of your vehicle: You’ll hear louder thumping from newer, aerodynamic cars compared to older, boxy models. (More on that below.)
  • Your driving speed: The faster you drive, the more noticeable and extreme the noise.
  • Back vs. front windows: Wind buffeting is worse in back windows, since your front windows have side mirrors to help redirect the airflow.

2. It’s More Common in Newer Vehicles

New cars are more aerodynamic than their older cars. That means their shape and design help them move through the air more easily, reducing overall drag.

Unlike older vehicles, they’re also constructed to keep air sealed inside the vehicle rather than letting it escape ‒ or enter. It’s great for fuel economy, among other things.

But with all that air closely hugging the exterior of newer vehicles, any kind of opening – like your backseat window – will interrupt that smoother airflow and cause that thumping sound.

See also: How to Get Better Gas Mileage (And Other Questions About Fuel Economy)

3. It’s Pretty Easy to Fix

Want the thumping to go away? Just open another window to help stabilize the air pressure. Voilà!

If only all other car annoyances were so easy to solve (we’re looking at you, flat tires).

Feel Right at Home

From the position of the steering wheel to your favorite station on the radio, your car is your safe haven on the road ‒ even with a little wind buffeting along the way. We want you to feel just as comfortable with your auto insurance coverage.

Get a no-obligation quote from a local car insurance agent near you today.

Erie Insurance

A better insurance experience starts with ERIE.

Haven’t heard of us? Erie Insurance started with humble beginnings in 1925 with a mission to emphasize customer service above all else. Though we’ve grown to reach the Fortune 500 list, we still haven’t lost the human touch.

Contact Insurance Services by Karen today to experience the ERIE difference for yourself.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Oshkosh Insurance Quotes

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

ABOUT US

  • About Us
  • Meet Our Staff
  • Our Insurance Carriers
  • Insurance Blog

INSURANCE

  • Auto, Home, & Personal Insurance
  • Business Insurance
  • Life Insurance

POLICY SERVICE

  • Policy Service Center
  • File A Claim
  • Online Billing & Payments
  • Policy Change Request

CONTACT US

  • Insurance Services by Karen
    • 1429 Oregon Street
    • Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54902
  • Phone: (920) 252-2575
1429 Oregon Street  Oshkosh WI 54902
Google Maps (opens in new tab)Facebook (opens in new tab)LinkedIn (opens in new tab)
Insurance Services by Karen Provides Auto/Car Insurance, Home Insurance, and Business/Commercial Insurance to All of Wisconsin, Including Oshkosh, Appleton, and Fond du Lac.
© Copyright 2023, Insurance Services by Karen | Privacy Statement | Accessibility Statement | Login
BrightFireWebsite Builder Platform(opens in new tab)
  • It’s the perfect time to remind ourselves to plan ahead for the ones we love.
    Insure Your Love Month logo
    It’s the perfect time to remind ourselves to plan ahead for the ones we love.
    Get Started