I only learned of nitrogen in my tires when I was looking at the PDI and service history online. It showed the PDI and included was Nitrogen Fill on the online checklist. Maybe there is something like that on yours?

 

My RX came filled with the nitrogen and there was no charge for it. I also do not have any identifying markers on the valve stems, thankfully. I never have to adjust the pressure between hot and cold weather like I have with other vehicles, that is one of the benefits. My Dealer will check pressure for free and will use nitrogen if the tire needs air.

 

A tank of liquid nitrogen cost about $500 per 25 lbs. Very expensive stuff. And you need a delivery system to stick it in the car. The cost of $50 for four tires is probably reasonable for a Lexus.

The RX is delivered with N2 in the tires. I don't believe it is worth the expense of keeping it in N2. I never find any rust in my wheels ever in all the cars I had. Air permeating out of the rubber? Just check tire pressure once a month.

 

On my 2000 RX 300, I had a terrible time keeping air in all four tires because the aluminum rims
were oxidizing causing the tire bead to lose 15-20 psi of air a month.

I paid $50.00 each tire for them to break the bead and smooth the rims out and add sealant around the rim.

Guess What? It didn't do any good, those tires still lost air................

BTW........ aluminum rims don't rust

 

LeoDLion, We are talking about nitrogen gas here not liquid nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen would freeze the rubber and it would break apart like glass. Nitrogen gas is applies in exactly the same manner regular air.

 

50 bucks didn't seem high to me, if the tires are properly purged. Creating a vacuum is not recommended by tire manufacturers. However this writer thinks even 30 bucks is too much.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...stions/4302788

 

I stand corrected. I am use to dealing with liquid nitrogen. But the point is that the initial investment for a shop to be able to use nitrogen for tires are quite high. And so the fee of $50 is not all that high considering that. Even though N2 is free from the air, there is the N2 generator like the one attached. Not cheap. But as I mentioned I don't think it does that much good.

 

In refrigeration they banned the use of R-12 to "blow out dirty condensors" because it harms the air. We now sell them nitrogen in a larger cylinder for about $20....it would fill 500 tires; Nitrogen is the highest profit item you will ever buy!! Costco started this Scam charging $20 to put in 10 cents worth of Nitrogen and than put on green valve caps! We laugh about it where we work as the caps cost more than the nitrogen and Costco , like Lexus, does NOT make sure all air is removed from the tire before then put in the nitrogen. Not even SEARS many trucks put nitrogen in unless they have a tire going flat!!! It is a nice safety backup for low tires on Appliance Service vehicles!!

 

Does anyone know if nitrogen can be purchased in small container like propane to use
for adding it to our tires???

 

NO, it cannot; Nitrogen is in a cylinder under VERY high pressure, so has a regulator on it; we sell the smallest cylinder available!! That is also why you can carry in two hands a cylinder that has enough Nitrogen for 500 tires!!! What I DON"T know is how Shell "Nitrogen infused" gasoline is formulated???

 

Thanks, was just curious

 

Took my car in for the 15K tire rotation and the Toyota dealer change over the tires from air to Nitrogen for free.
Less than $24 for the tire rotations and the rest of the checks for the 15k service.

 

Now that's a steal.

I think that's a good price.

 

How much would the smallest N2 tank cost including the regulator, delivery hose and other attachments needed to fill a tire with it?

I googled and found this N2 system for some $180.

 

Yes,, that is the small tank that everyone in the Refrigeration field uses and includes the regulator; it is much more efficient than buying those machines that someone else pictured. Sadly, many auto companies bought those overpriced machines! You can use a device like this to blow out anything as a compressor would and it is very portable!! When it gets empty you just take it in and exchange for another refilled tank and screw your regulatoroo and hose on to it!!