Aluminum Rims and loss of Air Pressure

I’m a bit annoyed.

I have two older cars and one 2014 truck.
All of them lose air pressure every three days or so.
So much so that I bought a portable 12v air compressor.

One car has been in twice to have the rims buffed or whatever they do with them to get them to seal. No guarantee they will seal.

What are my options besides buying new rims or keep taking them in (and spending as much money as new rims would cost over time)?

This crap reminds me of the ’80’s when a truck would rust out in 5 years!

When you’re measuring air pressures are you comparing cold tires to cold tires/ hot tires to hot tires? A big difference between hot and cold pressures. (Filling a “hot” tire at the gas station to 32lbs. etc. and then measuring it cold at home the next day it will be several pounds less.)

Tubes?

If it’s every three days, you should be able to find the slow leak with soap and water. Sounds like they tried re-sealing the bead, but I would guess that’s where the leak is coming from. Spray it on and let it sit!

Brian Klawitter wrote:

This crap reminds me of the 80’s when a truck would rust out in 5 years!

My 2011 Ford has been rusting for 2 years now…

Bassn Dan wrote:

When you’re measuring air pressures are you comparing cold tires to cold tires/ hot tires to hot tires? A big difference between hot and cold pressures. (Filling a “hot” tire at the gas station to 32lbs. etc. and then measuring it cold at home the next day it will be several pounds less.)

I’ve been filling them to 40 pounds. In 3-4 days my idiot light comes on and one tire is at 26, two tires are 31 and one tire is at 39…those numbers have been pretty steady since last fall.

Hmmm tubes(?)

Spray the schrader valves with soapy water. I went through this last fall. I can’t imagine loosing that much air though Al rims every 3-4 days…even after they went through and cleaned things up (unless they were damaged).

The negative thing is, if it’s the schrader valve, is that they run upwards of $300+ with sensors. I was able to buy a rebuild kit for mine for around $15 and had a tire shop rebuild them for another $15-25 (can’t remember exactly).

The tire shops have tire dunk tanks. At the rate you are describing the leak should be visible in water. Have they replaced the stems? Would a can of the roadside flat repair stop the leak?

I was told by someone not to use slime.
On my truck the stems have not been replaced.
On the cars, they were.

I’ll get out the soap when it stops snowing…and go from there.

I have 2 15 year old vehicle with aluminum rims that don’t leak, the shops you ate taking them to don’t know what they are doing. The bead sealing area AND the valve stem hole must be cleaned of all corrosion, easiest with a cupped wire wheel in a grinder. They make a special wire brush for the valve stem hole. Also make sure and replace the valve stems, I tried to get by without doing this once and I ended up with leaks like you are describing. The rims are fine, they just aren’t getting them clean and using the right sealer on them.

Tires Plus and the Amaco station in Hudson…

Wow! Finally a productive comment onestout!

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Tires Plus and the Amaco station in Hudson…

That Tires Plus is involved explains a lot…………

Go to a GOOD independent mechanic or a Good-Year location, etc. and they will get them fixed right the first time whether it’s a rim or valve issue. Good shops AWAYS replaced the valve stems when changing tires, but now with the sensors that we all have to put up with (because of the people that are too damn dumb to know when they have a flat tire) that isn’t the case anymore.

Try Next Generation Auto in Hudson straight up good wrenchs

I’m expected to be productive all day at work, I can’t go and be using that up on an internet forum.

d gilbertson wrote:

Try Next Generation Auto in Hudson straight up good wrenchs

After I play with the soap I’ll check them out. Thanks!

LOL! Onestout! Are you telling me you have and are keeping a job now? What changed?

The wife didn’t feel it was my time to retire, this is a daily discussion that i have not found a way to win….yet. l

I just had my wife’s tires done at Andover Tire.

No leaks now since Feb. They really do know what they are doing!

Wife had the same problem on her 2010 suburban and took it to Farm and Fleet and sealed up the rims and no problem since. Aluminum gets all corroded in short order with all the salt they use nowadays.

Aluminum gets all corroded in short order with all the salt they use nowadays.

Don’t let the Ford guys know that!

Old aluminum rims I primed and painted a set outside and in and they are fine. The ones I didn’t, slow leaked just like that. Shop tried to seal them up at least once but the slow leak is incredibly annoying.

Had the same problem with my daughters car. She lives in Boston. I found a guy out there to do it properly. Rims need to be totally cleaned by wire brush and don’t skip on the sealer. Too many times a teenager is doing the work and do not care about results.

Most of the big brand tire shops have the Brake light guarantee. Once they cant see your brake lights your guarantee has expired. Small shops usually do the best work. FF failed me twice with this problem even when I told them exactly what to do…

One more thing. It is not uncommon to have to fill up your tires every few days with this problem. I would bet money that this is the problem since its more than one tire. Skip playing around with soap unless you want too. Happened to 3 of my vehicles with alloy rims.

They can be cleaned and sealed i do it every day.I would guess it’s a valve stem issue on some of them.I would not advise the fix a flat crap,it could screw up a tire sensor.Tube not an option.If you ever make down to sw Wisconsin i will fix your tire for almost free.I just need you to share some of that BK wisdom over a coupla beers. BTW once the rims start corroding they will still need to be redone yearly or so.

I feel your pain BK got new tires and have had the truck back 3 times because I have to keep putting air into them. I have 3 of the four holding air now so I am hoping 4 times back for repair is the charm.

Ugh, tires.

Have had all the above.

I agree though, good shop once they grind it down and seal it will last for some time.

Whatever shop you go to have them dismount the tire, wire buff wheel rim flange, wire brush the tire bead, put sealer on rim, clean stem hole, install new stem or if it’s a sensor (sensor service kit installed) mount tire and inflate to recommended psi. Just to let everyone know if you read your owners manual it tells you to check tire pressure monthly.

I would request a tire place to clean them good but if that didnt work 100% I would tube them.
I have tubed one truck tire and one ATV tire due to issues and they were rock solid.

Just had this issue with 2 vehicles, both newer tires from Disocunt Tire. Went in there twice on both cars was told to get new rims. Took them to a local tire guy fixed in a day. Just needs to be sealed properly. Not happy with Dicosunt for sure!

onestout wrote:

I have 2 15 year old vehicle with aluminum rims that don’t leak, the shops you ate taking them to don’t know what they are doing. The bead sealing area AND the valve stem hole must be cleaned of all corrosion, easiest with a cupped wire wheel in a grinder. They make a special wire brush for the valve stem hole. Also make sure and replace the valve stems, I tried to get by without doing this once and I ended up with leaks like you are describing. The rims are fine, they just aren’t getting them clean and using the right sealer on them.

This ^^^^.

Take them to a real shop that has tire guys that know what they’re doing and not just trying to slob job it and get away with doing the least amount of work possible.

It’s NOT a quick and easy deal, doing it properly takes time. I just had Mrs. Grouse’s SUV in to Maplewood Auto Service because both front tires were leaking badly. It takes 45 minutes at least to do a proper wire brush cleaning of the sealing surface and then remount and balance the tire. Maplewood Auto Service was $35 a tire to do this and I’ve never had to take one back for a second try.

Grouse

Tubes not an option with tire sensors.

Tpms needs to go away.