The Argument for Saving Gas Using Nitrogen

If you fill your tires with nitrogen will you save gas? Many nitrogen advocates say yes. Here is the reasoning behind their answer.

A significant factor in poor fuel economy is under inflated tires. The EPA agency that monitors fuel usage has found that properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by 3 percent. The EPA also estimates that 30% of the cars on the road have at least one tire under inflated.

It is estimated that under inflated tires are responsible for the loss of more than 2 million gallons of gas every day. A tire with low air pressure begins to flatten which creates additional surface area between the tire and the road. This increases friction between the tire and the road which results in the engine needing to work harder.

When an engine has to work harder it burns more gas. More tire surface due to under inflation means it takes more power to roll that tire. More power needed means less fuel economy. A tire that is correctly inflated is going to roll more easily using less power from the engine and less gas.

What does this all have to do with nitrogen? I'm getting to that. So we have established that under inflated tires use more gas. Why do tires become under inflated? The simple answer, it looses air. That doesn't mean you have a leak.

Tires are made with permeable materials. That means that the small air molecules can escape from the tires over time. As the molecules of air escape the tire looses pressure. It is a natural occurrence for all tires. That is why it is suggested that you should check your tires once a month.

The pro nitrogen camp suggests that tires inflated with nitrogen loose pressure 3 times slower than tires with air in them. This is explained by basic science. Nitrogen has a higher density than oxygen. Because of that, nitrogen has larger molecules than oxygen. The larger molecules of nitrogen will not filter through the permeable material in the tire as easily as the smaller oxygen molecules. . That results in a slower loss of tire pressure over time.

Your car's tires will maintain themselves at full pressure longer when filled with nitrogen because the gas loss through the tire is so much slower. The result is tires that roll with less friction, and that translates into less gasoline needed to move your car which means better fuel economy.

That is how nitrogen helps you get better fuel economy. The cost of filling your tires with nitrogen is around $10.00 per tire. Is it worth it? Those who advocate nitrogen say absolutely it is. However there are those that don't agree. Before you run off and spend $40.00 getting your tires filled with nitrogen it might make sense to hear from the other camp.

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Scott Siegel is the author of a 143 page book of industry insider secrets on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.
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