Nitrogen revisited. - Montana Owners Club

DonandBonnie · 03-12-2014, 02:33 AM

When we bought our F350 in the fall of 2012, the dealer convinced us that filling the tires with nitrogen would minimize pressure and temperature fluctuations as the seasons change. Last August we had a flat tire. The tire had to be removed from the rim to be repaired. The repaired tire was filled with air, not nitrogen. Now almost 8 months later we can see virtually no difference in pressure and temperature fluctuations between the five tires with nitrogen and the one with air as we monitor our TST.

Now the question arises whether the dealer actually added nitrogen to the tires or is nitrogen a worthless investment.

mlh · 03-12-2014, 02:53 AM

Try worthless investment.
Lynwood

Charli · 03-12-2014, 02:56 AM

The theory is great but I'd never pay for it. As temps change I have to add or remove air from the tire and I'm doing that at home with my regular compressor so am adding regular air. When the dealer puts the tires on do they suck all the air out so the nitrogen fill is pure? I doubt it.
There may be a benefit but I think it's marginal and I haven't noticed any difference.

timandsusan · 03-12-2014, 03:21 AM

The earth's atmosphere is 78% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, and the remaining is made up of argon, carbon dioxide and very small amounts of other gases. So--(Since I am not a scientist just a retired engineer). It would be difficult to measure the effects of the other 22% of gases in air on tire pressure, etc as compared to 100% nitrogen. Bottomline--may be pure nitrogen is a good investment if you drive many miles a year--otherwise--I just ignore it even though it came in my 2012 F250. I will use my own compress to add AIR to my truck tires.

K0LCB · 03-12-2014, 03:33 AM

It would be very hard to get a tire filled with pure nitrogen. It think it would be impossible to pull a vacuum on a rubber tire and keep the beads sealed

LonnieB · 03-12-2014, 04:28 AM

Quote:

quote:By KOLCB

It would be very hard to get a tire filled with pure nitrogen. It think it would be impossible to pull a vacuum on a rubber tire and keep the beads sealed

You are correct, about 93% is the most nitrogen you can get in a tire using conventional methods.

Nitrogen does have some advantages, tires run cooler at high speed and/or heavy loads, it has less moisture content than compressed air, and it supposedly fluctuates less during ambient temperature changes. Are the benefits worth the cost? To me personally, no, to some, yes. Eventually most tire shops will offer free nitrogen fill, some already do, but until their generator stations have paid for themselves (a mid range generator costs around $10,000.00) the consumer will have to pay.

Quote:

quote: By DonandBonnie

Now the question arises whether the dealer actually added nitrogen to the tires or is nitrogen a worthless investment.

That is the one hundred dollar question. If the dealer did fill all of the tires with nitrogen, and the repair shop filled the repaired tire with compressed air, one would expect to see a difference. With no difference noted, it makes me wonder about the supposed advantages of nitrogen over compressed air. It also makes me wonder about the honesty of your dealer.

steelpony5555 · 03-12-2014, 08:35 AM

I watch my brother fill tires with nitrogen at the dealership he works at. They have this big machine on wheels and it has 5 hoses coming off it. They plug it into all 5 tires at the same time, ok 4 if it only has a donut. But at it replaces the tire with nitrogen the tire does not go flat.. He tells me the machine pulls air out of the tire and pump nitrogen in exchanging air with nitrogen till it reaches 100% nitrogen. I don't think it was any difference, but he swears it will keep your tires cooler. But would I pay the $80 it costs,,,,, heck no. But it is an $80 add on to every single new car on that lot.... I always wondered what they would do if you told them I don't want no nitrogen take it out and put air in???? Course my brain wonders bout things like that.

dieselguy · 03-12-2014, 08:54 AM

I'm happy with the standard 78% nitrogen in free air. Besides ... I think the nitrogen in my tires needs to have friends of other gasses to cut down on inbreeding.

**DQDick** · 03-12-2014, 11:21 AM

Since I constantly monitor and adjust my tire pressure I'm not using nitrogen until my compressor produces it.

steelpony5555 · 03-12-2014, 11:34 AM

I started using helium... gives me an extra 1000 lbs of payload........lol lol lol

Art-n-Marge · 03-12-2014, 02:32 PM

Steelpony, to realize that much cargo gain you have to fill the whole interior of the trailer (this requires a a LOT of sealant), the tires won't give you that much improvement. Don't ask me how I know. Now let's stop sucking on the helium hose.

steelpony5555 · 03-12-2014, 05:54 PM

No way the dealer told me so.........lol lol

WeBeFulltime · 03-13-2014, 12:44 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by steelpony5555

But would I pay the $80 it costs,,,,, heck no. But it is an $80 add on to every single new car on that lot.... I always wondered what they would do if you told them I don't want no nitrogen take it out and put air in???? Course my brain wonders bout things like that.

Last new car I bought had a $99 add on for it. Told them no way, remove it. Don't know if they "removed it" but did delete the charge for it. Still had the green valve caps.

old turbo · 03-13-2014, 01:34 AM

Nitrogen is the same as the old Undercoating scam from years ago anything that will cost you and you really have no clue if it actually works.It just sounds good.

K0LCB · 03-13-2014, 03:09 AM

Car dealers are in business to make money. Most have large overhead. Dealer add ons are good profit makers.

scott-pati · 03-13-2014, 06:29 AM

Nitrogen is the way to go. Having said that, it is not very practical for a tv. Why? Because we have to inflate our tires before we tow and deflate our tires after we tow. Unless you have a nitrogen machine, it is a waste. Now for our rigs, nitrogen is a huge plus. As the tires heat up the air pressure does not go up.

So on cold inflation at 80psi, the hot tire after hours of driving would still be 80psi. NASCAR and auto racing uses it to control and maintain constant tire pressure.

Tires that use nitrogen should not loose pressure when the temps drop either. Dealers put a green valve stem cap on to tell you that the tires are filled with nitrogen.

Now, how do you really know you have nitrogen in your tires with a green cap? You don't know, there's no way to test. I bought a new 2011 Sonata and it had the green caps, but I don't believe they had nitrogen in them because they loose air when it's cold outside and gain air when its hot. You did not get that with nitrogen. Another dealer bs markup.

Nitrogen has a larger molecular structure vs oxygen.

Scott

dieselguy · 03-13-2014, 09:42 AM

To each his own ... I keep my truck's tire pressure the same whether towing or just driving. They've always stayed round and black. Nitrogen seems to have merit that outweighs the cost and inconvenience for some, but do you need to go yet a step further and add tire shades that deploy on the sunny side of your RV? Sunshine noticably raises tire temps as well. Well ... off to buy chrome valve stem caps ... that's for "redneck".

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