Someone finally explained why cars make ‘DSG farts’

Have you ever noticed something strange about high-performance cars when they’re going fast? Specifically, a burp or a fart-like sound that comes out of the exhaust — they’re called DSG farts.

As weird as that name may be, it’s often referred to as DSG burps or DSG farts — simply because of how it sounds.

Not all cars make this sound, and there’s only one scenario where you might hear it.

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Why do cars make DSG farts?

As common as this phenomenon might be, not many people actually know why it happens.

Well, someone finally explained the story, and they posted a video about it on a YouTube channel called ‘Deutsche Auto Parts.’

That name is perfectly in line because you will only hear this sound from cars that have a dual-clutch transmission — with a DSG gearbox.

Since the VW Group holds the license of the direct-shift gearbox (DSG) patent, there’s a solid chance that you might have heard a DSG fart from one of its sub-brands.

That includes several Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, Porsche, and many more — all of which are owned by the VW Group.

Cars like the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport and most Volkswagen models also come with a DSG gearbox.

The video above explains exactly how the phenomenon takes place, and what happens in cars with non-DSG gearboxes.

What’s so unique about a DSG?

In a conventional transmission system, here’s what happens when you switch gears: the engine receives a mix of air and fuel, which the spark plug ignites and pushes the piston inside down.

Further, the residual exhaust gas is pushed out of the exhaust pipes as the piston comes back up again.

However, in the case of a DSG gearbox, things happen differently.

You get two clutches, and when you speed up while pushing the throttle, a gear change takes place differently.

During a gear shift, the engine still receives the air and fuel mixture, but the DSG tech randomly limits the amount of that mixture that burns.

This happens so a gear shift can take place in a controlled manner while reducing the torque.

It certainly sounds confusing, but it is the result of years of R&D.

Since there’s still some mixture inside that didn’t burn, it comes out of the exhaust and further ignites.

That fuel igniting as it comes out of the exhaust causes a fart-like sound, which everyone conveniently calls DSG farts.

You can also sometimes visually see the excess fuel burning as a gear shift happens.

Moreover, these sounds will amplify on a car with a custom exhaust installed.

As the YouTuber summarised it, DSG farts are essentially hot gases coming out of your tailpipe (excuse you).

Now you know why cars make these sounds, and it’s pretty cool, to say the least.

It’s one of the most unusual things that happens with internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, and as we all know, EVs and sound don’t go together.