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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: STMO123 on 03 July 2012, 19:10:38

Title: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: STMO123 on 03 July 2012, 19:10:38
Took a tyre to kwik fit today for a puncture repair. Total cost £22.50 which included £1.50 for nitrogen inflation. Why?
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: tigers_gonads on 03 July 2012, 19:12:09
Nitrogen is a inert gas.
It expands very little when it gets hot so your tyres stay the same presure  :y
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: martin42 on 03 July 2012, 19:17:54
Just need to make sure they do use it as I've seen them use normal air and charged for nitrogen  :y
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: Abiton on 03 July 2012, 19:21:18
So they can charge more. 

Nitrogen expands just as much as air with heating, air is 80% nitrogen after all...

Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: Kevin Wood on 03 July 2012, 19:44:34
So they can charge more. 

Nitrogen expands just as much as air with heating, air is 80% nitrogen after all...

Indeed. It's used in motorsport and aviation because it doesn't contain moisture, which really does expand once it gets hot, and causes more issues if it gets really cold. I doubt it will give much benefit on a road car, though.

Also - ask yourself this. What is in the tyre before they inflate it? That's right. Most of the volume is air before they add nitrogen. The tyre would need evacuating or purging of air if you were to fill it with 100% nitrogen.
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 03 July 2012, 19:49:28
So they can charge more. 

Nitrogen expands just as much as air with heating, air is 80% nitrogen after all...

Indeed. It's used in motorsport and aviation because it doesn't contain moisture, which really does expand once it gets hot, and causes more issues if it gets really cold. I doubt it will give much benefit on a road car, though.

Also - ask yourself this. What is in the tyre before they inflate it? That's right. Most of the volume is air before they add nitrogen. The tyre would need evacuating or purging of air if you were to fill it with 100% nitrogen.

yep..all gases expand by heat and if it cant expand pressure increases PV=nrT
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: smithpa7 on 03 July 2012, 20:26:14
So they can charge more. 

Nitrogen expands just as much as air with heating, air is 80% nitrogen after all...

Indeed. It's used in motorsport and aviation because it doesn't contain moisture, which really does expand once it gets hot, and causes more issues if it gets really cold. I doubt it will give much benefit on a road car, though.

Also - ask yourself this. What is in the tyre before they inflate it? That's right. Most of the volume is air before they add nitrogen. The tyre would need evacuating or purging of air if you were to fill it with 100% nitrogen.

yep..all gases expand by heat and if it cant expand pressure increases PV=nrT

Simple really 8)
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: hotel21 on 03 July 2012, 20:30:55
I thought it was to do with molecule size in that nitrogen molecules were 'larger' than standard air thus did not leak through the gaps in the rubber/tyre molecules......
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: CaptainZok on 03 July 2012, 20:35:36
Dunno really B but when you think about it if that were true oxygen leaks out leaving 80% nitrogen and you top it up with air, after a couple of refills it's going to be pretty close to pure nitrogen isn't it?
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: hotel21 on 03 July 2012, 20:40:45
Yup, that was also my thinking John when I first read about it yonks ago but it's used in aircraft landing gear so there must be something in it....
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: STMO123 on 03 July 2012, 20:43:07
Right. Thanks for explaining that. So there's no danger of my tyres exploding when I drive to asda and take my doggie out. I mean, I sometimes go as fast as 38mph.
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 03 July 2012, 20:44:21
from
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/tech_ops/read.main/70358/ (http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/tech_ops/read.main/70358/)
 
"Aircraft tires are filled with nitrogen because it's a inert gas and therefore doesn't corrode the wheel as opposed to regular compressed air wich contains oxygen, highly corrosive. "

and they say
 
"The main reason for use in aircraft tires as noted in a few instances above is that nitrogen does not react readily with the rubber compounds or metals used in tires and will not support combustion in case of a tire fire.

Nitrogen is also used as a pre-charge for various hydraulic systems in aircraft including the main acumulator and propellors.

Many maintenance procedures include instructions to inject dry nitrogen in various plumbing systems (pitot/static etc) to clean them.

Oxygen in any somewhat pure state on the other hand is very much feared in aircraft maintenance unless you are actually filling the oxygen tanks.

If you expose any type of oil or grease to pure oxygen, it will spontaneously combust (burst into flames) because the reaction with the oxygen is so violent it releases great amounts of heat.

So when oxygen is in use or if you're filling oxygen tanks, don't hang around with your oily coveralls."


Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: Entwood on 03 July 2012, 20:44:57
100% Nitrogen is used in aircraft tyres for several reasons :

No moisture: (1) moisture freezes at altitude at the lowest point of the wheel, and would cause massive out-of-balance if solid on touchdown.... if liquid it resists the start of rotation .. (2) It also causes corrosion.

Molecule size : Nitrogen molecules are large in comparison to oxygen and water molecules and so "seep" less thus maintaining a more stable pressure

Temperature change : the different compositions of normal air react to temperature change in different ways, thus a variable "mix" will give a variable response ... 100% nitrogen will be far more stable

An aircraft tyre is subject to tremendous temperature change ... at the end of the take off roll it is extremely hot having had to support the whole weight of the aircraft throughout its acceleration. At cruise it is extremely cold ... around -44 C .. at the end of the landing roll it is once again very hot, both from the weight and the action of the brakes. It also has to withstand almost instant acceleration from stationary to the rotations of 180mph (ish) on touchdown .....so stability is extremely important.

IMHO very few of those facts cross over to "normal" cars, although they may affect F1 cars somewhat more !!

So, again IMHO, a waste of time ... especially if, like me, your tyre pressures change frequently due to load .. :)

Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: Richie London on 03 July 2012, 20:45:45
Right. Thanks for explaining that. So there's no danger of my tyres exploding when I drive to asda and take my doggie out. I mean, I sometimes go as fast as 38mph.

you not got your mobility skooter yet Steve
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: STMO123 on 03 July 2012, 20:47:45
Right. Thanks for explaining that. So there's no danger of my tyres exploding when I drive to asda and take my doggie out. I mean, I sometimes go as fast as 38mph.

you not got your mobility skooter yet Steve

I go dirt-tracking with that at the weekend  :y
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: waspy on 03 July 2012, 20:49:40
Right. Thanks for explaining that. So there's no danger of my tyres exploding when I drive to asda and take my doggie out. I mean, I sometimes go as fast as 38mph.

We can hope :P
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: Richie London on 03 July 2012, 20:51:55
Right. Thanks for explaining that. So there's no danger of my tyres exploding when I drive to asda and take my doggie out. I mean, I sometimes go as fast as 38mph.

you not got your mobility skooter yet Steve

I go dirt-tracking with that at the weekend  :y

as im not working properly still I've been forced to attend the over 50s club at college. my first one is wed. Now do i wear a cardigan or a jump suit to attend  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: Richie London on 03 July 2012, 20:52:56
Right. Thanks for explaining that. So there's no danger of my tyres exploding when I drive to asda and take my doggie out. I mean, I sometimes go as fast as 38mph.

We can hope :P

didn't concordes tyre explode before it crashed?
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: STMO123 on 03 July 2012, 20:55:28
Right. Thanks for explaining that. So there's no danger of my tyres exploding when I drive to asda and take my doggie out. I mean, I sometimes go as fast as 38mph.

you not got your mobility skooter yet Steve

I go dirt-tracking with that at the weekend  :y

as im not working properly still I've been forced to attend the over 50s club at college. my first one is wed. Now do i wear a cardigan or a jump suit to attend  ;D ;D

Go naked. It woke a few of them up last time I did that.
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: STMO123 on 03 July 2012, 20:56:47
Right. Thanks for explaining that. So there's no danger of my tyres exploding when I drive to asda and take my doggie out. I mean, I sometimes go as fast as 38mph.

We can hope :P

didn't concordes tyre explode before it crashed?
Yeah. Pity you weren't on it.  ;D
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: Richie London on 03 July 2012, 20:58:31
Right. Thanks for explaining that. So there's no danger of my tyres exploding when I drive to asda and take my doggie out. I mean, I sometimes go as fast as 38mph.

We can hope :P

didn't concordes tyre explode before it crashed?
Yeah. Pity you weren't on it.  ;D

you'd be gutted if anything happened to me. :-*
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: STMO123 on 03 July 2012, 20:59:59
Anyway, enough of this hilarity  ::) I think I'll tell them to just use air next time, save meself a couple of shillings  ;D
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: STMO123 on 03 July 2012, 21:02:21
Right. Thanks for explaining that. So there's no danger of my tyres exploding when I drive to asda and take my doggie out. I mean, I sometimes go as fast as 38mph.

We can hope :P

didn't concordes tyre explode before it crashed?
Yeah. Pity you weren't on it.  ;D

you'd be gutted if anything happened to me. :-*

Sorry Richie  :-[

I automatically thought it was Petra wot posted that.
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: Vamps on 03 July 2012, 21:03:23
My Dad had a camper done but the tyre place in Darlington would check and top up anytime without any further charges....... :y :y

Personally I thought it was a bit of a fad..... :D :D :D
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 03 July 2012, 21:03:45
100% Nitrogen is used in aircraft tyres for several reasons :

No moisture: (1) moisture freezes at altitude at the lowest point of the wheel, and would cause massive out-of-balance if solid on touchdown.... if liquid it resists the start of rotation .. (2) It also causes corrosion.

Molecule size : Nitrogen molecules are large in comparison to oxygen and water molecules and so "seep" less thus maintaining a more stable pressure

Temperature change : the different compositions of normal air react to temperature change in different ways, thus a variable "mix" will give a variable response ... 100% nitrogen will be far more stable

An aircraft tyre is subject to tremendous temperature change ... at the end of the take off roll it is extremely hot having had to support the whole weight of the aircraft throughout its acceleration. At cruise it is extremely cold ... around -44 C .. at the end of the landing roll it is once again very hot, both from the weight and the action of the brakes. It also has to withstand almost instant acceleration from stationary to the rotations of 180mph (ish) on touchdown .....so stability is extremely important.

IMHO very few of those facts cross over to "normal" cars, although they may affect F1 cars somewhat more !!

So, again IMHO, a waste of time ... especially if, like me, your tyre pressures change frequently due to load .. :)

Good one Entwood.. :y
 
only one point I must correct, at a fix temperature ,volume and pressure , a fix number of moles of gases can exist (n) which has the fix coefficient r or R in the equation.. either a mixture or pure state..  there are some kinds of intermolecular forces that effect the gases taking space..  so mixtures volumetric behaviour with temperature wont be different than a pure one.. 
 
 
and must add, a tire inside can be accepted as a closed system (unless there is some hole) , but not heat isolated..
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: STMO123 on 03 July 2012, 21:08:07
What's the point in having nitrogen in just one tyre? Seems like a load of twaddle to me.
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 03 July 2012, 21:10:08
What's the point in having nitrogen in just one tyre? Seems like a load of twaddle to me.

how you say "rip off" ;D
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: STMO123 on 03 July 2012, 21:11:38
That's what I thought Cem  :(
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: STMO123 on 03 July 2012, 21:17:56
Thinking about it, I would say it's less safe to have nitrogen in one front tyre than air in both.

I'm going to fire off a stiff letter.
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: waspy on 03 July 2012, 21:22:19
Thinking about it, I would say it's less safe to have nitrogen in one front tyre than air in both.

I'm going to fire off a stiff letter.

There's nothing "stiff" about you any more Steve. Though sometime soon you will be for a few days ;D
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 03 July 2012, 21:22:46
Thinking about it, I would say it's less safe to have nitrogen in one front tyre than air in both.

I'm going to fire off a stiff letter.

wont be a difference, either be it a fart gas ;D
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 04 July 2012, 10:44:04
Took a tyre to kwik fit today for a puncture repair. Total cost £22.50 which included £1.50 for nitrogen inflation. Why?


The knuckledraggers at Kwik Fit saw the old boy coming a mile off. Shame. ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: Del Boy on 04 July 2012, 10:47:44
I thought it was to do with molecule size in that nitrogen molecules were 'larger' than standard air thus did not leak through the gaps in the rubber/tyre molecules......

That's what I was told. Holds pressure longer, more stable blah blah. All I noticed on my sons car was that it made it ride a bit harder, saying that though, he didn't have to put any air in for a long time.
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: cleggy on 04 July 2012, 11:37:49
Took a tyre to kwik fit today for a puncture repair. Total cost £22.50 which included £1.50 for nitrogen inflation. Why?


The knuckledraggers at Kwik Fit saw the old boy coming a mile off. Shame. ;D ;D ;)

The local tyre shop down the road does punctures for a fiver  :y :y ;D ;D

Concorde ran over some debris on the runway which burst the tyre and flipped it up to puncture the tanks IIRC :(
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 04 July 2012, 19:07:59
Its obvious really why nitrogen is better than air in the tyres.....

Its lighter than air......therefore will help 'lift' your car off the road making it lighter....

Lighter car means more mpg......simples  :y










Nitrogen is lighter than air......but if you believe my explaination   ::) ::) ;D ;D
Title: Re: Nitrogen inflation
Post by: jimac on 05 July 2012, 15:00:30

Nitrogen is lighter than air......but if you believe my explaination   ::) ::) ;D ;D

As air consists of 78% nitrogen (and 21% oxygen) it can't really be "lighter" than air.