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Portable air compressors and TPMS stems - word of caution...
Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 9:56 pm
by Firefly
Apparently the aluminum stems of TPMS sensors get brittle and are prone to snap off from corrosion, time or both. If you have one of those little portable compressors with the lever nozzle ( the kind that grabs on to the stem), working that on and off the stem may cause the stem to crack off. Happened to me, and I did a little online research, finding others who experienced the same thing. There are compressors with screw-on nozzles, which I think wold be advisable. Another tip: use only plastic caps, as chrome or metal caps will cause corrosion on the aluminum stem and weaken it.
Re: Portable air compressors and TPMS stems - word of cautio
Posted: Sat Aug 17, 2013 10:22 pm
by n8dogg
Wow, who would have thought that!? Thanks for the heads up.
Re: Portable air compressors and TPMS stems - word of cautio
Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 1:18 am
by bootymac
Thanks for the heads up. I usually use that type of compressor to top off tire pressures at home, but will bring the Kizashi to a gas station
Yet another reason why TPMS is a pain
Re: Portable air compressors and TPMS stems - word of cautio
Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2013 11:26 am
by WESHOOT2
This may help explain why my right front and left rear tires now slowly lose air; over 94K and regular runs past 100MPH.
I assume corrosion, and the heat cycling from extended runs, is causing the leaking around the valve stems.
I have never used a porty-air.
Re: Portable air compressors and TPMS stems - word of cautio
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 12:45 pm
by LPSISRL
WESHOOT2 wrote:
I have never used a porty-air.
When I first read this, I thought it said, "potty-air" and I wondered, "What the heck is that?"
Re: Portable air compressors and TPMS stems - word of cautio
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 4:27 pm
by Speed_Racer
LPSISRL wrote:WESHOOT2 wrote:
I have never used a porty-air.
When I first read this, I thought it said, "potty-air" and I wondered, "What the heck is that?"
Insert joke about gas.
Re: Portable air compressors and TPMS stems - word of cautio
Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 10:29 pm
by jono6406
Firefly wrote: Another tip: use only plastic caps, as chrome or metal caps will cause corrosion on the aluminum stem and weaken it.
Yes that is true but the remedy to that is to turn the valve stem cap every week so it doesn't leech and fuze to the metal of the valve stem. ( I've had metal Suzuki valve stem caps on my car for about 10 months now with no problems..... as long as you do whats posted above ,also ran them for 5 years on my 05 Cadillac STS before I traded it for my Kizashi.)
PS
Just found out today that TPM's are designed to last only 5 years
Re: Portable air compressors and TPMS stems - word of cautio
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 4:30 am
by Firefly
jono6406 wrote:
PS
Just found out today that TPM's are designed to last only 5 years
And that's another headache with TPMS - you have to have new ones reprogrammed, you can't just pop em in and go. I'm starting to believe these are a major scam. TPMS are as useful as having an expensive implant that would remind you when you are hungry.