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check your tire pressure

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by jaymac, Sep 15, 2013.

  1. jaymac

    jaymac membore

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    A couple weeks ago there was another thread on tire pressure and a PC member recommended the AccuGage air guage. There are several to choose from but I settled on this one : After giving it some use I have to say I highly recommend this item. I usually adjust my tires using a bicycle floor pump and it attaches easily to the gauge. The bleed valve makes getting precise pressure a breeze. Doesn't cost a lot either ! IMG_0421.JPG
     
    #1 jaymac, Sep 15, 2013
  2. SuperGLS

    SuperGLS Member

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    Cool, I was looking for a good air gauge.

    When you say you use a bicycle pump to adjust it, you mean for fine tuning or when you always check the tires?
     
    #2 SuperGLS, Sep 15, 2013
  3. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Just be extra sure to always bleed the pressure from the gauge when you're done.
     
    #3 rdgrimes, Sep 15, 2013
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  4. jaymac

    jaymac membore

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    I use a Topeak Joe Blow bicycle floor pump to adjust pressure. Every few weeks the pressure will drop a couple of pounds. I have a small compressor but I hate to use it because its so noisy and the bike pump works well enough for a small adjustment.
     
    #4 jaymac, Sep 16, 2013
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  5. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    Me too. Same bike pump. 10 pumps works out to be 2psi in my 17" tires.

    SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 ? 2
     
    #5 Jonny Zero, Sep 17, 2013
  6. SuperGLS

    SuperGLS Member

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    Cool. I'll definitely give that a try next time.
     
    #6 SuperGLS, Sep 17, 2013
  7. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    +1 On always bleeding the pressure from the gauge when you are done. Twice I forgot to do this and the next time I took out the gauge and bled the pressure there were just a couple of psi offset from the minimum point. (The one that I have is a 5-60 psi guage and it does not go all of the way to zero.)

    My wife mentioned that her front tires looked low and they did. I began checking with other gauges and found out that my Accu-Gauge was about 10 psi off ! My mileage has improved when I actually had the tires to the 40/38 pressure that I thought I had !

    I have since ordered another Accu-Gauge and will be very diligent in always bleeding off the pressure before storing :mad:
     
    #7 jdcollins5, Sep 17, 2013
  8. mrstop

    mrstop PWR Mode

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    #8 mrstop, Sep 17, 2013
  9. jaymac

    jaymac membore

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    Thanks for the reminders to bleed the gauge after use. I just went out to the garage to double check that I had actually done it the last time I used it. Sure enough I had and the needle was resting right on zero. I've made a mental note to be sure and do this.
     
    #9 jaymac, Sep 18, 2013
  10. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Yes, I am paranoid now about not leaving pressure on the gauge again. Every time I pass through the garage I open the toolbox drawer to double-check that there is not pressure on the gauge :)
     
    #10 jdcollins5, Sep 18, 2013
  11. Jonny Zero

    Jonny Zero Giggidy

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    Good lord, you guys are nuts!
     
    #11 Jonny Zero, Sep 18, 2013
  12. jaymac

    jaymac membore

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    Only thing that's kept me from going insane !
     
    #12 jaymac, Sep 18, 2013
  13. srivenkat

    srivenkat Active Member

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    Just curious. With these gauges that come with rubber hoses, how much pressure loss would there be with each pressure check? Also, anyone that uses these with nitrogen filled tires?

    I use a generic dial gauge (without a rubber hose), but would like to get another for cross verification.
     
    #13 srivenkat, Sep 19, 2013
  14. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    I got a new AccuGage just for fun, and compared it to my 30 yr old AccuGage. The old one is exactly one # lower than the new one. Not bad for an antique.

    My new one has an 11" hose. I checked the same tire several times with no loss of pressure indicated.
     
    #14 rdgrimes, Sep 19, 2013
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