My 3k dollar hf tire inflator

[monster1]

I've had this thing for about five years and finally realized that the guage showed 10psi to high. So for the last five years I've been running around with my tires low on pressure. I guessimate that it has cost me an extra 3k in fuel *AND TIRES*.

 

[Harwinton]

The gauges on those things never seem to work right. The gauge on my tire air compressor is way out of whack. Best bet is just to double-check the tire pressure with a decent tire-pressure gauge once you're done.

 

[Altec]

Bit of a bold statement to say $3k. I assume you calculated your gas mileage based on gas used compared to miles went with both proper inflation, and 10psi under to figure this out?

 

[98TJ]

It was your decision that has cost you that extra $3,000.

But hey, you saved what...$10 or so on a tire gauge?

 

[monster1]

Bit of a bold statement to say $3k. I assume you calculated your gas mileage based on gas used compared to miles went with both proper inflation, and 10psi under to figure this out?

Yes, that is my guesstimate.

 

[monster1]

It was your decision that has cost you that extra $3,000.

But hey, you saved what...$10 or so on a tire gauge?

Five years ago I wouldnt have thought twice about it. Today about the only thing I buyfrom them is expendables.

 

[volpster31]

just kidding

 

[91bronc300]

LMAO volpster31. No empathy eh?

I do agree with Monster though. The longer I've been going to Harbor Freight the more I see how far my money is really going when I buy there. I go there less and less now. I hardly go at all anymore actually.

So you're saying you've used an EXTRA 850 gallons in 5 years solely because of a missing 10 PSI? You drive truck for a living?

 

[juiced10]

So do we blame the seller or manufacturer? We are to expect HF to check every gauge before leaving store? If you didn't notice any obvious uneven wear on the tires I doubt you lost that much fuel economy.

 

[gsmornot]

10psi times 4 is 40. That is like driving on just 3 tires.

 

[madbasser]

LMAO volpster31.
So you're saying you've used an EXTRA 850 gallons in 5 years solely because of a missing 10 PSI? You drive truck for a living?

That's at today's prices, the true amount might be even more!!!

 

[KPSquared]

Have you done comparative mileage tests at both pressures or something? Seems like a huge difference. What are you basing that on? Not that I doubt you, just curious on your real world numbers.

 

[drew03cmc]

The true amount is FAR less than that. $3k is a gross exaggeration. If you want to make sensationalist claims, at least let us know first.

 

[Ken81590]

Why are you guys so damn worried about how he came up with 3k as a number? He probably just threw out a number.

 

[fivespdcat]

According to fuel economy.gov website for every 1 psi the fuel economy is reduced 0.3% so 10 psi is 3%. not sure that calculates out to 3k but I also don't think it matters. Point was made, HF charged $10 less for something that ended up costing a lot more on the back end. The lesson here is initial purchase price does not always equal total cost. It's a good lesson.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml

 

[oldtools]

10 psi is alot. You should be able to see the tire is low on pressure.

 

[monster1]

Why are you guys so damn worried about how he came up with 3k as a number? He probably just threw out a number.

No ****! I meant to add the cost of tires as well. 2 vehicles, 2 sets of prematurel wore tires, one set cost over a thousand dollars. What else do you guys want? Receipts? Pictures? Stool and urine sample? Surprised nobody has posted a picture of a troll with a finger in his nose.

 

[Dustball]

So if your tires were low on air and prematurely worn, you would have found out long before 5 years as your tires would have worn out on the outside edges.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

This is why I always have 2 or more tire pressure gauges.

Milton pencil type haven't failed me yet.

 

[91bronc300]

I think you guys are missing the point. Harbor freight sold an inferior product that over time cost much more than the savings over a name brand tire gauge. Clearly it's time to get a lawyer and sue John Travolta for what he tried to do to me during that massage.

 

[chrisexv6]

I think you guys are missing the point. Harbor freight sold an inferior product that over time cost much more than the savings over a name brand tire gauge. Clearly it's time to get a lawyer and sue John Travolta for what he tried to do to me during that massage.

Actually Travolta should be sued for straying from his hot wife!

 

[RedFordTruck]

That ***** dude!

This is why i dont buy the cheap Harbor Freight junk!

Hong Kong Special come back to bite you in the azz.

 

[monster1]

I think you guys are missing the point. Harbor freight sold an inferior product that over time cost much more than the savings over a name brand tire gauge. Clearly it's time to get a lawyer and sue John Travolta for what he tried to do to me during that massage.

Clearly. Is johnny cockren still around? Larry h parker?

 

[trainer]

And it's impossible that you could have done something to break it during the last five years?

 

[drew03cmc]

Why would you cheap up on something that costs $11 from one of the tool trucks or $5 from an auto parts house?

 

[cj7365]

It was your decision that has cost you that extra $3,000.

But hey, you saved what...$10 or so on a tire gauge?

LMFAO

$3000 yeah right

 

[KPSquared]

No ****! I meant to add the cost of tires as well. 2 vehicles, 2 sets of prematurel wore tires, one set cost over a thousand dollars. What else do you guys want? Receipts? Pictures? Stool and urine sample? Surprised nobody has posted a picture of a troll with a finger in his nose.

I suppose you'd like a hug now? I figured you were serious. . .so I wanted to know. Pull up your huggies. . .

 

[ElectroLight]

This is a stupid thread. Anyone who works with tools should have an inkling about the idea of calibration... Did you not think to at least make an effort to test your $2 Tire inflator's accuracy? ...IN 5 YEARS OF USE??? HF is not to blame for this one, the loose lug nut that used a broken gauge year after year after year has no one to blame but himself.

 

[Murphy4570]

Why would you cheap up on something that costs $11 from one of the tool trucks or $5 from an auto parts house?

Um, I think I paid somewhere around $50 for an air chuck gauge from the Matco truck back in 2007.

Hah! Price went up on it too! Just found it:

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/A100A/10-120-PSI-INFLATOR-GAUGE/

 

[Givl Reggin]

10 psi is alot. You should be able to see the tire is low on pressure.

The recommended tire pressure is for maximum vehicle loading... chances are that he wasn't driving around with the vehicle loaded to it's maximum and that the -10 psi was probably closer to the actual load.

 

[joecon]

I just paid $70.00 for one and its certifid to 0.1 of a pound.
You get what you pay for.

 

[monster1]

I suppose you'd like a hug now? I figured you were serious. . .so I wanted to know. Pull up your huggies. . .

Well, if you are offering. Sure. My "guessimate?" I guess it was a little on the heavy side. Never would have thought my post would have everyone running for their calculators but then again this IS garage journal isnt it? People round here argue about screwdrivers.

 

[davesnothere]

"10 psi is alot. You should be able to see the tire is low on pressure. "

You can't see 10psi difference on a lot of tires. Lower profile and extra duty tires especially.

 

[TwoInch]

10 psi is alot. You should be able to see the tire is low on pressure.

if a tire calls for 44lbs max, and its actually at 34lbs, you will not know by looking at the tire, plain and simple. now if the tire had a 44lb max, and he was attempting to inflate to 35lbs, and got 25lb instead, you might see a slight bulge, but even at 25lbs, most people will not notice the tire being low, and thats 20lbs difference. 10psi is not a lot. just sayin

as for the gauge... obviously he didnt check the gauge when he bought it, so who knows what it read when it was new. five years is a long life for a couple dollar tire inflator gauge. maybe it has lost calibration over time.....

and who uses the same gauge every single time you put air in your tires for 5 years? never one at the gas station, or tire shop?

for some reason, i have always used two back to back, atleast once in a while to check them against each other. i would never expect something so cheap to be accurate or consistent.

i think this thread is a troll attempt. $3000 buck difference? maybe running on flats. no one to blame but the nutt behind the wheel

 

[lwlobo]

I'd like to see the data, fuel mileage before and after the poorly calibrated HF gauge was discovered.

If you were setting tire pressure for a trucking fleet, that could add up to some serious dough!

 

[Danglerb]

HF or off the truck, anything that is mechanical and measures needs checking. Amazon has the digital Accutire gauges for like $9.

BTW lots of gauges read high "while filling" a tire.

 

[pop pop]

But it sure rode better, didn't it?

 

[Twiggss]

is this s troll or is he really this stupid? :facepalm:

 

[Slick6]

So when the tire shop replaced your tires and filled them with the proper air pressure. Did you check them a month later and see that they were "over filled" by 10psi? Was this a concern to you that your gauge might be wrong or they overfilled, or did you just let 10 psi out of each one? Just curious.

 

[monster1]

is this s troll or is he really this stupid? :facepalm:[


So sorry to disappoint you but I wasnt trolling for anyones attention. My only point to this thread was that cheap tools can cost you in the long run. ive since invested in a quality tool. I'm also seeing a mpg gain of 12% and 19% in my two vehicles. Stupid? That's an ASSumption isnt it, considering a professional tire shop I use never caught on? They just kept on realigning and balancing. Make all the ASSumptions you want. If all you want to offer is cheap shots and insults feel free to find another thread where you can argue over screwdrivers.