Tires Losing Pressure
Just got an 08 C6 Z51 triple black. Due to weather it has been garaged all winter without much use. with only 400 miles on odometer. Is it normal for the tire pressure to drop while the car is only sitting in the garage? It drops down to 22 to 27 PSI in all four tires.
When we bought the 'Vette they filled the tires with nitrogen, stating it would prevent air leaks. It hasn't worked (didn't really believe it would anyway). Thanks for any input. Don |
Technically...
Well technically, if the tires are filled with nitrogen, they won't leak air. There is no air to leak. But they will leak nitrogen.
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Depending on how warm it was when you put it in there and how warm it is in there now it is possible.
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Nitrogen will leak out easier than air (molecules are smaller I think, but its relative anyway). The only advantage nitrogen serves is that because it is dry (no moisture) it won't expand as much as air out of a compressor that hasn't had the water drained in a while. The pressures stay almost the same whether the tires are hot or cold. Thats why pro race teams use it.
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Make sure the nuts on the valve stems are tight. :cheers:
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Originally Posted by 08C6Z51
(Post 1564571874)
Just got an 08 C6 Z51 triple black. Due to weather it has been garaged all winter without much use. with only 400 miles on odometer. Is it normal for the tire pressure to drop while the car is only sitting in the garage? It drops down to 22 to 27 PSI in all four tires.
When we bought the 'Vette they filled the tires with nitrogen, stating it would prevent air leaks. It hasn't worked (didn't really believe it would anyway). Thanks for any input. Don Nitrogen has no capacity to seal leaks. It is a gas. |
Cold weather will always do that. Mine are down to about that now after sitting for the past 5 months. They'll come close to normal as either you or the weather warms them up.
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Originally Posted by kenjeffries
(Post 1564571939)
Well technically, if the tires are filled with nitrogen, they won't leak air. There is no air to leak. But they will leak nitrogen.
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Had the same issue with mine....put my vert away in November and this past week the tire pressure was down also. The tires on the Z51s are very sensitive according to GM.....fill them up to proper pressure and just keep an eye on them. Should be OK once we start using the cars on a regular basis with the nice weather.:thumbs:
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Tires filled with air will drop on average 1 pound for every 10 degree drop in temperature. This is why they recommend 30 psi cold as the fill so that as the tire heats up it will get them up to about 34 psi while on the highway. It isn't likely a leak as much as it is density changes.
Tire pressure is not a set it and forget it item. It will need to maintained as the seasons and temperature change. |
Originally Posted by 08C6Z51
(Post 1564571874)
Just got an 08 C6 Z51 triple black. Due to weather it has been garaged all winter without much use. with only 400 miles on odometer. Is it normal for the tire pressure to drop while the car is only sitting in the garage? It drops down to 22 to 27 PSI in all four tires.
When we bought the 'Vette they filled the tires with nitrogen, stating it would prevent air leaks. It hasn't worked (didn't really believe it would anyway). Thanks for any input. Don You pay shipping also...:cheers: |
Originally Posted by talon90
(Post 1564572349)
Tires filled with air will drop on average 1 pound for every 10 degree drop in temperature. This is why they recommend 30 psi cold as the fill so that as the tire heats up it will get them up to about 34 psi while on the highway. It isn't likely a leak as much as it is density changes.
Tire pressure is not a set it and forget it item. It will need to maintained as the seasons and temperature change. |
Check your TPMS stem torque values...I had a light leakdown in my right rear...Bought a cheap ($20) 1/4" Harbor Freight torque wrench and retorqued all of them to 60 inch pounds. Every one of them was under spec by a goodl amount. Seems to be holding just fine now..
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Originally Posted by Red86Cfour
(Post 1564572141)
Nitrogen will leak out easier than air (molecules are smaller I think, but its relative anyway). The only advantage nitrogen serves is that because it is dry (no moisture) it won't expand as much as air out of a compressor that hasn't had the water drained in a while. The pressures stay almost the same whether the tires are hot or cold. Thats why pro race teams use it.
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Originally Posted by mikesul
(Post 1564578456)
Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen, thats one of the reasons it's not supposed to leak.
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Thanks
Thanks for the replies. I am learning as I go with this new car. We've had a C3 (74) Vette for years and I work on the old one myself but I wouldn't touch the new one (yet).
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Originally Posted by Originally Posted by mikesul
Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen, thats one of the reasons it's not supposed to leak.
Originally Posted by Red86Cfour
(Post 1564578709)
You might want to consult the periodic table. In any case, nitrogen isn't going to "prevent" a leak any more than using air out of a compressor will.
The key thing to remember is PV = nRT. It isn't just a good idea, it is the law, the ideal gas law, and pure nitrogen has to obey it just the same as ordinary air does. What it means is that pressure rises and falls in proportion to changes in temperature. For auto tires filled with either pure or 78% nitrogen, that means a 1 PSI pressure change for every 10 degree change in temperature. |
Originally Posted by su8pack1
(Post 1564572204)
Cold weather will always do that. Mine are down to about that now after sitting for the past 5 months. They'll come close to normal as either you or the weather warms them up.
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Originally Posted by talon90
(Post 1564572349)
Tires filled with air will drop on average 1 pound for every 10 degree drop in temperature. This is why they recommend 30 psi cold as the fill so that as the tire heats up it will get them up to about 34 psi while on the highway. It isn't likely a leak as much as it is density changes.
Tire pressure is not a set it and forget it item. It will need to maintained as the seasons and temperature change. |
This is akin to the way helium leaks out of a balloon faster than air does...smaller molecules...
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