1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Drivers side losing more tyre pressure

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Nakamoto, Nov 12, 2013.

  1. Nakamoto

    Nakamoto Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2013
    69
    5
    0
    Location:
    Melbourne
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Greetings folks!

    The driver's side front and rear has been consistently loosing 2 -3 PSI more than the other side.

    Only had it for like 2 months and I don't have anything loaded like luggage in the vehicle.

    Is this something I need to be concerned about?

    Galaxy Nexus ?
     
  2. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2006
    1,049
    192
    0
    Location:
    NH
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Is the drivers side in the shade when you check?
    Do you have a valve stem tool, check the valve stems.
     
  3. Nakamoto

    Nakamoto Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2013
    69
    5
    0
    Location:
    Melbourne
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I top up the tyres on a weekly basis, and this is something that I've noticed

    Galaxy Nexus ?
     
  4. milesmutt

    milesmutt Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2013
    34
    5
    0
    Location:
    Silicon Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Do you park along a curb? Possibly putting more stress on one side?

    Seems odd that just one side is low.
     
  5. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    1,403
    191
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    What side is the sun on when you check them?
     
  6. Nakamoto

    Nakamoto Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2013
    69
    5
    0
    Location:
    Melbourne
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It was like late evenings no sun whatsoever

    Galaxy Nexus ?
     
  7. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2006
    1,049
    192
    0
    Location:
    NH
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four

    OK, before checking the pressure, are any tires in the sun?
    Had you driven the car for the last 8 hours?
    Do you have a teenager in the house? ;)

    Have you checked the tightness of the valve stems, a little oil will show bubbles, or soapy water, oil's better, it there are bubbles, take the weight off the wheel, remove the valve stem, lubricate it with oil and re-install it, then recheck it.
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,697
    38,236
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Could be a small nail, or something similar, a small scrap of metal. We had one tire slowly loosing air, for about 2 years, finally found a slim finishing nail: pulled it and plug repaired.
     
  9. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2013
    1,476
    1,551
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Make sure there's no nail on the tires. Check your tires at the end of the month to see the difference on all 4 tires. If there is tire pressure difference, such as in 20PSI on the right front and rear, and 30PSI on the front left and rear, then your right front and rear tires has a nail somewhere or there is a leak going on. Usually if its leaking really bad, your tire light will turn on in your dashboard.

    As in all the comments about parking your vehicle in the sunlight and such, I don't see a difference in that. It is normal for your tires to lose 2PSI every month. I've checked my tires every oil change (which is 6 months or 10k miles) and only see a difference in 4-6psi lost when I check it.