Shock tech question

[Sage]

Why nitrogen in shocks?

I have argon/CO2 for my welder. Can it be used?

 

[MatMan]

Yes, both are inert gasses. CO2 is a suitable substitute for N2

 

[Aaron]

I would worry about the C02 expanding when it gets hot. I did a little bit of reading and motorcycle guys have done it and I'm not seeing good things.

This is a motorcycle thread, but there's some interesting info: https://thumpertalk.com/forums/topic/790423-co2-shock-charge/

 

[Jeff-Ohio]

Why nitrogen in shocks?

I have argon/CO2 for my welder. Can it be used?

Not to steal your thread, but maybe piggyback off it ....... I know the pressure created by the Nitrogen in a shock helps keep the oil from foaming. I believe I have also heard that a shock will ride softer if you lower the Nitrogen pressure. You obviously would not want to do this if you are going off-roading, but is there any truth to the fact that the truck will have a more compliant ride if I lower the Nitrogen pressure? If so, what would be a good level to set it at? My buddy has everything needed to refill a shock with Nitrogen. Since I mostly use my truck for daily driving and hauling my other off-road toys, I was thinking about giving this a shot. Thoughts?

 

[t_j]

No, bad things will happen. N2 is much more pressure stable as temperature rises. If you run a CO2 mixed gas as the shock gets used it will heat up and expand raising the pressure. When this happens you will risk blowing various seals in your shocks.

 

[Aaron]

No, bad things will happen. N2 is much more pressure stable as temperature rises. If you run a CO2 mixed gas as the shock gets used it will heat up and expand raising the pressure. When this happens you will risk blowing various seals in your shocks.

 

[Jimster58]

Yes, both are inert gasses. CO2 is a suitable substitute for N2

CO2 is NOT an inert gas - it reacts readily with water to form carbonic acid (works even better with heat). Even a weak acid like that will react with aluminum to form hydrogen gas. In all, not something I'd want around shock internals or wheels with unprotected aluminum surfaces.

 

[MatMan]

Cory at RPG told me so, so I know CO2 is an inert gas (maybe your using it in a different context) But you can believe whatever, it's fine, we can have a beer and talk molecules and entropy and shit.

Here a link with a video in case your dyslexic or you only read comics:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/inert-gas-definition-types-examples.html

I'm just trying to be funny here, nothing personal Jiimster. I did research it before I posted that reply, and I've researched it before recharging my airbumps.

CO2 and N2 are both inert and are interchangeable in the sense that they don't experience extreme change in volume under temp changes.

 

[Jimster58]

Cory at RPG told me so, so I know CO2 is an inert gas (maybe your using it in a different context) But you can believe whatever, it's fine, we can have a beer and talk molecules and entropy and shit.

Here a link with a video in case your dyslexic or you only read comics:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/inert-gas-definition-types-examples.html

I'm just trying to be funny here, nothing personal Jiimster. I did research it before I posted that reply, and I've researched it before recharging my airbumps.

CO2 and N2 are both inert and are interchangeable in the sense that they don't experience extreme change in volume under temp changes.

Hah! No worries - I've just got a graduate degree in chemistry and worked in big pharma, manufacturing, and in analytical chemistry for over 20 years...

CO2, high temperatures, a little water, aluminum - now you've potentially got hydrogen gas, too! CO2 is reactive (the opposite of inert), while nitrogen, argon, helium - stuff like that isn't reactive, but are truly inert and stable gases.

Any gas expands on heating or pressure reduction. In a closed system, heating any gas causes pressure to increase. Either the general gas law or Ideal Gas Law demonstrates that.

 

[xrocket21]

Same reason they fill tires with nitrogen, its an inert gas that wont expand or contract with temperature.