Anyone inflated tires with nitrogen?
06-22-2006, 08:11 AM
#2
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The benefits of nitrogen
The biggest claim is that the nitrogen molecule is larger than the oxygen molecule. This means less loss of pressure from gases permeating through the tire wall. However, "air" is 78% nitrogen so there is going to be little difference in losses between a tire filled with air and one filled with nitrogen. Another point is that temperature differentials matter more than nitrogen content when it comes to maintaining a consistent air pressure in your tires.
But the real benefit from using nitrogen is that there is no moisture introduced into the tire when it is filled with nitrogen. Moisture in the tire can increase the tire pressure as the tire is heated. This is really only significant when the tire gets hot, as in at the track.
The last point to be made is that unless your tires are completely dry inside when the nitrogen is added, the nitrogen is not going to help much. Existing moisture in the tire will heat and your tire pressure will fluctuate as its temperature changes.
Personally I check my tire pressure weekly and adjust as necessary. I'd still do this if I used nitrogen.
Bottom line - not really worth it unless you track your car.
But the real benefit from using nitrogen is that there is no moisture introduced into the tire when it is filled with nitrogen. Moisture in the tire can increase the tire pressure as the tire is heated. This is really only significant when the tire gets hot, as in at the track.
The last point to be made is that unless your tires are completely dry inside when the nitrogen is added, the nitrogen is not going to help much. Existing moisture in the tire will heat and your tire pressure will fluctuate as its temperature changes.
Personally I check my tire pressure weekly and adjust as necessary. I'd still do this if I used nitrogen.
Bottom line - not really worth it unless you track your car.
06-22-2006, 08:18 AM
#4
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Thanks for the info! Next question, if you filled with nitrogen, can you then add air as necessary?
or are you stuck using nitrogen? I wouldn't think so since air is 78% nitrogen as you mentioned. . .
06-22-2006, 08:26 AM
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Is nitrogen bigger than oxygen?
I really don't know... been too long since I took Chemistry, but I know that the molecular weight of N2 is 28, and O2 is 32. This would lead me to believe that oxygen would be bigger, not smaller. But like I said, I don't really know.
Any chemists here?
-JPC
Any chemists here?
-JPC
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06-22-2006, 08:59 AM
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Re: Is nitrogen bigger than oxygen?
I think you are right. Looking this up, Nitrogen's atomic mass is ~14 while Oxygen's is ~16. Therefore O2 should be bigger than N2 right? Yet I've still seen this claim over and over again.<ul><li><a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/sub_care_clinic/1272166.html?page=2&c=y">http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/sub_care_clinic/1272166.html?page=2&c=y</a</li></ul>
