Efficient Tire Inflation Techniques for Beginners

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around techniques for efficiently inflating car tires, particularly for beginners. Participants share their experiences, challenges, and methods related to tire inflation, as well as briefly touching on oil checking procedures.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about how to inflate tires without letting air escape, suggesting there may be a trick involved.
  • Another participant recommends using a local auto repair center for tire inflation if compressed air is not available, while also mentioning the importance of having a gauge to check pressure.
  • Some participants discuss the use of a dime as a quick method to check tread depth, while others question the necessity of purchasing a gauge.
  • There are suggestions to periodically check tire pressure while inflating to avoid over-inflation.
  • One participant mentions that many gas station air hoses come with built-in gauges, although their accuracy may vary.
  • Concerns are raised about whether tires are actually low, with some participants noting that perceptions of low pressure can be misleading.
  • Several participants share tips on checking oil levels, including the importance of knowing which dipstick to use and how to interpret the readings.
  • Humor is present in the discussion, with participants making light-hearted comments about needing assistance with car maintenance.
  • Advice is given on cleaning hands after working on cars, with recommendations for various cleaning products.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best methods for tire inflation or the necessity of purchasing a gauge. There are multiple competing views on the accuracy of built-in gauges and the perceived condition of tire pressure.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the accuracy of tire pressure readings and the effectiveness of different inflation techniques. There are also unresolved questions regarding the best practices for checking oil levels and the potential for over-inflation of tires.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals new to car maintenance, particularly those looking to learn about tire inflation and oil checking, may find this discussion helpful.

  • #61
No offense intended here, but IMO no one should be operating a vehicle that doesn't know the basics of how a car works or how to do basic maintenence. You would be MUCH better off learning things now than stranded on the side of the road somewhere.
 
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  • #62
FredGarvin said:
No offense intended here, but IMO no one should be operating a vehicle that doesn't know the basics of how a car works or how to do basic maintenence. You would be MUCH better off learning things now than stranded on the side of the road somewhere.
That's why I have AAA auto club membership and a cell phone.
 
  • #63
FredGarvin said:
No offense intended here, but IMO no one should be operating a vehicle that doesn't know the basics of how a car works or how to do basic maintenence. You would be MUCH better off learning things now than stranded on the side of the road somewhere.
I also use a vacuum cleaner, but I don't know anything about vacuum repair, should I stop vacuuming? :biggrin:

It doesn't matter if I know how a transmission works if it goes out, I wouldn't be able to repair it on the side of the road. There is a difference between regular maintenance and major car repair. I don't need to do the actual maintenance, I pay someone to do that, and like MIH, I have roadside assistance if something major goes wrong.
 
  • #64
Evo said:
I also use a vacuum cleaner, but I don't know anything about vacuum repair, should I stop vacuuming? :biggrin:

It doesn't matter if I know how a transmission works if it goes out, I wouldn't be able to repair it on the side of the road. There is a difference between regular maintenance and major car repair. I don't need to do the actual maintenance, I pay someone to do that, and like MIH, I have roadside assistance if something major goes wrong.

I think what he means is that it would be very beneficial to you as a consumer to understand what needs to be done to maintain your vehicle. A basic understanding of what the various parts are and how they operate and what kind of preventive maintenance is required is sufficient. To acquire this information all you really need to do is take the time to read through your vehicles owners manual. They are written to be very easy to read and understand. Most of the information you safely skip over, for example I don't think you need to read how to operate the radio or the steering wheel. The most important information is usually near the back in a section about repair and maintenance.

Best regards
 
  • #65
As part of the british driving test you need to know how to check your oil level, tyre pressures and the rest of the basics. Only the simple stuff though.
 
  • #66
Andy said:
As part of the british driving test you need to know how to check your oil level, tyre pressures and the rest of the basics. Only the simple stuff though.
Really? I think that's kinda cool. We have a driver's education class that everyone takes in high school but they never teach you any maintenance skills - at least they didn't in mine.

Most people learn this stuff from their parents. Unfortunately I was raised by wolves.
 
  • #67
Moonbear said:
Are all tires stamped that way now? I know mine only have the maximum pressure on them, but I recall tires on older cars having the inflation pressure stamped on them too. Maybe they stopped doing that because people mixed them up. :eek:
Car manufacturers like the tire pressure customized to their design.

For example, the old Ford Explorers rode like, well, a four wheel drive vehicle designed for off road use. In order to appeal to the suburban set, a slightly lower tire inflation pressure could be used in order to give a much smoother ride. Of course, that increased the tire temperature at high speeds and the Firestone tires that came factory installed tended to come apart if you drove with underinflated tires at high speeds on hot days.

In fact, Corvairs had a similar problem. They weren't very stable unless the tires were kept at the proper pressure for the car - a pressure that didn't necessarily match the tire manufacturer's recommendation. They didn't come apart, but the average driver would tend to fill the tires to the pressure stamped on the side of the tire, making the car "Unsafe At Any Speed".

Just in the interest of increasing my sex appeal, I should mention that Sunday, I changed the oil on both of my cars, plus my daughter's car ... and I've only accidently left the oil cap off once in my life. (I did that while cleaning splashed mud out of the interior of my Jeep - I hate it when oncoming traffic doesn't slow down for creeks :frown: )
 
  • #68
Did you change the Oil filters aswell?

On monday i had to replace my girlfriends fanbelt, simple job on any normal car, but not a fiat cinquento. I think that car is the most horribly designed piece of italian trash ever i even had to take off the mudflap just to be able to get to it. And thanks to the english weather every single nut and bolt was seized with rust.
 
  • #69
FredGarvin said:
No offense intended here, but IMO no one should be operating a vehicle that doesn't know the basics of how a car works or how to do basic maintenence. You would be MUCH better off learning things now than stranded on the side of the road somewhere.
Emphasism mine.

I don't consider a transmission repair a "basic" repair or "basic" maintenence. However, I do consider

- being able to check and fill all fluids
- checking and filling tires
- how to properly change a tire
- how to jump start a dead battery

all VERY basic things that every driver should know. You do not want to try to figure out how to change a tire on the side of the expressway at night.
 
  • #70
FredGarvin said:
Emphasism mine.

I don't consider a transmission repair a "basic" repair or "basic" maintenence. However, I do consider

- being able to check and fill all fluids
- checking and filling tires
- how to properly change a tire
- how to jump start a dead battery

all VERY basic things that every driver should know. You do not want to try to figure out how to change a tire on the side of the expressway at night.
But Fred, isn't it kind of dangerous to try to learn how to do some of those things without any supervision or help? I saw one of my coworkers trying to jump start his car once and he didn't have a clue what he was doing. Sparks were flying all over the place and I was sure he was going to electrocute himself. :eek:
 
  • #71
FredGarvin said:
Emphasism mine.

I don't consider a transmission repair a "basic" repair or "basic" maintenence. However, I do consider

- being able to check and fill all fluids
- checking and filling tires
- how to properly change a tire
- how to jump start a dead battery

all VERY basic things that every driver should know. You do not want to try to figure out how to change a tire on the side of the expressway at night.
- being able to check and fill all fluids - done it
- checking and filling tires - have checked, not filled
- how to properly change a tire - done it
- how to jump start a dead battery - done it

I have also replaced the rotor & cap in a distributor, changed & set the gap on spark plugs, I know how to use a timing light. I choose not to do these things though.
 
  • #72
Oh my stupid car is even more sutpid now!

We got a new starter and it works but there's problems. The starter sticks like crazy and sometimes the radio will get reset. grrr >:(
 
  • #73
are you sure all of the Earth connections are done up tight?
 
  • #74
earth connections?

I dunno, my cousin fixed it and he's a mechanic. Maybe the battery is going out, i dunno. What i bet is the problem (since it always is in life :P) is that my father who went out and bought the new starter, bought a cheapo rebuilt one. It was like $90 when a rebuilt one from a dealer was $350
 
  • #75
Pengwuino said:
earth connections?

I dunno, my cousin fixed it and he's a mechanic. Maybe the battery is going out, i dunno. What i bet is the problem (since it always is in life :P) is that my father who went out and bought the new starter, bought a cheapo rebuilt one. It was like $90 when a rebuilt one from a dealer was $350

Shims. Is your cousin a ASE mechanic or a backyard mechanic?

Well, I'm still of the opinion the battery was your original problem. 4 Y/O battery in high temp weather = no workie workie any more. You are describing CLASSIC bad battery symptoms. Wont start, when the starter does work the higher current brings the battery voltage way down(due to internal resisitance w/in the battery).

Rebuilt starters are as good as OEM in almost all cases. Hell, I've rebuilt them myself and had them last for years and years and years.
 
  • #76
Math Is Hard said:
But Fred, isn't it kind of dangerous to try to learn how to do some of those things without any supervision or help? I saw one of my coworkers trying to jump start his car once and he didn't have a clue what he was doing. Sparks were flying all over the place and I was sure he was going to electrocute himself. :eek:

Not true. The things described(tire excluded) are pretty straight forward and I have not seen a owners manual that did not explicitly describe how to perform the required owner maint. Low tire pressures are dangerous and bad on fuel. Improper fluid levels can lead to loss of control (low power steering fluid can prematurely bear the rack and some ABS systems us the PS system as a pressure source and let's not even think what happens when brake fluid goes low) or destruction of things like engines. Another purpose of checking fluids is to determine their integrity. If your autotrans fluid is black or burn brown then it is bad(if you can check this some automakers have develope sealed syatems), brake fluid can go bad---turns brown, oil gets watery due to blowby, coolant goes bad due to age and corrosion... These are things that need to be checked bi-weekly at a minimum.

I agree with fred here I'm sorry. I think a basic maint test should be part of receiving a drivers license.
 
  • #77
BobG said:
Car manufacturers like the tire pressure customized to their design.

For example, the old Ford Explorers rode like, well, a four wheel drive vehicle designed for off road use. In order to appeal to the suburban set, a slightly lower tire inflation pressure could be used in order to give a much smoother ride. Of course, that increased the tire temperature at high speeds and the Firestone tires that came factory installed tended to come apart if you drove with underinflated tires at high speeds on hot days.

In fact, Corvairs had a similar problem. They weren't very stable unless the tires were kept at the proper pressure for the car - a pressure that didn't necessarily match the tire manufacturer's recommendation. They didn't come apart, but the average driver would tend to fill the tires to the pressure stamped on the side of the tire, making the car "Unsafe At Any Speed".

Just in the interest of increasing my sex appeal, I should mention that Sunday, I changed the oil on both of my cars, plus my daughter's car ... and I've only accidently left the oil cap off once in my life. (I did that while cleaning splashed mud out of the interior of my Jeep - I hate it when oncoming traffic doesn't slow down for creeks :frown: )

Exactly. The tire pressure given by the manufacturere is a balance between ride noise, ride comfort, AND vehicle milage. Tires should not fly apart if driven slightly under inflated though---that is plain old corporate incompetence. If you inflate the tires to the 35psi stamped on most sidewalls then you will have a rougher, noiser ride but your fuel economy will go up slightly. It's unsafe to drive with 35psi(cold which usually works out about 38 to 40 psi hot) even though a manufacturer says 32.

Driving at 35 psi can cause increased center wear but the 30 or 32 recomended by manufacturers tends to cause edge wear---this is actually more dangerous---so as with most things in life it's a matter of balance and choice.
 
  • #78
Evo said:
I also use a vacuum cleaner, but I don't know anything about vacuum repair, should I stop vacuuming? :biggrin:

It doesn't matter if I know how a transmission works if it goes out, I wouldn't be able to repair it on the side of the road. There is a difference between regular maintenance and major car repair. I don't need to do the actual maintenance, I pay someone to do that, and like MIH, I have roadside assistance if something major goes wrong.

Do you change the bag and belt when they fill up or go bad? You probably still do some basic maint on your vacuum I'd think.
 
  • #79
faust9 said:
Shims. Is your cousin a ASE mechanic or a backyard mechanic?

Well, I'm still of the opinion the battery was your original problem. 4 Y/O battery in high temp weather = no workie workie any more. You are describing CLASSIC bad battery symptoms. Wont start, when the starter does work the higher current brings the battery voltage way down(due to internal resisitance w/in the battery).

Im pretty sure he use to be a real mechanic until something happened to his back (i THINK it was a disk problem that forced him to stop). I would think its the battery except that I am not positive that its been 4 years since we've had a new battery. I know we got a new battery for one of the cars... but no sure which one haha.
 
  • #80
faust9 said:
Shims. Is your cousin a ASE mechanic or a backyard mechanic?

Well, I'm still of the opinion the battery was your original problem. 4 Y/O battery in high temp weather = no workie workie any more. You are describing CLASSIC bad battery symptoms. Wont start, when the starter does work the higher current brings the battery voltage way down(due to internal resisitance w/in the battery).

Rebuilt starters are as good as OEM in almost all cases. Hell, I've rebuilt them myself and had them last for years and years and years.

The thing about bad batteries like your describing is that they tend to go out over time. If he has been driving the car for a while I am sure he would have mentioned it seems like the battery might be going dead, aka, not holding a charge. If his battery is dead and he never bothered to see if his lights are still bright when the brights are on then that's his own fault.

In other words, it is pretty simple to tell it your battery is what is causing the problem. If its not the battery and it makes clicking noise then it is the solenoid or relay for the solenoid and in most cases you can fix it by just R&Ring the starter.

Regards
 
  • #81
Townsend said:
The thing about bad batteries like your describing is that they tend to go out over time. If he has been driving the car for a while I am sure he would have mentioned it seems like the battery might be going dead, aka, not holding a charge. If his battery is dead and he never bothered to see if his lights are still bright when the brights are on then that's his own fault.

In other words, it is pretty simple to tell it your battery is what is causing the problem. If its not the battery and it makes clicking noise then it is the solenoid or relay for the solenoid and in most cases you can fix it by just R&Ring the starter.

Regards

Unfortunately it's not as easy as just looking at the lights for dimness. Once the car is running the alternator supplys more than enough power for the whole vehicle, you can remove the battery and it will continue to run. I just had the battery go in my truck 2 months ago (it was over 5 years old). The truck started fine one morning then the next all I got was clicking. A new battery solved the problem of course.

Pengwuino I'm sorry to hear you may have wasted your money on a starter. It's usually possible to have the auto store test your starter (it has to be removed) to make sure that's the problem, and since you have to pay a core charge anyway it's best to just take it with you to the auto store when you plan to buy one...Batterys are relatively cheap compared to the other things that could have been wrong so like I said that would have been my first priority. Mainly because your battery is 4 years old and could fail at any time.
 
  • #82
Pengwuino said:
earth connections?

I dunno, my cousin fixed it and he's a mechanic. Maybe the battery is going out, i dunno. What i bet is the problem (since it always is in life :P) is that my father who went out and bought the new starter, bought a cheapo rebuilt one. It was like $90 when a rebuilt one from a dealer was $350
"Earth connections" is British for "ground". Trace the wires on your battery. The positive goes to the starter, but the ground just goes to the car frame. All the electrical components can then be grounded to the frame, saving on cost.

I'd buy the rebuilt starter, as well. They're just as good as the new (once in a great while, you might buy a bad one, whether rebuilt or new, but I don't think the odds are very different, either way).

I'd tend to agree that you've got a wiring problem. Your battery has to be incredibly dead for the radio to reset. Did you check for corrosion in the battery wires? Sometimes it can creep up the wire. If you have some slack, you can cut off the corroded part and rebuild the terminal connection. Even better is if your auto parts store can rebuild the cable for you - I think I wound up paying a couple dollars for the terminal and some sealant, but they crimped the wires into the terminal connector for free - a significant savings over the $96 it would have cost to buy a new factory power cable. Of course, I'd just bought a new battery from them, but even if they charge for the labor of crimping the terminal together, it's about a 5 minute job for them.
 
  • #83
faust9 said:
I agree with fred here I'm sorry. I think a basic maint test should be part of receiving a drivers license.

:mad: gggrrr! I am not disagreeing with you or Fred! I said the exact same thing in an earlier post! What I am saying is that it would be better to have a class (like a hands on lab taught as part of driver's ed) to learn this than to just read the manual and try to figure out some of these things (like doing a jumpstart) on my own!
 
  • #84
ok, I apologize. I sound really grumpy. I'm just frustrated and trying to learn... + I got 1.5 hours of sleep last night and it shows.
 
  • #85
Math Is Hard said:
it would be better to have a class (like a hands on lab taught as part of driver's ed) to learn this than to just read the manual and try to figure out some of these things (like doing a jumpstart) on my own!

There are courses like this offered. And it is good to leave a car alone if you don't know what you're doing. Simply jump starting a car can be very dangerous. I've had a battery explode on me before due to an acid leak, and something as simple as reversing the polarity on the leads can damage both cars as well as possibly causing a fire and explosion.

Consider that typical homes have either a 100 or 200 amp electrical service. An auto battery can put out as much as 500 amps.
 
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  • #86
GOD__AM said:
Pengwuino I'm sorry to hear you may have wasted your money on a starter. It's usually possible to have the auto store test your starter (it has to be removed) to make sure that's the problem, and since you have to pay a core charge anyway it's best to just take it with you to the auto store when you plan to buy one...Batterys are relatively cheap compared to the other things that could have been wrong so like I said that would have been my first priority. Mainly because your battery is 4 years old and could fail at any time.

Well it turns out the starter just need to be... i dunno... warm up to the car :-p

It's worken perfectly now.
 
  • #87
Math Is Hard said:
But Fred, isn't it kind of dangerous to try to learn how to do some of those things without any supervision or help? I saw one of my coworkers trying to jump start his car once and he didn't have a clue what he was doing. Sparks were flying all over the place and I was sure he was going to electrocute himself. :eek:
You are absolutely right. Although, checking and filling a tire I think does not fall into that category. I think there should be a maintenence class in all driver's ed classes. I do know that every car I have owned has a section in it's manual on how to properly change a tire, jump a battery and check the fluid levels.
 
  • #88
faust9 said:
Do you change the bag and belt when they fill up or go bad? You probably still do some basic maint on your vacuum I'd think.
You can change the bag? I just buy a new vacuum when it gets full.
 
  • #89
Evo said:
You can change the bag? I just buy a new vacuum when it gets full.
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:
 
  • #90
ha a vacuum cleaner, that's one of those watchamacallits that mums use isn't it?
 

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