air chuck from engine air compressor

[Pete Masterson]

One thought ... if you're losing more than a couple psi per month,
you may have slow leak.

I've had trouble with my tire valves leaking. I've solved this
problem by (1) getting a bunch of high quality valve cores (online)
and (2) getting a similar quantity of metal valve caps. After
checking the tires for air pressure, I always check for a leak from
the valve. Just the act of disturbing the valve with the air pressure
gauge is sometimes enough to set off a slow leak. If I see that the
valve is leaking, I replace it with a new valve core. (After doing
this a few times, you get pretty quick at it.) I also carefully
inspect the valve cap to insure that there is a good (undamaged)
rubber seal inside the metal cap -- then I tighten the cap firmly on
the valve. This has made my tire pressures quite stable. I check the
tires regularly, but rarely notice a drop of more than 2 or 3 psi in
30 days.

If the valves are it good condition, you may just possibly have a
"slow leak" -- which is inevitably a small puncture that should be
repaired. Slow leaks often progress to be faster leaks where the loss
of air becomes very obvious. Recently, our toad showed signs of a
"slow leak" ... and a trip to a tire store found a small screw had
worked its way into the tire. It had barely punctured, but over time
that puncture would have become rather larger as the head of the
screw worked its way in...

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road near Lancaster, PA



On Oct 11, 2008, at 7:54 PM, luckyron1 wrote:

> Thanks for all the replies guys. I don't know what we'd do without
> these forums. So much is learned here. It would be nice if we had
> another high 'torque' compressor but alas, no room. Back to the truck
> stops.
>
> Ron & Ruth in MN in 2000 LXI
> Branson by next weekend.
>