The truth about nitrogen generating machines

You may have heard about nitrogen generating machines and wondered to yourself, "why use a cylinder-based machine such as the NIflate⁹⁹ when I could just buy a machine that makes its own nitrogen?" The truth is, nitrogen generating machines are not all they're cracked up to be. Here's why.

The NIflate⁹⁹ is a totally new concept in nitrogen inflation equipment.  For the past couple of years nitrogen generators have been the only method of inflating tires with nitrogen.  But the problem is they weren’t designed for use in the automotive service industry.  Nitrogen generators are complex systems with sensitive components originally designed for use in pristine laboratory and clean room environments.  Their performance and durability have not been tested on dirty, wet, and oily shop floors.  And dirt, moisture and oil produced by the compressor that powers it will ruin a nitrogen generator.  The fact is that nitrogen generators have practically no track record in the shop environment, so it is impossible to accurately forecast life expectancy.

The NIflate⁹⁹ was designed specifically to overcome the drawbacks of nitrogen generators.  In fact, it is the first nitrogen machine designed exclusively to perform reliably among the hazards of automotive service shops.  The NIflate⁹⁹ is a new design but it’s based on a time tested concept… dispensing nitrogen from cylinders.  For years NASCAR has used cylinders of nitrogen to inflate its racing tires.  Most garages are comfortable using cylinders of gas for welding and would never consider generating their own oxygen or acetylene.  Nitrogen is no different.  The NIflate⁹⁹ runs on cylinders of nitrogen that are conveniently delivered to your location, or you can pick up locally, whenever you need them.

Manufacturers of nitrogen generators are applying their systems in applications for which they were never designed.  Before investing in any nitrogen inflation system you need to become informed. Below you will find 5 myths and facts regarding nitrogen generators, and a link to read our article comparing the NIflate⁹⁹ with nitrogen generating machines.

Myth: Nitrogen generators produce "free" nitrogen.
Fact: The cost of producing nitrogen is anything but free. When you consider the electricity and wear and tear on your air compressor and dryer system, the costs add up quickly. It takes 4 cubic feet of atmosphere to create 1 cubic foot of nitrogen. That means your air  compressor has to run a long time in order to generate a small amount of nitrogen.

Myth: Nitrogen generators produce pure nitrogen
Fact: Due to their inefficient design, nitrogen generators are not capable of producing pure nitrogen. In fact, when new, a generating machine will typically produce 95% pure nitrogen. As the machine is used, its membrane, the filter which separates that nitrogen from the atmosphere, degrades, producing lower and lower purities of nitrogen. In fact many generators come packaged with purity gauges on them so you know when the membrane is worn out! With the NIflate⁹⁹ purity is never an issue; it is always 99.9% pure.

Myth: Nitrogen generators are as fast as cylinder-based machines
Fact: As explained above, it takes 4 cubic feet of atmosphere to create one cubic foot of nitrogen. It takes a while for the generator to produce that nitrogen. That's time that you don't have. That's why most generators come with large storage tanks to store nitrogen. Not only does this make them non-portable, it also means that you still may end up waiting for the generator to finish making nitrogen before you can use it, especially if you expect to do a large volume of cars or are inflating large tires. Don't forget that it takes a generator three purges per tire for it to have a sufficient purity if nitrogen. Chances are, the generator won't be able to keep up.

Myth: Nitrogen generators are efficient
Fact: They are anything but. Not only is the machine itself inefficient, but so will be the technician using it. The reason is because most generators are not automatic and require the technician to purge and fill each tire individually. That means each tire has to be deflated and inflated three times, all by hand, a process that will take at least 5 minutes per tire, or 20 minutes per vehicle! That's time wasted that the technician could be performing another service. With the NIflate⁹⁹, the machine does the work on all four tires simultaneously and automatically, freeing the technician to perform other services.

Myth: Nitrogen generators don't need much maintenance
Fact: The heart of a nitrogen generator is its membrane, the filter that actually separates the nitrogen from the atmosphere that we breathe. The membrane degrades over time, especially in a dirty shop environment, and need to be completely replaced about every 2 years at an expense of over $1,000 (sometimes as much as $2,000). In addition, since the generator requires the use of an air dryer, you must be certain that this piece of equipment is properly maintained. If it is not, and moisture should get into the membrane, it will be rapidly destroyed. Besides the membrane, there are typically two or more filters to help protect the sensitive membrane that must be changed periodically.

Click here to read our article, 12 Frequently Asked Questions concerning the differences between the NIflate⁹⁹ and nitrogen generators.