Nitrogen vs Air

[Pasogirlz]

Yesterday, I had my tires filled w/Nitrogen instead of air. It only cost me $35. and they say that the tires will not loose the Nitrogen as fast as air b/c the molecule size is much larger. They say it should make my vehicle handle better, have better gas mileage, and my tires should not wear out as fast. *so I figured as much road warrioring that I do, it was worth it for the price.

But I was just wondering if any of you had any experience w/this? And if the Nitrogen really made a difference?

[CarolU]

Are you serious? I've never heard of it before and to be honest, it makes no sense to me at all. Air is a gas made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and some other trace gasses. If this were true, you'd only loose the portion of air in your tire that isn't nitrogen. There aren't "air" molecules. Air escaping your tires is a function of your stems and small holes in them and your tire, not the molecule size of the nitrogen. Simply keeping your tires properly inflated will make them wear longer and get you better milage.

Air is free.

[greyhorsewoman]

My husband says it 'worthless' .. I found this thread that you may find interesting:

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=120996&page=1

[CarolU]

I went to ask Jeeves and looked it up...found some articles that say the same thing, but you know, I worked for the military...we filled the tires with air.

http://www.tommcmahon.net/2004/11/fill_your_tires.html

"But nitrogen molecules migrate 3 to 4 times more slowly than oxygen, so tires stay properly inflated longer. "

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is absolutely incorrect. the rate at which molecules leave the tire (called effusion, not diffusion), causing the gradual decrease in tire pressure is related to the weight of the molecule. It has absolutely nothing to do with the size of the molecule. Therefore, at the very least the excuse given by Costco is completely false.

Here's the reason...Molecules of lower molecular weight (i.e. nitrogen, compared to oxygen) move faster at any given temperature. At any temperature molecules of all gases possess the same kinetic energy. Kinetic energy depends on two things, velocity and mass. K.E. = mass x velocity squared. Hence, if the mass is lower the velocity has to be higher in order for the kinetic energy to be the same. Faster-moving molecules will escape from the tire faster. Nitrogen molecules have a mass of 28.02 atomic mass units. Oxygen molecules have a mass of 32.00 atomic mass units.

From a scientific standpoint, I cannot think of a single good reason for the average car ownder to pay for nitrogen to fill their tires.

[CarolU]

The only 'truth' I found after reading several of the articles and blogs is that compressed nitrogen is purer and has less water in it then air. So, the corrosion to your wheels would be less. That is the only advantage I saw.

[motorgypsy]

Both oxygen and Carbon dioxide are heavier than nitrogen so the explanation makes no sense as others have said. If there is a study that really shows that pure nitrogen stays in longer the reason given is not correct. There has to be some other factor.

The thing most people don't realize is the importance of temperature in tire pressure. If for example you live in Miami and inflate your tires there and travel to MN where it's zero degrees your tires will read a much lower pressure after your car sits over night. Your tires have not lost air. They have lost pressure because pressure is proportional to temperature and the colder the tire the lower the pressure will read so in the winter we have to add some air to our tires so the cold pressure reads what is specified for the tires we have. Today's tires really hold air very well. We have a 22 year old truck and other than flat tires caused by the goats chewing on the inflate valves we almost never have to add air through the life of the tire.

[Barbwire]

Oh my, it looks like Lori got hosed, and not in a good way. :shock:

[Pasogirlz]

The only 'truth' I found after reading several of the articles and blogs is that compressed nitrogen is purer and has less water in it then air. So, the corrosion to your wheels would be less. That is the only advantage I saw.

They did say that too. And the new car has as sensor that tells you when your air pressure is too low. They said the air will cause corrosion of that device.

They also said that next year....Nitrogen will be standard on all new cars. Not sure if that is true.

http://www.nitrofill.com/

[baileyholc]

Oh my, it looks like Lori got hosed, and not in a good way. :shock:

I don't think so. I think their tring out new technology. :-? And Lori is one of their guinepigs. :lol:

[PasoJoy]

Don't feel bad, Lori, I have nitrogen in MY tires too... :-?

[Pasogirlz]

Don't feel bad, Lori, I have nitrogen in MY tires too... :-?

I don't feel bad at all.
I'm very sure that I put WAY more wear and tear on my tires than most ppl, and if it helps me extend the life of my car/tires even a little, the $35 was worth it.
It might not be worth it to everyone, but for someone who spends as much time as I do on long distance (dare I say high speed) drives...I'm willing to try it. ;-)
I normally go thru tires pretty fast. :shock: So I will let you guys know how it works out.

[CarolU]

I looked it up on this engineer forum. It looks like everything is anecdotal 'evidence,' no proof that it has any benefit at all. It seems that someone saw it was used in aircraft tires and assumed it helped the tires somehow, and the rest is all speculation on why.

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=120996&page=1

If you are worried about water in the air, use dry air.

I looked for quite some time this morning and could not find any scientific studies on it at all.

[Terry Wallace]

All tires get condensation in them...as they are mounted to metal wheels....

The only thing I ever added to tires was calcium...but it was to add weight to the tractor tires.

Sounds like new technology...BUT...it will still leak out some and then what do you do? Add regular air back in...like in the spring when tires have deflated from winter weather temps?

Can't say as I'd pay $35.00 for it.... "interesting"! ;-)

[Pasogirlz]

Can't say as I'd pay $35.00 for it.... "interesting"! ;-)

I've spent more on hair products....so I figured it wouldn't break my bank to try it out. ;-)

And you can ad regular air back into the tires, it just takes away from the "purness" of the nitrogen.
They are not saying that NO nitrogen will escape at all, they are saying LESS will escape than air and at a slower rate.

[cowboy ed]

i read about this in a brochure i got recently. havent tried it yet. you never know!

i wonder if i fill a football with helium, could i kick it farther? :D

[Cindy]

Don't feel bad, Lori, I have nitrogen in MY tires too...

But Lori is not even blond. She has no excuse. :rofl

I've spent more on hair products....so I figured it wouldn't break my bank to try it out.



:rofl :rofl :rofl

[CarolU]

i wonder if i fill a football with helium, could i kick it farther? :D

Myth Busters already tried that one...it didn't make any difference. :lol:

[Pasogirlz]

But Lori is not even blond. She has no excuse. :rofl

I've spent more on hair products....so I figured it wouldn't break my bank to try it out.



:rofl :rofl :rofl

I cant even go into a TradeSecret or Beauty Epress w/o spending less than $50. :oops:
The secret is out...Im a hair product fanatic. I have products to make it straight and shiney and I have a whole arsonal of stuff to make it wild and curly. I like to have several different shampoos and rotate them out. I love conditioners. :love And dont get me started on finishing products.

[CarolU]

Lori...I don't think anyone believes your hair care products are a waste of money...it's just funny to justify being taken for $35 on nitrogen by comparing it to your hair products...where you actually purchase a product that does something. ;-)

I used to say that all the blonde jokes were about bleach blondes. They bleach their hair with hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) which breaks down to water and air. I always said the water goes down the drain, but the air goes straight inside...hence "airhead.'

Apparently there is HOOH in a lot of hair care products. ;-) :razz: ;-)

[Pasogirlz]

Well, I'll let you know how my tires work out. ;-)

[Monty]

Hubby says they use it in race cars ----------- Well ;-) Lori did mention high speed traveling :lol:

[Fuego]

I was told if I got my radiator cap recalibrated , my radio antenea tuned up, and my floor mats realigned for $200. they throw in the nitrogen tire inflation for free......

[PasoJoy]

I used to say that all the blonde jokes were about bleach blondes. They bleach their hair with hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) which breaks down to water and air. I always said the water goes down the drain, but the air goes straight inside...hence "airhead.'

Hey now..I resemble that remark... :bad bannana

[Barbwire]

I was told if I got my radiator cap recalibrated , my radio antenea tuned up, and my floor mats realigned for $200. they throw in the nitrogen tire inflation for free......

I love you, man! :rofl

[Terry Wallace]

Yeah Fuego!!! What Barbwyr said!! :point

[Jane Hurl]

Go, Fuego! :lmao

[Thomasj]

ya'll do know that air is 4/5ths nitrogen, right? ;)

[GregM]

Some race series do allow nitrogen for tire inflation (not to be confused with nitrous oxide injection which Lori would REALLY enjoy given her lead foot) and they use it because of the lack of water vapor. The tires heat tremendously to about 200F in use and the water expands much more than air or nitrogen, causing the pressure in the tire to increase very quickly. Tyler's little race car we used to start at 15psi cold on the right side and it would increase to 19 or 20psi in hot weather and screw the handling up, so you had to drop the pressure right before the race started.

This is way more info than anyone was looking for, right? Sigh.