Slime or Fix-a-Flat safe for pressure sensors?

[Bluemill]

Both of my front Perelli P Zero/Neros have slow unfindable leaks. They loose about 5 psi per week. First I unbolted both and looked very carefully at each tire for the telltale nail or screw and found nothing. Then I took the LF to the biggest and maybe best tire store chain in the Boston metro area to break it down, and find the hole. They said it was because of pound on weights, and that was causing the pressure loss. Then they charged for glue-on balance weights.

It wasn't the case because the tire is acting just the same, about a 5 psi loss per week.

Would Slime or Fix-A- Flat be OK for the pressure sensors, or would that ruin them?

Is this a common problem? I have snugged up the inner valves as well. Mileage is 63,000. The rears have been fine. As far as I know, these are the original sensors AND batteries from 2000.

Thanks for your consideration,
Bluemill

 

[bwing]

I can't say for sure that Slime or Fix-A-Flat would ruin your sensors but both would make a mess and have to be removed when you get the tire taken in to have it patched from the inside. Both of those are temporary fixes. I've got non-runflats and keep a plugger kit in the car. There are a couple of different types of plugger kits...some have "cord" that plugs the hole and some have rubber mushroom type plugs. I have the latter. If you chose to go this route you're also going to have to invest in a portable compressor.

 

[BigJimZ16]

Do you have stock factory wheels?? I've heard of a few cases of the stock rims being porous. The tire dealers will never find it if it's your case.

 

[gmjunkie]

Yes, Slime or Fix-a-Flat will FOCKyour sensors Up!!!! :bash

 

[fixvet]

Don't just look for a nail etc., take the tires off the car and spray a soap and water solution all over the wheels and tires, then look for bubbles.....unless you have a big tank to completely submerge the whole tire and wheel to find bubbles and leaks.

Good luck!

 

[BigJimZ16]

We use a product called "Snoop" here in the power station to look for leaks in our gas trains. I'm thinking that it is a combination of water and some kind of soap product with a wetting agent. It sure seems thinner than water... point is that it is great for finding slow bead leaks and valve stem leaks. Might be worth looking into.

 

[Bluemill]

Slime, Fix-a-flat, and doing it right!

I think I'll go to HD or Lowes and get a cheapy stationary tub to do a little tire dipping. I'm nervous about the stock wheels being porous, and yes, that's what I'm rolling on, polished aluminum, that can carrode. Another thing pointing to this is that in the 42 years I've been driving, I've never had an "unfindable" leak; all in the past were clearly marked by the remnants of a nail, screw, or other hunk of metal. The fact that both sides are exhibiting the same symptoms is also leading to that conclusion.

BUT, the tub of water should also show bubbles - maybe from the metal.
Who would think that such a low tech thing would be so difficult to pin down?

Thanks,

Bluemill

 

[altonloe]

I had an air loss problem with both of my front tires. The right front leaked air last year, and the left front leaked air this year when I took the car out of storage. The shop said that the rims were corroded where the tire bead meets the rim. They buffed it down and told me that they couldn’t guarantee the fix, but both tires are now holding air. I think the underlying cause may have been that the car was parked for the winter months in one spot. This year I’m going to put the car up on jack stands so that there is no weight on the wheels.

 

[njlouc]

I agree with the above threads. I had a similar problem with bead corrosion, and a friend of mine's 79 Vette had a porous wheel (casting) that showed up when fairly new. It happens.