Tire Pressure... 2013 Jetta TDI

[shinghi]

Is anyone else having problems keeping air in their tires? I feel like my tire pressure gauge goes off once a month and I have to add air.

I talked to my brother who has a 2013 golf and he is having similar problems.

Live in Seattle - moderate to cold wet weather.

No apparent leaks in my tires.

 

[TDIx2]

Tire pressure will drop with air temperatures. Some people get nitrogen fills on there tires cause it maintains pressure over wider temp spreads.

 

[LarBear]

I've never had that problem with the tire pressure sensor, and the tires seem to hold pressure well, until the temps drop like a rock like they have.

Since air is close to 80% nitrogen I can't understand how filling tires with nitrogen does anything except keep the insides of steel wheels from rusting and sensors from dying due to moisture in most compressed air used to fill tires.

 

[Cogen Man]

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=73

Have you checked your valve stems. Get a spray bottle and add a little dish soap and fill bottle with water. Spray the soapy solution on your valve stems and look for any bubbles. If you see any then you have an air leak on the valve stem. To stop the leak sometimes it's just a matter of pushing on the stem and it will seal. Soap again and if no bubbles your good.
You could also get some of this.
http://www.swagelok.com/search/find...s=Y&item=5e208092-ed6c-4251-9202-ed8a2aae5811

 

[glick]

Since air is close to 80% nitrogen I can't understand how filling tires with nitrogen does anything except keep the insides of steel wheels from rusting and sensors from dying due to moisture in most compressed air used to fill tires.

Nitrogen is affected by ambient temperature, so it needs to have more nitrogen added/removed in response to changes in the outside air temperature.

However, Nitrogen is less likely to escape the tire by permeating through the rubber of the tire and this will help to maintain the pressure at a given temperature range. So while having nitrogen does not prevent all problems regarding tire pressure in the winter, it will help to prevent some possible problems regarding tire pressures.

 

[My silver GOLF]

I live in Arizona, we have 100 to 22 degrees and have had to have my Nitrogen tires adjusted every two weeks. I'm thinking of going back to AIR!

 

[LarBear]

Nitrogen is affected by ambient temperature, so it needs to have more nitrogen added/removed in response to changes in the outside air temperature.

However, Nitrogen is less likely to escape the tire by permeating through the rubber of the tire and this will help to maintain the pressure at a given temperature range. So while having nitrogen does not prevent all problems regarding tire pressure in the winter, it will help to prevent some possible problems regarding tire pressures.

As a retired and forgetful chemist I emailed a guy I used to work with who's got a PhD in chemistry as well as being a "car guy" about N in tires as opposed to nasty old compressed air. All gases contract and expand in compliance with the laws of gases that control the expansion or contraction of gases thus affecting increases and decreases in pressures of gases. Also nitrogen exists as a single molecule, N, while oxygen exists in nature only as 02, i.e., two oxygen molecules bound to each other and are consequently as large as or larger than a nitrogen molecule. Since permeability of a membrane (tire) to a gas is based on the size of the gas molecule if two molecules are the same size or very close to it their permeabilities are likely to be very similar. Unless of course one gas is corrosive and attacks the membrane and changes its permeability.

 

[mac5155]

I just checked my 2011 yesterday cause it looked low. 25PSI in each tire. I set the lights for 35 PSI. Certainly all 4 sensors can't be bad.

 

[torrimac]

No tire pressure sensors. The low air pressure light goes off the ABS sensors. If one wheel starts to rotate at a different speed as the other wheels then it will throw a light.

But, If all 4 tires drop pressure at the same rate, then theoretically then the light would never trigger and you could drive all the way to the rim. This would have to happen very slow. This is just my thoughts on the deal though.

I do know there are no individual tire pressure sensors in each wheel though.

 

[drg_]

^^^atmospheric nitrogen is a triple bond, diatomic N( N2 ), not monatomic N. Also, not to be pedantic, but oxygen also exists as O3 (ozone). And, twice you meant 'atom(s),' but wrote 'molecule(s).' edit: those numerals are SUPPOSED to be subscripts, but this system changes them when copied and pasted from Microsoft Word

 

[valenburg]

I have 1 tire that is always getting low. I am beggining to think it may just be a bad bead. It seems to happen once every 2-3 weeks despite the air temp. I am due for tires soon anyway so I'm not too worried about it. I may play with the valve stem on it. ::thumbsup to all the science lingo going on here. I love it when a thread gets all technical.

 

[Slurry Pumper]

I pump up the tires to 35 psi at the following rates:

1 time every 1 month for temps > 65 F
1 time every 2 weeks for temp range 32 - 65 F
1 time every week for temp range 15 - 32 F
1 time every day for temp range <15 F

It only happens on 1 tire, and I think it is because I drive in Hazleton, PA. Yeah Hazleton, the second biggest sh$t hole in PA. (Reading you're still the tops baby). The last time I got new tires the guy at the Firestorm dealer actually had the stones to ask if I ran into a pothole with my car because the 1 rim is slightly bent. I looked at him like he was nuts. In Hazleton it is a rare day not to hit a pothole. The entire city looks like a night aerial bombing run just happened.

 

[Little Joe]

Since air is close to 80% nitrogen I can't understand how filling tires with nitrogen does anything except keep the insides of steel wheels from rusting and sensors from dying due to moisture in most compressed air used to fill tires.[/QUOTE]

My thought exactly. I also have seen many times where the nitrogen you think you are getting is in fact contaminated with air as the system they use to make nitrogen is often overtaxed and makes up shortages with normal compressed air. You never really know how pure the nitrogen is and is just a marketing gimmick to empty your wallet faster

 

[shinghi]

This seems like it is happening to quite a few people. I've had two previous cars - a honda and a 2001 vw jetta TDI. I can't seem to remember having to fill up so frequently.

Do you guys have a similar experience across your vehicles?

 

[NAZ TDI]

Do you have aluminum alloy rims? These are sometimes porous and that may be your leak.
On the nitrogen nonsense thing, I agree that its a waste of your dollars! I worked for over 27 years at a government fleet. We serviced vehicles at 6 month intervals and the only time a tire was low was when it had a nail or screw in it. I seriously doubt that nitrogen would have helped in this situation! Otherwise 2 or 3 pounds usually sufficed. I never saw a tire "degraded" on the inside nor corroded rims on the inside due to oxygen being in the tire, either. A large tire store chain-Discount Tire-does not recommend nor use nitrogen.

 

[F6Hawk]

Ummm, in a word, NO. Regular air (78% N) and "pure" N (about 99%N) expand and contract at nearly an identical rate, close enough to 1 psi per 10 degrees F for government work.

N is used in critical applications to reduce flammability as well as to prevent moisture buildup and potential corrosion.

Tire pressure will drop with air temperatures. Some people get nitrogen fills on there tires cause it maintains pressure over wider temp spreads.

 

[meerschm]

nitrogen in car tires has a single, overwhelming, motivating function.

it adds $$ to the pocket of the dealer or shop that sells it to you. just think of all the cars driving around with schrader valve caps of a different color that cost $75 each. (like my wife's honda, with the $600 service package..those valve caps are the only visible difference)

after the initial fill, because even the N2 pressure has to be adjusted on a regular basis, the offer of "free for life" nitrogen service gets you back where you can be sold a bunch of other stuff and services.


http://www.autodealermonthly.com/ch...ons-for-nitrogen-tire-inflation-services.aspx

 

[showdown 42]

I never have to add air unless there is a major drop in temps. Add in the fall when the first frost then not again till following yr. 35lbs all around. If one tire is losing air have it checked for a nail. I had it happen to me once and tire shop found a small nail in the thread.

 

[Dana Hanchett]

Have had 2 valve stem cores leak and set off TPMS. Changed out all 4 cores and had no more problems. Cores looked corroded.

 

[sandmansans]

No tire pressure sensors. The low air pressure light goes off the ABS sensors. If one wheel starts to rotate at a different speed as the other wheels then it will throw a light.

But, If all 4 tires drop pressure at the same rate, then theoretically then the light would never trigger and you could drive all the way to the rim. This would have to happen very slow. This is just my thoughts on the deal though.

I do know there are no individual tire pressure sensors in each wheel though.

Bingo, Torrimac hit the nail right on the head. Take the tire off and spray with soap and water out of a bottle. Valve stem both where it goes on the rim and at the end. The lip of the rim and tire. And around the tire itself to see if you have a small puncture.

Best of luck.