Member Since: 15 Oct 2010
Location: South Yorkshire
Posts: 907
Metal Tyre Valve Caps
I've acquired some metal valve caps but have been reluctant to,put them on as I've heard they bind with the valve thread. Anyone know whether white lithium grease is any good at preventing this ?
Cheers.2010 MX-5 2.0 Sport Tech PRHT
2019 Suzuki Vitara AllGrip
Gone BMW X5 xDrive 30d M Sport (F15)
Gone Disco 4 HSE SD V6
Gone 2008 Jaguar XF 2.7TD Premium Luxury
3rd Jun 2016 10:59 pm
Sydney
Member Since: 11 Aug 2013
Location: St Neots
Posts: 903
Never heard of that before, been using metal caps for over thirty years and always been able to get them off.De-Tango
V8 Brakes
EGRs blanked
Running boards
3 flash indicators and clock on dash
Blingy grille...
3rd Jun 2016 11:19 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73129
ISTR the problem with the fancy metal caps is in winter you can't get them off when it's brass monkey weather. No direct experience though, stuck with cheap plastic ones.
4th Jun 2016 5:13 am
RBP
Member Since: 29 Aug 2012
Location: N Yorks
Posts: 1936
I've had trouble with 2 out of 4. Had to use 1 pair of pliers to hold the valve whilst using another to remove the offending cap. No damage but went back to the cheap plastic ones...
4th Jun 2016 7:01 am
lynalldiscovery
Member Since: 22 Dec 2009
Location: Maidstone
Posts: 7274
Its all we fit to the trucks and the only time you cant get them off is when some cock has used a spanner to tighten them up, even then a bit of effort frees them up.
I went back to plastic ones on my cars as the local kids love the shiny metal ones!
4th Jun 2016 7:34 am
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8243
I have two of the new type hexagon head on a newly acquired mini for SWMBO and I can't/daren't get them off without risking damaging the valve stem, even with pliers they start to rip the rubber coating off, tyres are nearly ready for changing so I will leave well alone.
Never had any problems with the original metal type, these are a newish design.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
4th Jun 2016 10:34 am
RBP
Member Since: 29 Aug 2012
Location: N Yorks
Posts: 1936
Mine were cheap - metal seemed to be oxidised in the thread creating a tight seal
4th Jun 2016 10:38 am
Cellerdweller
Member Since: 05 Oct 2012
Location: Macclesfield
Posts: 1315
I've got metal ones however before fitting I put some grease on the threads of the cap and valve .never had any trouble getting them off .However I've seen quite a few at work that you just cannot get off and they end up with new valves .You're not afraid of the dark are you ?
4th Jun 2016 5:02 pm
therealboss
Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Co Carlow
Posts: 1958
Cheap ones will oxidise, I got some off Ebay and we had to cit the valve out as the cap would not come off. I have a TPMS on the D3 now and they came with metal caps and last week I spent 2 or 3 mins trying to get one off them off.Dale
Member Since: 30 Aug 2014
Location: Liskeard
Posts: 7441
I've used them for several years without issue, until I left my current set on for around 4 months over the summer. When I tried to remove them they were permanently corroded to the valve stem and neither myself, nor the tyre fitters, could remove them (and we'd not given up before using outrageous amounts of force!).
The end result, one wasted tyre fitting booking, several days driving around on some tyres that I'd have preferred not to have been driving around on and the cost of a whole set off new valve stems & TPMS sensors Try costing that one up at the dealer!
I will never touch metal valve caps again 2011 - 2015: 3 x FL2
2015 - 2017: 2 x D4
2017 to date: FFRR SDV8
2023 to date: 2 x FL2 as “second” cars 🙄
2021 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200
2022 to date: Hinckley built ‘14 Triumph Trophy 1200 & sidecar!
(One of only two known to exist in the world!)
16th Sep 2017 3:10 pm
L319
Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2083
A lot depends on the metal the caps are made from, never had a problems with my caps from the 1960's but some that were on my used motorbike were alloy and corroded on.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Try costing that one up at the dealer!
