Deleted member 8180
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Yes, the outside of the tyre is exposed to oxygen but you can at least see it. Not many folks take 'em off and look inside... No, you can't tell what's inside your tyre but you'll definitely get at least 79% nitrogen.
Deleted member 207
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Years ago (mid 90s) we trialled nitrogen filled tyres in a couple of B double fuel tankers http://www.google.com.au/imgres?img...enAU420&biw=1366&bih=663&tbm=isch&um=1&itbs=1 , two others were left to run on air. We had just bought six B doubles and they were running on low profile tyres and Michelin were confident that Nitrogen was the way of the future. I cant remember the exact mileages that the tyres achieved but the nitrogen filled tyres were marginally longer lived say 140,000kms versus 125,000kms, the life varied across steer, drive and trailer axles. I'm pretty sure that we did not have problems with tyres getting punctures or running flat. Michelin reps were checking the tyres weekly. Fuel economy was harder to quantify as we did the same fuel efficient driver training to all the drivers with regular fuel reports and a fuel bonus scheme which saw at least one driver put fuel in the tank at his own expense to win the monthly bonus!!.
Nitrogen does have the advantage of being a more stable temperature/volume gas than just plain air, so as the tyres get hotter they are more likely to maintain their design profile, they seem to run cooler - Michelin would temperature test the tyres.
The issue of fuel economy has always been how to get few % here and there until it adds up to big numbers - an under front bumper air dam will do far more than fiddling with tyre pressures, driver training will achieve the most at least 10% but often up around 25% along with big improvements in maintenance and tyre costs.
Nitrogen does have the advantage of being a more stable temperature/volume gas than just plain air, so as the tyres get hotter they are more likely to maintain their design profile, they seem to run cooler - Michelin would temperature test the tyres.
The issue of fuel economy has always been how to get few % here and there until it adds up to big numbers - an under front bumper air dam will do far more than fiddling with tyre pressures, driver training will achieve the most at least 10% but often up around 25% along with big improvements in maintenance and tyre costs.
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davesmiff
Guest
nitrogen in tyres
Just before doing a trip to spain throug france last month, I read this thread with interest. I went to kwik fit and they did all tyres for £5 (Bargain). Our van is a t4 self build 2.5 deisel, and does a respectable 38 mpg.
I do drive very frugally adopting all the measures about driving styles mention previosly.
We covered 3800 miles starting and finishing with a full tank. Now not wanting to put all the credit to nitrogen in tyres, perhaps some to the type of roads etc but we managed to increase our mpg (and I can do it accurately) to a whopping 41.75 mpg. over the 3800mls. Now that works out at 9.85% increase. Well done to original poster of this thread. (not sure how to go back a page and see who it was but thanks..............
Dave
Just before doing a trip to spain throug france last month, I read this thread with interest. I went to kwik fit and they did all tyres for £5 (Bargain). Our van is a t4 self build 2.5 deisel, and does a respectable 38 mpg.
I do drive very frugally adopting all the measures about driving styles mention previosly.
We covered 3800 miles starting and finishing with a full tank. Now not wanting to put all the credit to nitrogen in tyres, perhaps some to the type of roads etc but we managed to increase our mpg (and I can do it accurately) to a whopping 41.75 mpg. over the 3800mls. Now that works out at 9.85% increase. Well done to original poster of this thread. (not sure how to go back a page and see who it was but thanks..............
Dave
Squibby
Guest
You are told that something like filling the tyers with nitrogen will give you a better MPG figgure, without thinking about it you will slightly alter your driving style, it's called the placebo effect, after time you will revert back to your normal driving style. the best way to cut down fuel costs is to only carry what you need and leave the rest at home, thus cutting down on the weight of your veichle and reducing your rolling resistance, correct tyer pressures also play a hugh factor in this.
There have been a lot of reps caught out with police spot checks areond the Leicester area, they were running over inflated tyers, this will reduce the tyers contact patch with the road and reduce the veichles rolling resitance but this practice is dangerous, greater risk of not being able to stop in time in most braking zones and even worse in the rain as the tyer wont be able to clear water/grip the roads surface as it's designed to because of the change to the profile.
I was one of the vehicles stopped in March when they were carrying out these random checks, my van was OK, but they gave a warning to three other divers while I was waiting to get checked, the check was quick and the copper that was taking my details explained the checks while his opo carried out said checks, all they do is check for irregular wear across the contact surface of the tyer with a tread depth gauge, also shows up if the tyer is under inflated.
Good to see these checks being carried out all the need to do now is nick all the tailgaters that like to sit in the less turbulent air about a foot from my bumper!
Squibby.
There have been a lot of reps caught out with police spot checks areond the Leicester area, they were running over inflated tyers, this will reduce the tyers contact patch with the road and reduce the veichles rolling resitance but this practice is dangerous, greater risk of not being able to stop in time in most braking zones and even worse in the rain as the tyer wont be able to clear water/grip the roads surface as it's designed to because of the change to the profile.
I was one of the vehicles stopped in March when they were carrying out these random checks, my van was OK, but they gave a warning to three other divers while I was waiting to get checked, the check was quick and the copper that was taking my details explained the checks while his opo carried out said checks, all they do is check for irregular wear across the contact surface of the tyer with a tread depth gauge, also shows up if the tyer is under inflated.
Good to see these checks being carried out all the need to do now is nick all the tailgaters that like to sit in the less turbulent air about a foot from my bumper!
Squibby.
Deleted member 3011
Guest
As Roger said
but if you want to give even the slightest credit to nitrogen go ahead.
but if you want to give even the slightest credit to nitrogen go ahead.
fofeg101
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I've had my tyres blown up with "helium", much better it lightens the van. Initially I had the spare blown with "helium" too but it was causing the van to take off when crossing sharp hills, i.e. hump back bridges, so I had the spare re-inflated with plain air. It's increased my average mpg from 20 mpg to 60 mpg!!. Also, I had two holes cut in the floor in front of the passenger seat so the wife can help out a little, Flintstone style.
fairytooth
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Hmm, not sure about this myself. Can you explain why this is so? I can believe that you consciously or unconsciously apply the 'light touch' as a result but the AA do not support the theory...'Overall, while accepting the possibility of purified nitrogen being of benefit in certain applications, we don't think that the cost and possible inconvenience are justified for normal passenger car use.'
More info here: Tyres : Car tyre safety advice - filling with nitrogen - The AA
Come on, justify that ten quid to the rest of us !!!!
maingate
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There have been 29 replies to this thread and not one of you noticed the deliberate mistake.
The OP said he got the MPG reading from his trip computer. On the new shape (post 2007) Ducatos, these reading bear no relationship to the actual MPG worked out by topping the tank off and working out the real MPG.
I have seen plenty of posts on forums where the trip calculation is 10% too high, when compared to brimming the tank. What was the saving again? :drive:
The OP said he got the MPG reading from his trip computer. On the new shape (post 2007) Ducatos, these reading bear no relationship to the actual MPG worked out by topping the tank off and working out the real MPG.
I have seen plenty of posts on forums where the trip calculation is 10% too high, when compared to brimming the tank. What was the saving again? :drive:
fairytooth
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Fuel Additive
OK so this got me thinking about fuel additives.
I'm quite sure it will have been covered before but has anyone used one and can they honestly say it has worked for them?
OK so this got me thinking about fuel additives.
I'm quite sure it will have been covered before but has anyone used one and can they honestly say it has worked for them?
Cowly
Guest
Fuel additive
Yes,
I have been using Countdown Fuel Additive for the past 13 years, 1998 R reg, Renault Scenic, 1.9 dti. 600 miles on a full tank with Countdown, (that's 600 miles before I fill up) but can only get 550 miles without the fuel additive, with 140,000 miles on the clock the MOT smoke test still reads below 1.0 as you get a better fuel burn and less black unburnt fuel.
Yes,
I have been using Countdown Fuel Additive for the past 13 years, 1998 R reg, Renault Scenic, 1.9 dti. 600 miles on a full tank with Countdown, (that's 600 miles before I fill up) but can only get 550 miles without the fuel additive, with 140,000 miles on the clock the MOT smoke test still reads below 1.0 as you get a better fuel burn and less black unburnt fuel.
Squibby
Guest
I've never heard the one about the two stroke engine oil before so I can't coment, but you could try attaching a rudimentry sail like the vikings used on there long boats to get that extra bit of free power, should also work in reverse and assist breaking when decending mountain passes and cure the breaking problems some members seem to be having.
I had tought of using live hampsters ( not the top gear type though ) and attaching the exercise wheel to the back wheels of my van for that bit of extra drive, but this would make my van too powerful and hard to handle in the corners.
Squibby.
I had tought of using live hampsters ( not the top gear type though ) and attaching the exercise wheel to the back wheels of my van for that bit of extra drive, but this would make my van too powerful and hard to handle in the corners.
Squibby.