2nd Generation (GE 08-13) 2nd Generation specific talk and questions here.

Nitrogen for my tires. Good idea or snake oil?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 28, 2009 | 09:12 PM
  #1  
largeorangedrink's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 27
From: Broken Arrow, OK
Nitrogen for my tires. Good idea or snake oil?

I plan to run 40psi in the tires of our new fit. Would it be worth the price to put nitrogen in them or is this service just bullcaca.
 
Old Jul 28, 2009 | 09:21 PM
  #2  
IBJanky's Avatar
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 238
From: Long Beach, CA
I just put whatever air is most convenient.

myke
 
Old Jul 28, 2009 | 10:01 PM
  #3  
jzerocsk's Avatar
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 376
From: PA
Unless by "new fit" you mean "new commercial airplane," there's little benefit to paying for extracted nitrogen when air is free.

Actually Cecil has a few benefits...
The Straight Dope: Is it better to fill your tires with nitrogen instead of air?
 
Old Jul 28, 2009 | 10:04 PM
  #4  
spreadhead's Avatar
Member
5 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,104
From: Chattanooga
I use an 80% nitrogen mixture in my tires. It's called compressed air.
 
Old Jul 28, 2009 | 10:09 PM
  #5  
largeorangedrink's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 27
From: Broken Arrow, OK
Thank you for the quick response. So far I take it the answer is no.
 
Old Jul 28, 2009 | 10:34 PM
  #6  
stevet47's Avatar
Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 307
From: Lebanon, PA
Originally Posted by spreadhead
I use an 80% nitrogen mixture in my tires. It's called compressed air.
Exactly, most people forget this fact.
 
Old Jul 28, 2009 | 10:50 PM
  #7  
niko3257's Avatar
FitFreak GE8 DIY Guy
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,929
From: Palm Coast FLA
5 Year Member
don't even bother it's a complete waste.
 
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 03:03 AM
  #8  
Ein's Avatar
Ein
Member
5 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 300
From: Milwaukee
Only if it's free and have easy access to.
 
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 08:14 AM
  #9  
BakedCookies's Avatar
Member
5 Year Member
iTrader: (16)
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,459
From: VA
complete snake oil.
 
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 03:25 PM
  #10  
Scratch&Dent's Avatar
Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 542
From: Northeast GA
5 Year Member
Actually, it's not completely worthless. The real benefits of filling with pure N2 are that the gas is 100% humidity-free, and that it's oxygen-free. Water and oxygen corrode anything they can. You usually won't develop a puddle inside right away, but filling with humid air every single time, you might get a good bit of water in there after a year or so.

Now, tires and rims usually don't mind water and oxygen, but the little bit of corrosion that does happen can sometimes lead to developing leaks sooner than normal. Also, TPMS sensors are not the kind of thing that likes sitting in water.

So, to summarize: If you live in a dry area, the biggest reason for nitrogen fill-ups doesn't apply to you. If you live in a humid area, the biggest factor is how much extra it costs for N2. (I can get N2 fill-ups for free, or nearly so, at Costco.)
 

Last edited by Scratch&Dent; Jul 29, 2009 at 03:25 PM. Reason: Added apostrophe
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 03:46 PM
  #11  
kenchan's Avatar
Official Fit Blogger of FitFreak
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 20,288
From: OG Club
5 Year Member
high perf cars use nitrogen as the expansion contraction ratio is lower vs regular air.

but on a car like ours, just use regular air and just keep checking tire pressure once every 2-3wks. you can visually check every morning too before leaving for work.
 
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 04:19 PM
  #12  
Black3sr's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,250
From: Kitchener,Ont Canada
5 Year Member
I have the wife inflate mine.
 
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 04:38 PM
  #13  
Texas Coyote's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,388
From: Anderson County Texas
5 Year Member
Originally Posted by Black3sr
I have the wife inflate mine.
You old dirty dog.... In one of your post you said your girlfriend wanted to know why you were driving like an old man.... BUSTED!
 
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 05:28 PM
  #14  
Black3sr's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,250
From: Kitchener,Ont Canada
5 Year Member
Originally Posted by Texas Coyote
You old dirty dog.... In one of your post you said your girlfriend wanted to know why you were driving like an old man.... BUSTED!
You are mistaken - The GF is too ugly to put in the Fit.
 
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 05:49 PM
  #15  
Texas Coyote's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,388
From: Anderson County Texas
5 Year Member
You need to train your girlfriend where to place her ugly old head where it isn't seen by anyone.... I even teach the pretty ones that, if they don't already know..... Oh yeah, board track racing bicycles run over 140 PSI of helium in their tires but it is able to seep through the rubber and leaks out pretty quick.
 
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 07:15 PM
  #16  
Black3sr's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,250
From: Kitchener,Ont Canada
5 Year Member
That was in the good old days in the Plymouth torpedo back. Back seat was like a chesterfield.
 
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 09:00 PM
  #17  
SportMTNavi's Avatar
Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 561
From: Illinois
5 Year Member
We use nitrogen in the airplanes because at altitude the moisture in the tire will definitely freeze. Then when you land on it, you have shattered ice in the tire.

In the car, no problem. Snake oil.

Cheers.
 
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 09:02 PM
  #18  
largeorangedrink's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 27
From: Broken Arrow, OK
'72 Olds Cutlass coupe, 350 Rocket with A/T and bench seats for me. Hijack away guys, I'm along for the ride.
 
Old Jul 29, 2009 | 10:36 PM
  #19  
rosswond's Avatar
Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 200
From: NSW, Australia
Originally Posted by kenchan
high perf cars use nitrogen as the expansion contraction ratio is lower vs regular air.
Only marginally true, and related to the presence of water vapour.

PV=nRT is the same law for all gases.

The water vapour will condense and/or freeze if it gets cold enough. This will never be an issue in a car tyre, especially if you fill your tyres when they are cold . This is only a problem in an airplane tyre which goes through extremes of temperature and pressure, and only gets used briefly after a long period at freezing temperatures. In your car, just use air.
 
Old Jul 31, 2009 | 11:39 AM
  #20  
Mr. Reliability's Avatar
New Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1
From: Minneapolis
Originally Posted by rosswond
PV=nRT is the same law for all gases.
PV=nRT is the same law for all ideal gases. Whether a gas can be treated as ideal is issue, and humidity does affect that.
 



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:40 AM.