Author Topic: nitrogen valve caps  (Read 2665 times)

Offline joe-dean

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nitrogen valve caps
« on: February 13, 2020, 03:51:33 PM »
I noticed my wheel valve caps were green which indicates they are filled with nitrogen. is this common to the v85tt ?
anyone else have that on there bike ?

Offline SmithSwede

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2020, 04:51:01 PM »
Welcome to the forum Joe!   

I don't know the answer to this question, but surely somebody on this forum will chime in soon. 

I personally run krypton gas in my Guzzi.   Even more better than nitrogen.   
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Online Moparnut72

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2020, 10:07:10 PM »
It is pretty much a waste of money. I think it is supposed to maintain a somewhat stable tire pressure through a variety of temperature ranges. My local Dodge dealer would put nitrogen in all the new cars and trucks thet were selling and charge a premium for it. Total ripoff in my opinion.
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Offline Kiwi_Roy

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2020, 10:44:43 PM »
It is pretty much a waste of money. I think it is supposed to maintain a somewhat stable tire pressure through a variety of temperature ranges. My local Dodge dealer would put nitrogen in all the new cars and trucks thet were selling and charge a premium for it. Total ripoff in my opinion.
kk
Since Air is 70% Nitrogen anyway
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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2020, 10:44:43 PM »

Offline mmcwhitehead

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2020, 05:44:28 AM »
Nitrogen in tires has a couple benefits:

First of all- it's dry (i.e., no moisture). Air from a compressor has some amount of moisture or humidity in it. The presence of moisture, as I understand, causes a wider variation in tire pressure as tire temperature changes.

Second- nitrogen has no oxygen (kind of obvious). Oxygen, especially under pressure inside a tire, causes oxidation and deterioration of the tire casing over time. This is probably no big deal for motorcyclists since we replace tires more often than is typically done on a passenger car. In the average tire inflated with air there are three to four times as many oxygen molecules in contact with the inside surface of the tire than on the outside at normal atmospheric pressure.

All that said... I'm still running with plain old air in my tires because I don't have a convenient source of nitrogen.

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Online Bisbonian

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2020, 07:46:48 AM »
To answer your question.
No, my V85TT did not come with green valve caps or a nitrogen fill.
It could be something your dealership did as a special service.

Offline Markcarovilli

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2020, 12:07:47 PM »
when I picked up my car two years ago, it had green valve caps - I looked at salesman and said they looked like crap and he changed them out to black. 

Been refilling with regular (non-high test free air) air from my compressor since.  I'm guessing that tires have had pretty bad air now for over 100 years and they still kinda work.....

Mark

Offline Rick in WNY

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2020, 12:18:45 PM »
Short of track days and full on race cars, a nitrogen fill is a waste of money.

The whole idea is based around ideal gas laws. If you fill a tire with a dry, stable gas, like nitrogen, then the pressure change as the tire heats up will always follow a nice predictable temp/pressure curve. When you fill with a mixed gas, especially one with a moisture content, ie, atmospheric air... the different mixes of gases and moisture cause the internal pressure to rise in fits and spurts. For folks running around a race track, that is important that the pressure be consistent. For the rest of use mere mortals, it's all marketing wank.

And most places that offer a nitrogen fill do it wrong. To do it properly, you put the tire on the rim, then fill and purge it multiple times to get all the nasty other gases out of the tire. Failure to do that means you've got a mixed gas, and are not getting the benefits you were hoping for.
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Offline bigbikerrick

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2020, 12:29:33 PM »
Depends what kind of air you put in the tires. If you fill them in a major city with all that smog and stuff, you are going to have "bad air" in your tires, and it should be replaced with "good air" as soon as reasonably possible.
  I usually take a 12v compressor with me then ride the bike to a mountain top where the air is clean, and preferably smells like pine cones, and then let all the "bad air" out, and replenish with "good air". In cases where the "bad air" was really bad, it would be advisable to do a "flush", by deflating X2, and refilling with "good air".  :grin:
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Online Moparnut72

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2020, 01:08:52 PM »
In the case of my former Dodge dealer it was just a way to put more money in their coffers. The put it in all their new cars and trucks and put a $50 add on on price of the vehicle.
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Offline Vagrant

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2020, 05:06:50 PM »
this whole mess is created by the greedy dealers and just plain stupid UN- knowledgeable humans.  (reminds me of the ridiculous set up charges dealers are asking for)
back in 2017 my wife wanted a suv. I really liked the Lexus RX 350 sport. until I drove it. (ride wasn't smooth enough) they added for nitrogen as did the premium brand dealer of another brand across the street where I had looked at cars. One and in fairness I don't remember which added $199 for for nitrogen and the other only $99. what a deal. both companies had convinced their salesmen you would go up in flames if you didn't use it on a new car. What a bunch of BS! My sister in law is convinced she can't add air no matter how low a tire is she must return it to the selling dealer.
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Offline LowRyter

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2020, 05:29:35 PM »
How would the bike ride if the tires were filled with helium? 
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Offline Kiwi_Roy

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2020, 09:25:11 PM »
How would the bike ride if the tires were filled with helium?
It would float over the bumps but you wouldn't be able to get any traction.
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Offline LowRyter

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2020, 10:25:36 PM »
It would float over the bumps but you wouldn't be able to get any traction.

I thought it might fly.
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Offline Texas Turnip

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #14 on: February 15, 2020, 06:35:33 AM »
A few questions about these wheel valve caps.
1. Should I use anti-seize?
2.What is the torque spec?
3. Most importantly, should I use a hose clamp?

Nervous,Tex

Offline Vagrant

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #15 on: February 15, 2020, 07:26:42 AM »
Tex there is a special 27 1/2 point socket made to fit a 1/8" drive wrench. torque value is -2#.
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elvisboy77

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #16 on: February 15, 2020, 08:27:54 AM »
This started in the airline industry to guarantee there was no moisture in the gas that pumped up the tires.  Moisture would freeze at the altitudes that airplanes (commercial and military anyway) fly at.

Bad news to have a chunk of ice in your tire when it hits the ground at 100+ MPH during landing.

As others have said, it is a waste of money on earth bound vehicles, although one can always come up with excuses to use it.

They put that stuff in my 2017 Mustang GT.  I tossed the green caps right away.  Ugh, marketing!

Offline joe-dean

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #17 on: February 15, 2020, 08:43:28 AM »
I suppose the dealer put the nitrogen in. I didn't see any charge for it I'll be adding air as necessary

Offline Wayne Orwig

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #18 on: February 15, 2020, 09:16:49 AM »
I just make sure I change over from winter air to spring air with the seasonal change. The nitrogen stuff is weird.
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Offline Vagrant

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #19 on: February 15, 2020, 09:42:33 AM »
I just store a big can of the summer blend in the garage. I do put in a spoon full of stabil though.
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Online Perazzimx14

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #20 on: February 15, 2020, 10:13:17 AM »
Wonder if all the dealerships total evacuate the "air" from the tire prior to filling with Nitrogen? If not its kind of moot to use nitrogen.

I use acetylene in the rear tire so when I'm dragging the pegs I can tell if the tire has a leak.
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Offline nbags

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #21 on: February 15, 2020, 11:19:19 AM »
tires nitrogen is about 95 % , regular air is 78% i'm sure tire was not evacuated to remove air out of it so i would say that green cap nitrogen filled tires are about 92% so you're only getting 14% difference it does help as pressure does not change with temperature but is it worth $50.00 and not really being able to inflate your tires unless you go to a nitrogen service station .

Online Huzo

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #22 on: February 15, 2020, 03:30:14 PM »
The drags use Nitrogen in the rear tyre/s and Methanol in the tank.
That’s why the class is referred to as “nitro methanol..” it seems like a strange thing to do, but that’s why they’re called “funny cars”.
 Oddly, when used in motorbikes, they’re not called “funny bikes...!” (funny that..)
Hydrogen is sometimes used in the rear tyres of race vehicles and can replace nitrogen in aircraft tyres, it reduces the oxygen content in the atmosphere during a post crash fire....Safety first...! :popcorn:
Also can highten the fun factor during a post race burnout..!
See how quickly the fire in the Hindenburg went out, safe as houses... :thumb:
Another reason that aircraft use unleaded fuel and hydrogen filled tyres...It’s lighter ! Just don’t mention the word “lighter” if you’re standing near a leaking tyre.. :violent1:
« Last Edit: February 15, 2020, 03:41:22 PM by Huzo »

Offline jrt

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #23 on: February 15, 2020, 03:44:10 PM »
How would the bike ride if the tires were filled with helium?

(seriously) they would rapidly leak out the helium and go flat.  You know how helium balloons leak and flat?  A tire is even more porous.
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Online Huzo

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #24 on: February 15, 2020, 03:45:49 PM »
(seriously) they would rapidly leak out the helium and go flat.  You know how helium balloons leak and flat?  A tire is even more porous.
Plus, they sound squeaky when you go over a bump.. :wink:
Interestingly.
One of the larger dealers near me, uses argon in the tyres of display bikes out the front of the shop, he sometimes leaves the keys in, I asked him if he was concerned about them being stolen ..?
His reply was..
“You can’t steal them mate, the gas in the tyres is inert, that means it won’t move..”
“That seems like an “ideal” solution to  the theft problem”, I remarked.. but I’ll stand guard as a precaution.
“That is really quite “noble” of you..” says the dealer.
Always happy to help.. :bike-037:
« Last Edit: February 15, 2020, 04:01:47 PM by Huzo »

elvisboy77

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #25 on: February 15, 2020, 05:15:54 PM »
Wonder if all the dealerships total evacuate the "air" from the tire prior to filling with Nitrogen? If not its kind of moot to use nitrogen.

I use acetylene in the rear tire so when I'm dragging the pegs I can tell if the tire has a leak.


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Offline Roebling3

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #26 on: February 15, 2020, 07:08:13 PM »
Thank you everyone. Many laugh out loud intervals.
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Offline Charles in Lake Charles

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #27 on: February 16, 2020, 06:41:31 AM »
Nitromethane is the fuel used in top fuel dragsters and fuel funny cars.
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Offline Two Checks

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #28 on: February 16, 2020, 11:56:15 AM »
So the rear tires supply the nitro for the methanol?
How do they do that? Won't the tire go flat?
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Online Huzo

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Re: nitrogen valve caps
« Reply #29 on: February 16, 2020, 01:18:23 PM »
Nitromethane is the fuel used in top fuel dragsters and fuel funny cars.
Thanks Charles.
Are you suggesting I may have gotten that slightly wrong..?
So where does the N from CH3 NO2 go, after it’s all gone BANG...! Back into the tyres ?
« Last Edit: February 16, 2020, 01:29:59 PM by Huzo »

 

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