Tip. Metal valve dust caps... just don't!

[peterr96]

On saturday I had two of our tyres swapped over to some refurbed wheels up at Lepsons. Very nice job they did too, treating the two refurbed rims like fine china.

I was going to stick some metal valve covers on, but one of the chaps suggested that I did not as they sometimes corrode, become impossible to get off and end up shearing off the valve stems.

Given that one of the (new to me) wheels that I had refurbed had a sheared valve stem in it, I reckon there's some truth in it!

Needless to say, off came the metals and back on with some silver plastic ones again.

As a related note when you do get your tyres done, always try to remember take off the caps and preserve them. It seems that virtually all tyres fitters always lob the silver ones away and put black ones on..... that's what I call service!

[Petrolhead]

I have to say that in my time having owned BMWs with metal caps and also other cars I have never had a problem getting them off.

I would suggest that’s its down to over tightening that causes the problem.

[Jockman]

Petrolhead said:

I have to say that in my time having owned BMWs with metal caps and also other cars I have never had a problem getting them off.

+1. Have bought 14 Beamers in the last 10 years and this is my experience.

Even the thieves can get them off !!!

[Ice27]

I have had this problem on my V8V!
And the result was a broken valve!
I was changing the wheels over at the time and I had the fitter replace all the valves with plastic (not the caps).

[George H]

Never had a problem with them, but only owned 3 cars that have had them.

I guess as long as you look after them, they won't be an issue. If you're bothered about them seizing, then take them off and spray them with WD-40 every once in a while. Should sort it.

[brakedwell]

Metal dust caps won't jam if a small amount of copper grease is smeared over the threads. BTW - In 2009 Jaguar put out a warning to dealers that the warranty would be invalidated if metal dust caps are fitted to XF tyres with TPM.

[yeti]

I have non-AM metal ones on my car. Both Masers and the Ferrari I travelled with the Le Mans had their branded ones pinched in Parking Expo on the Sunday! So even if you have metal ones, don't get branded ones or they'll be thieved

[Murph7355]

You have to be careful with the material they're made from. Not sure what the valves are, but would guess steel. Putting ali caps on these would be asking for trouble.

Take them off regularly and if there are signs of corrosion, replace them. Or just fit plastic ones (think the AM logo'd ones are plastic?).

[trashbat]

I fitted some aluminium dust caps to my mountain bike. Fine for years and then one corroded. Never did get it back off the valve, even with pliers & molegrips once I'd chopped it off - reacted and bonded together.

[yeti]

trashbat said:

I fitted some aluminium dust caps to my mountain bike. Fine for years and then one corroded. Never did get it back off the valve, even with pliers & molegrips once I'd chopped it off - reacted and bonded together.

Aluminium + steel = galvanic reaction, just like what happens to Aston panels

[NigelStn]

I've a set of chrome plated AM dust caps, which are fine. It's just the Aluminium ones that need to be checked regularly

[Lulu13]

Bit late on this post but will stainless steel caps be fine or need Grease
Lu

[mikey k]

George H said:

Never had a problem with them, but only owned 3 cars that have had them.

I guess as long as you look after them, they won't be an issue. If you're bothered about them seizing, then take them off and spray them with WD-40 every once in a while. Should sort it.

Bad idea it attacks the rubber seals