MPG and tire PSI plunging with temperature
Senior Member
Joined: 03-16-2008
Posts: 662
From: Cleveland, Ohio
You didn't get the memo that nitrogen was granted a special exemption from the Ideal Gas Law by the company that sells those nitrogen inflators to service shops? I'm sticking with Helium because the lighter weight improves my fuel economy.
Senior Member
Joined: 10-02-2005
Posts: 1,245
From: VA
Hey, I use helium also!!
Makes the car lighter and we all (should) know that a lighter car is faster!! 
Seriously, not trying to give any particular person a hard time, but it's to everyone's benefit here to know what works and what is marketing BS, myth and lore contrived to empty your wallet (with the acknowledgement that your car will also be "somewhat" faster with a lighter wallet!!).
Senior Member
Joined: 09-30-2008
Posts: 100
From: Mass
The reason your MPG drops in the winter is the gas "winter" blend. I forgot off the top of my head what they put in the gas but it lowers the BTU's of the gas a bit over the summer blend.
Also, this time of year your warm up your car a bit? The heater fan is on, lights are on more, etc. this all adds up to lower MPG.
And yeah, keep your tires inflated!
Also, this time of year your warm up your car a bit? The heater fan is on, lights are on more, etc. this all adds up to lower MPG.
And yeah, keep your tires inflated!
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2008
Posts: 5,464
From: Akron Ohio
Generally Nitrogen has less increase in pressure form what read since it is a dry air and has no moisture in it vs normal compressed air. The moisture has more to to with expantion than anything. Pit crews run on Nitrogen too to keep the moisture out of the air guns.
Note the moisture you get out of your compressor in the garage and have to drain when your done.
I still don't see the point as 1-3 pounds is not goinmg to make a differance in normal driving.
Now you might want to add a 1/2 pound of nitrogen in Turn 2 at Darlington if the car is too tight coming off the corner. But I have not seen to may HHR SS in the race there. LoL.
Note the moisture you get out of your compressor in the garage and have to drain when your done.
I still don't see the point as 1-3 pounds is not goinmg to make a differance in normal driving.
Now you might want to add a 1/2 pound of nitrogen in Turn 2 at Darlington if the car is too tight coming off the corner. But I have not seen to may HHR SS in the race there. LoL.
