Tire air pressure loss-

Bob D. · 01-23-2012, 02:56 PM

It seems to take a whole lot of effort to maintain tire pressure in my '03 Insight. About every 10-14 days the tires need attention and that seems like a little too often to me. I shouldn't have to breast feed these things. Also, they don't show the deflation much visually,..I found one tire at approx. 20 psi after a 80 mile trip.
Has anyone else noticed this problem?
And does anyone here have any ideas or tips to seal these up better?
I've asked the dealer- no help.
Also, it would be way cool to have a dash readout on the individual current tire pressure of each tire. Has anyone here thought about doing this mod?
I should say also that I just put on new R-92's about 2 weeks ago and so perhaps my tire issue will improve,...don't know yet.

Eli · 01-23-2012, 03:00 PM

That seems a little odd. I lose about 5PSI every few months.

Yes, I've thought about installing a TPMS. Actually, I think I just might do so next time I have tires installed.. Hmm.

Willie Williford · 01-23-2012, 03:56 PM

Check your valve stem plugs. Mix up a soapy solution and saturate the valve stem assy. "slightly" wiggle the stem around and see if there are any "bubbles". Sometimes tire dealers don't change the stems when new tires are installed.
Put a drop of solution on the inner core of the stem, where the "valve" is screwed in and look for "bubbles". I have seen loose valves before many times, that is why it is imperative to always use "valve caps".
Tire not seating on rim could also be present and you can check for that the same way.
Leaking out the side wall is the final conclusion and hardest to detect, especially if the tire is "old".
I just replaced the tires on my pickup after 13 years and that is where 3 of them were leaking. (48K on the tires)
HTH
Willie

diamondlarry · 01-23-2012, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willie Williford

Check your valve stem plugs. Mix up a soapy solution and saturate the valve stem assy. "slightly" wiggle the stem around and see if there are any "bubbles". Sometimes tire dealers don't change the stems when new tires are installed.
Put a drop of solution on the inner core of the stem, where the "valve" is screwed in and look for "bubbles". I have seen loose valves before many times, that is why it is imperative to always use "valve caps".
Tire not seating on rim could also be present and you can check for that the same way.
Leaking out the side wall is the final conclusion and hardest to detect, especially if the tire is "old".
I just replaced the tires on my pickup after 13 years and that is where 3 of them were leaking. (48K on the tires)
HTH
Willie

My tires were doing the same thing as Bob's. My son took my car to his shop and took each tire off and buffed up the bead area on all of the wheels with a wire wheel. He said it's a fairly common thing for aluminum wheels to corrode, especially as the get older. Leaks are also difficult to find in this area and it takes a lot of patience and time. Once the beads are buffed, it's a really good idea to coat them with a special chalk-like stuff that pretty much protects them from corroding ever again. Unfortunately, the day he did this, it was after hours and they were out of the protectant stuff which means in a few years it may have to be redone. Oh well, it stopped the leak(s) and, it was free. Score!

Bob D. · 01-23-2012, 09:52 PM

Larry, I believe the stock wheels are magnesium. And at $500 per wheel, dealership price, it appears that Honda didn't go cheap on these.
The local Honda service rep also mentioned that magnesium has some explosive/combustible characteristics (?) which made certain repairs, maybe like the one your son did, a hazardous situation. He gave me some grim examples of what has happened in the past and that pretty much ended the conversation. I believe the end result was "if the wheels become defective, they are unrepairable", according to Honda.
Willie, I believe all the valve stems are new now but I will have my new constant companion, my psi guage, to verify any problems. Thanks.

diamondlarry · 01-23-2012, 10:23 PM

Thanks for the tip on the wheels Bob. Definitely good info to have about magnesium. My grandpa worked in a machine shop and he had several stories about careless/messy machinists and and overheated magnesium. I just did a quick search for Insight wheels and, if these are the genuine article, the price looks good at $111.95 per wheel.
Search Parts For 2000 Honda Insight In Wheels / Rims / Covers Store - Auto Parts Fair

Need4Speed · 01-24-2012, 07:11 AM

Also a post about the rim leaking through the metal:

New Member - 2001 Insight - Looking for Local-ish Repair Help

Eli · 01-24-2012, 10:44 AM

The wheels are aluminum.

diamondlarry · 01-24-2012, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eli

The wheels are aluminum.

Thanks Eli. I should have listened to when my son told me they were aluminum.

Bob D. · 01-24-2012, 01:28 PM

Yes, they are aluminium. Double checked with the dealer this morning, the same person who told me they were magnesium. He said another employee at the dealership who owned one told him they were magnesium. He never double checked before speaking to me.
Sorry for the false alarm.
I should have researched that before posting. Live and learn.