Help please - Tyre losing pressure - can't find the leak.
08-05-2008, 11:01 AM
#11
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Originally Posted by Gudge' post='640037' date='Aug 5 2008, 09:38 AM
Hi. Could be either. The tyre's only been on there a few days (and it was part worn), and the rims are my secondhand style 166's.......only put the full set on in last few days.
Can a crack be repaired ??
Can a crack be repaired ??
Before you do that, and if it is just a bad seating, you might try adding air to the tire to around 50-60 psi, which will put more pressure on the bead to seat against the inner rim. Obviously, you would do that, let it sit for a couple of hours, then reduce the psi to normal levels prior to driving (more than a very short distance anyway). I know it sounds odd, but I have seen it work.
I do not think a crack in an alloy, especially the area containing pressurized air can be repaired. Actually, I'm not sure any crack can be repaired. We all know a bent wheel can be refurbished up to a point, but a crack gets into structural safety issues. I would imagine one of the wheel experts will have more to add about that.
I do know that I had a similar air loss issue on my 124s, and it turned out to be a cracked wheel, which I replaced. I have yet to explore whether the cracked one can be repaired, but I doubt it.
Best of luck sorting it out.
08-05-2008, 08:11 PM
#12
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If I have to guess, it would be a bad valve stem or a cracked/bent rim. You can repair in both cases. I would change the valve stem after they determine if the tire is still good. If rim is slightly bent, then they can tell when they balance the tire. I hope it's a small problem like bad valve stem. Let us know.
08-05-2008, 09:06 PM
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My Ride: 2004 E60 545i motorsport,,retired ACS E39 2000 520i 2.2, E46 2001 motorsport sedan mine but son's drive, E46 2001 motorsport coupe, and just retired Porsche Cayenne Turbo.
For playn 2007 E92 335i motorsport little brother of my 545i in Alpine white also...faster than my Porsche Cayenne Tirbo and alot more fun..
Hi ...I had the same problem ...would lose 4-5 lbs over a week and Runflat warning would show on i drive...
My tyre shop submerged tyre in tub completely keeping wheel very still, for several minutes ...no telltale bubbles ...turned it over and submerged again and hello smallest bubble from metal valve stem.. every minute only one little bubble.
Removed valve stem small amount of oxidation on rim in valve hole ... cleaned with fine wet/dry paper replaced valve ...all good...
Good luck help this helps
Cheers Steve
My tyre shop submerged tyre in tub completely keeping wheel very still, for several minutes ...no telltale bubbles ...turned it over and submerged again and hello smallest bubble from metal valve stem.. every minute only one little bubble.
Removed valve stem small amount of oxidation on rim in valve hole ... cleaned with fine wet/dry paper replaced valve ...all good...
Good luck help this helps
Cheers Steve
08-06-2008, 12:06 PM
#14
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Thanks for all the responses, and they were all very inciteful and helpful.
I took the car to another dealer, and they were able to detect the leak along the tread. Turns out that where the tyre had previously been repaired (which I knew about), it started leaking again.
The repair had been done by a patch, which apparently is not legal anymore. The patch was removed and the puncture re-repaired by way of plug.
Certainly the leak, at that location at least, appears to have disappeared, using the soapy water test.
However, I'm going to keep an eye on the pressure over next couple of days..........after hearing about cracked rims and bad seating along rims, I'm still a little nervous that it could be leaking elsewhere.
Thanks again for all the help.
I took the car to another dealer, and they were able to detect the leak along the tread. Turns out that where the tyre had previously been repaired (which I knew about), it started leaking again.
The repair had been done by a patch, which apparently is not legal anymore. The patch was removed and the puncture re-repaired by way of plug.
Certainly the leak, at that location at least, appears to have disappeared, using the soapy water test.
However, I'm going to keep an eye on the pressure over next couple of days..........after hearing about cracked rims and bad seating along rims, I'm still a little nervous that it could be leaking elsewhere.
Thanks again for all the help.
08-06-2008, 01:08 PM
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Immersion test seems like the way to go. 
I know also on rims that are chromed, the chrome can start to peel around the edge of the rim and allow air to escape, this was common on my old E36 M3! 
I know also on rims that are chromed, the chrome can start to peel around the edge of the rim and allow air to escape, this was common on my old E36 M3!
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