I guess this is something Costco offers. This newer ride of mine has Nitrogen in the tires versus air. I found this out via the green valve stem caps. Supposedly, Nitrogen prevents the monthly loss of air pressure allowing for trouble-free tire pressure control across all the seasons.

Anyone else heard of this?

Would this be something to consider for our cars?

Any considerations running such a set up at a track?

To switch over to it, how would they purge the air currently in there (i.e., does it have to be 100% or is some % is a given)?

This is new ground for me.

SJ

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I have considered switching to nitrogen in my tires. more so for the benz than the stealth, because I have never heard of this "It doesn't leak out" stuff.

what I do know is that it helps gas mileage a fair amount... Some cars see 2 or 3 mpg improvement.

So, yes, I have heard of it.

To examine the "it never leaks out" part of this statement, I suppose we need to fall back to out chemistry backgrounds... The reason that air leaks out of a tire, is because it's particals (sp?) can slowly work there way out through microscopic openings or pores in the tire and the wheel. So, if the nitrogen molecules are larger than the air molecules, I suppose there would some validity to the claim that "they don't leak." However, Nitrogen is a naturally occuring molecule in "Air." I can't remember the exact percentage, but I thought it even made up a large part of the air we breathe every day... that said, you should have nitrogen in there already, and it's still getting flat.

But perhaps it's Di-nirtogen, or something, with two molecules "sticking" to each other, thus they are bigger and don't fit through the pores in your wheels/tires...

somehow, I doubt it, though.

So, we can pretty logically say, it prolly still leaks out slowly, but may leak out a bit more slowly, especially seeing as I believe the "reasoning" behind the improved gas mileage is less mass, or less un-sprung mass, which helps various other things, also.

As far as I know, they just deflate your tires as far as possible, and then re-fill them with Nitrogen... according to there reasoning, the air would leak out, and if you just replaced the "small left over bits of air" that leaked out over the first few weeks/months you would be left with nothing but nitrogen in your tires shortly after.

I'd say if you have easy acces to nitrogen tanks go for it, but if your going to be topping off with air from a compressor at your home or gas station anyway, might as well stick with air.

But I have heard of benefits.

Any other questions should be submitted to the signiture kitten I picked up on the way over here... thank you for your time.

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Is it really cost effective? I'm gonna use my numbers I got with my old SL.

~$2.50 gallon of gas
~17 gallons per fillup
425 miles per tank
25mpg
and to keep it simple, say 1000 miles per month driven.

With all that info, I need 2.3 tanks of gas to go 1000miles which costs $97.75.

Now, lets say i get another 2mpg.

That means, I'd now see 27mpg and 459miles out of a tank. To go another 1000 miles means I'd need 2.17 tanks of gas which costs $92.59.

So, I'd be saving $5.16 per month. I hope the conversion is cheeper than $5.16 cuz then I'd be spending more.

Some one double check my math.

I've heard of it. I though it has something to do with the volume of nitrogen changes less with temperature. I that saying it doesn't leak out is more for marketing,because if air contains 70%+ of nitrogen and the nitrogen doesn't leak out eventually after refilling a few times you should only have nitrogen.

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'94 vr4- Now with extra slowness

yeah, a tank of nitrogen for a do it yourselfer is really not that expensive if you want to get it yourself, and keep one in your garage. and I'm not sure about the gas mileage stuff, it may be more with certain makes/models. on alot of the newer cars improving gas mileage by 1 or 2 mpg is actually a big accomplishment...

but yeah, I don't know about the money thing...



I also heard the "volume changes less with temp" thing now that you mention it, but haven't looked into it because I was too lazy. I suppose I could dig the books out of the basement...

I second the opinion of the 70%+ nitrogen not leaking out of your tires from normal air, but couldn't remember the percentage, so just said "air has alot of nitrogen in it normally" in my last post...

I could see it improving your handling if it actually has less weight per volume, though... and it's unsprung wieght, so you road coarse guys should like that...

I've also heard people say it has better ride qualities, and reduces road noise, but just in this thread it sounds like there are many wives tails and only some truths, so...

_________________
Bad decisions make good stories.
Look at it! LOOK AT MY @SS AND TELL ME IT'S PRETTY!

Look on Jay Leno's garage...

He uses it to prevent his wheels from rusting inside > out. Now I suppose if we made that type of money we could do the same.

just be like uncle benny and get 4.5 lb garden variety rims that are made of aluminum ninja swords and you don't have to worry about rust.

_________________
Bad decisions make good stories.
Look at it! LOOK AT MY @SS AND TELL ME IT'S PRETTY!

Yes and leave them sit on the car while it's on jackstands.

Those aren't jackstands; they are anchors. Without them his car would float away.

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~Joe - aka spider gear destroyer
'94 Stealth R/T
-Lightly Modded ;)