I have checked for any damage, checked the valve, checked about everything I could check, but I am losing about 2 - 6 lbs of air everynight from my LF (Sumitoma RF's).
On trips where the tire is heated up and runs everyday or long term, I have no loss. Went to the CF CI in BG and did not have to add any air for a week.
Someone told me that it could be I have to have the bead reseated, or if could be the O-Ring around the stem.
Question???Is the O-Ring located on the outside of the tire or on the inside?

Anyone had this problem, any Suggestions??

Thanks in advance..

 

Had the same basic problem. The valve stem did not seat properly and leaked. Took it to a different gas station put in air and never had another problem. Apparently it seated properly that time.
I believe the O-ring is inside.

 

I've even seen rims that have "pin hole" leaks due to porosity(sp?) take the wheel off coat it with water or sumberge it in water somehow and check for leaks.
-=Rick

 

Check to make sure the hex nut on the valve stem is tight - - - I had a problem with losing air in my left rear when driving but not at rest. We checked out tire, rim, cleaned rim all to no avail. Just for kicks, I checked the hex nut on the stem and it was loose. Tightened it and no more problems.
EEL

 

And I will add - get a small bowl, a brush, and some dish soap (keep it away from your paint of course). Put some soap (just a little) and water in the bowl and start brushing areas. If the leak is that big you "should" be able to find it. Check around the valve stem (take the cap off and try the valve too). Good luck (mine have always turned out to be nails or beer bottles - yes that was beer bottle ).

 

Hi Benpup,

All our fellow members above have kindly suggested important clues to help you discover the possible reason for your tire leak. Again, do check the o-ring and hex nut. These fasteners must be secured and screwed down tightly. Also, check the actual inner tire valve stem core. This small inner steel core located inside the valve stem may be loose, damaged, and/or, actually missing. In fact, this was the culprit to one of my very notorious tire leaks.

Damaged or faulty inner valve stem cores are easily repaired by simply unscrewing the faulty inner valve core out and replacing it at a local tire shop. Furthermore, make sure that the valve stem cap still has a viable inner cap ring in good shape. The cap to the valve stem make a good and tight air lock seal that assists in preventing insidious leaks. Moreover, if the inner cap ring surface appears damaged, excessively occluded and corroded, then replace the cap.

And, in an effort to share the importance of the integrity of the valve stem cap ring inside the cap: Recently, I had a tire replaced at local tire servicer. The tire tech forgot to replace the inner valve stem core that he had in mind to replace. Now, had it not been for the tight seal provided by the valve stem cap ring, the tire would have gone flat while in traffic.

Luckily, I happened to make it a point to ask him if he had changed the core before I backed out the car. The tech visibly paled to a puce green when he removed the cap and noticed the empty valve stem and missing inner valve stem core. The tire immediately leaked out all the air under pressure, and, was flat in seconds. Hope this info helps.

Best Wishes,
Eden

 

Sometimes when new tires are installed, there is a sticker (depending on brand) that was on the new tires and it was located right on the bead area itself. Believe it or not this was just enough to cause a very slow leak. Also, check the valve core for tightness, you never know.
I would de-mount the tire clean the rim bead very well, check for the presence of any stickers or other foreign debris and re-mount. HTH

 

Check the hex nut seal on the valve stem. I had a small leak about 10 psi a week after 4 times at the tire dealer with no luck I fixed it myself. Leaking at the seal under the hex nut. removed nut put a little sealer on the rubber seal.

 

If you are using the valve caps withthe C5 emblem on them check to be sure the little black O ring from the cap is not getting stuck in the stem itself when you tighten it down, if it is you will have to dig it out with a pin or toothpick.

 

I certainly appreciate it as it's driving me nuts.
I printed everything out and will start with the small stuff and work up to the larger as I go. I'll keep you all posted.
Love the car, but beginning to hate that left front tire.

Thanks

 

I had that problem too, in both rear tires,.. i tested everything, valve stems looked for holes, pressure tested. YEA! well nothing turned up in either,... lter that week i order new tires beacuse i was sick of dealing with it. Pulled the old tires of the rims YEA! (1) Big *** nail in each tire. Couldnt see it from looking down on the tread but thats what it was. Oh well got an extra set of tires out of it....

I suggest pulling the old tires off and just taking a look, i did and it suprised me

 

The easiest way to check for a leak is to submerge the tire/wheel in water.

I purchased a new set of aluminum wheels for my car hauler and one of the tires kept going down. I could not find a leak anywhere in the rubber or where it sealed to the rim. I had trouble getting my wheel under water and ended up filling my wheelbarrow with water and using it. I was able to get the tire and wheel up to the hub under water and just rotated it slowly until I found my leak. You guessed it, in the middle of the rim on the inside there was a pin hole and air was leaking. The manufacturer replaced it and would not allow me to purchase the defective rim to use as a spare. They insisted it had to be destroyed.

Use the water test, it works every time.

GUSTO

 

Welllllll...............almost every time. I tried this too on a slow leak on my Vette and no bubbles. Since there was no load on the tire wheel assembly, no leak showed. Mine turned out to be a small thin plastic bar code label that was stuck to the bead of the tire by the manufacturer. It was just enough to cause a very slow leak only every now and then and only when the car was parked and the wheel was in a certain position. Talk about driving you nuts! I seen other posts here that a few other guys had something similar to this too. Go figure.

 

I did forget to suggest that you inflate the tire to around 50 PSI. This will "encourage" the leak to divulge itself. I've not encountered the label issue, although I see them on many tires in just the place you've indicated.

GUSTO