Slow Air Leak

[racorcey]

I'm just curious if anyone here has suffered from a slow air leak? I got the car used at 11k miles 5 years ago, and am now finally turning 107K miles - and on am my 3rd set of tires. Some time ago, during the 2nd set of tires, I noticed that the LF tire would seem a bit low - and I have sort of kept up with putting in the air over the years - more often than I'd like. Now I seem to lose about 1-3 psi per day, and that's getting to be a PITA.

Wheel porosity? I can tell you that the original stems are still with the wheel. I tried some soap bubbles around it, but nothing really showed up. No real damage to the wheel that I can detect.

What have your collective experiences been with these wheels? I did do some searching on the forum, but couldn't really find anything that fit.

Thanks!

[capt512]

I have a leak that is about the same as yours on my right front. However I have some pretty low tread tires that appear to have some dry rot on them, so I just figured the leak was from them. It is very annoying though.

[J-MAN]

Usually not porosity. A good tire store will break down the tire and polish away the crap that builds up and prevents a good seal.

[fadetoblack]

Try having the tire dismounted and have the rim cleaned where the tire ridge mounts on it. I have had the same problem and it cleared up after it was cleaned (the shop used a wire grinder wheel, which didn't seem too smart on the aluminum!).

[tbone]

I had the issue on the same wheel, but new tires cured it.:)

[racorcey]

Looking at all the great solutions......

- I guess I should have stated more clearly that this has been a long, on-going problem for most of the car's life...specifically with that wheel, and now getting worse.

- This same problem has been occuring through all 3 sets of tires installed on the same wheel - so installing new tires doesn't help :)

Having said that....

- The most logical conclusion is the tire bead mounting area. If there is sufficent crap buildup on the rim, it certainly can contribute to the leaking.

[Blk Mamba]

I would put in valve stem cores, first, then watch, then do valve stems when you have the rims cleaned.

[RoyLPita]

Change out the valve stems. If you could give a tire place some advance notice, they can order the stems with the chrome sleeves to keep things looking original.

[racorcey]

What? A defective valve stem core? Of all the.....:) Yeah, I guess that can happen, although I've never personally seen that in 45 years of driving. It can't happen here! I guess that's cheap enough to do quickly.

Roy - Roger the valve stems, my first thought, but I guess a slow leak is hard to find with soap bubbles. I guess the real reason I didn't change out the valve stems was because all the tire changers said they had to be ordered from Ford - and it was always "I have to get the tires changed now!" Last I checked, Ford wanted some God-awful price for them (about $25 each if I remember). Can these "chromed" valve stems be ordered aftermarket?

[tbone]

Change out the valve stems. If you could give a tire place some advance notice, they can order the stems with the chrome sleeves to keep things looking original.

You can get them (chrome sleeves and caps) at the local store.

[TFB]

What? A defective valve stem core? Of all the.....:) Yeah, I guess that can happen, although I've never personally seen that in 45 years of driving. It can't happen here! I guess that's cheap enough to do quickly.


Most certainly can happen, had the problem on my '07 MGM...

A loss of 2-3Lb/day should defiantly be obvious with soap bubbles, it may just foam but will show...

[fastblackmerc]

Last I checked, Ford wanted some God-awful price for them (about $25 each if I remember). Can these "chromed" valve stems be ordered aftermarket?

Here are some:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Chrome-Sleeve-Rubber-Valve-Stems-/350489259795?pt=Motors_Car_Tru ck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item519ac9af13

You can use these as curb feelers:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Pack-Long-Chrome-Rubber-Valve-Stems-PER-435000089-4-/330378256117?pt=Motors_Car_Tru ck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item4cec141ef5

Here are enough to last you forever:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-In-1-1-4-Chrome-Valve-Stems-Pack-50-TR413C-/300552500964?pt=Motors_Car_Tru ck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item45fa5336e4

[RoyLPita]

What? A defective valve stem core? Of all the.....:) Yeah, I guess that can happen, although I've never personally seen that in 45 years of driving. It can't happen here! I guess that's cheap enough to do quickly.

Roy - Roger the valve stems, my first thought, but I guess a slow leak is hard to find with soap bubbles. I guess the real reason I didn't change out the valve stems was because all the tire changers said they had to be ordered from Ford - and it was always "I have to get the tires changed now!" Last I checked, Ford wanted some God-awful price for them (about $25 each if I remember). Can these "chromed" valve stems be ordered aftermarket?

The aftermarket has the same stems that look like the factory ones. I believe the price is way cheaper than trying to find OEM ones at a dealership.

[racorcey]

Yo Jim! I like your last Ebay offering....indeed, a lifetime supply, for less than the cost of just one from Ford - including shipping! BTW, is 1 1/4" the correct length for our wheels?

[RF Overlord]

- This same problem has been occuring through all 3 sets of tires installed on the same wheel - so installing new tires doesn't help :)

Having said that....

- The most logical conclusion is the tire bead mounting area. If there is sufficent crap buildup on the rim, it certainly can contribute to the leaking.Agreed. I've had occasional slow-leak issues with each of the wheels on The Blackbird at one time or another. Solution has always been to dismount the tire and thoroughly clean the bead area (of the rim) with a wire-bristle brush. My local shop then applies some sort of liquid rubber-y stuff and wallah: leak is gone.

[racorcey]

Thought I'd post an update.....

Thanks all for your experiences to date.

Even though it was a bit chilly today, I finally picked up a few tire valve inserts to try as first experiment. I installed one, and, with some bubble juice, I could find no leak.

However, this time I pumped up the air pressure to about 45 psi, and then put some bubble juice very carefully around the tire valve to rim interface. Sure 'nuff, my friends, it bubbled away. I reduced the pressure to the normal 35 and could not see it - the same thing I observed (or, in reality, didn't observe) when I did this about a month ago. I should have pumped up the pressure the first time, and I wouldn't have had to bother you guys.

But it was still good to get all your past experiences anyway!

[sailsmen]

I have also seen the schrader valve inside the stem get loose and lose air. You can by a valve stem tool and titen it.

[racorcey]

I have also seen the schrader valve inside the stem get loose and lose air. You can by a valve stem tool and titen it.

Yup - actually did that the first time around to no avail (that is, tighten it)...and that's why I thought I'd change it altogether yesterday for the heluvit. Haven't checked it today, but, if you read my post from yesteday, you will see that I found a leak around the tire valve/rim area using some bubble solution.

I actually went ahead and ordered some of the chromed tire valves that were posted earlier. With 108k miles on the original valve stems, I'm not surprised at least one has gone bad :o.

[sailsmen]

In October I went to screw in valve stems and so far they are holding with no air loss.

[BirchMarauder]

get you a spray bottle and fill with water and alittle bit of dawn and spray away. spray where the tire meets the rim, the valve stem, the actual tread...everything. best way to find a leak.

[racorcey]

In October I went to screw in valve stems and so far they are holding with no air loss.

I thought only trucks used them??

[Vostok]

+1 to everyone saying to clean the inside lip of the rim.

I work at a tire shop and half the time people come in with a "flat repair" thinking they have a nail or screw in their tire causing air loss somewhere, that's not the case.

After dismounting the tire there is usually excessive amounts of corrosion buildup on the inside of the rim. A good wire brush cleaning as mentioned is the cure. In extreme circumstances sometimes a little bit of black bead sealer may be necessary.

Also make sure the mating surface of the rim and valve stem are also clean.