Chrome dust caps warning

[S500 Pete]

Hi,

As a treat for my S class last year I bought some Mercedes logo chrome valve dust caps on fleabay. Cheap and I thought they looked pretty good if you spotted them.

At the weekend I got a tyre pressure warning light so pulled in to a petrol station to check. The dust cap on the offending wheel was stuck on solid and I ended up paying £6 for a pair of pliers/multitool in the garage to get it off (actually quite a nice tool so not a disaster). When I got home I removed the rest of them and they were all solid with white zinc oxide corrosion.

Refitted but with a drop of 3 in one oil on the thread now and I will undo and do them back up occasionally in case..

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Kwik-fit managed to upsell me a chrome set of caps and valve body covers at the last tyre change and I must admit to being very impressed 4 years later, they are in two parts, the chrome effect cap and the chrome valve body. It was a weak moment that turned out well, still fitted and still looking good - I’m amazed!!!

 

[rorywquin]

Hi,

As a treat for my S class last year I bought some Mercedes logo chrome valve dust caps on fleabay. Cheap and I thought they looked pretty good if you spotted them.

At the weekend I got a tyre pressure warning light so pulled in to a petrol station to check. The dust cap on the offending wheel was stuck on solid and I ended up paying £6 for a pair of pliers/multitool in the garage to get it off (actually quite a nice tool so not a disaster). When I got home I removed the rest of them and they were all solid with white zinc oxide corrosion.

Refitted but with a drop of 3 in one oil on the thread now and I will undo and do them back up occasionally in case..

Apparenty a common problem. I’ve stuck with the plain OEM on mine.

 

[A.J.]

Hi,

As a treat for my S class last year I bought some Mercedes logo chrome valve dust caps on fleabay. Cheap and I thought they looked pretty good if you spotted them.

At the weekend I got a tyre pressure warning light so pulled in to a petrol station to check. The dust cap on the offending wheel was stuck on solid and I ended up paying £6 for a pair of pliers/multitool in the garage to get it off (actually quite a nice tool so not a disaster). When I got home I removed the rest of them and they were all solid with white zinc oxide corrosion.

Refitted but with a drop of 3 in one oil on the thread now and I will undo and do them back up occasionally in case..

I had the exactly the same problem. I now keep them lubricated and check them at least monthly. I guess Copper Grease would be the best but like you I just use 3 in 1

 

[mioba]

They do look nice but are impractical for the reasons mentioned. I stick to boring black plastic caps.

 

[rorywquin]

I had the exactly the same problem. I now keep them lubricated and check them at least monthly. I guess Copper Grease would be the best but like you I just use 3 in 1

OMG Check valve caps.......At least monthly? Once a year would be too often for me.

 

[A.J.]

OMG Check valve caps.......At least monthly? Once a year would be too often for me.

After that last episode it has made me a bit nervous Rory

 

[rf065]

I bought them years ago and binned them for the same reasons, you live & learn!

 

[Rory]

I had two sets nicked within a few weeks of getting my car - first time was while out and about, second time was at home (not usually any problems where we live but car is parked on open front drive). Just put plastic ones on after that.

Neighbour had the ones on his Porsche nicked while in a car park and the perps left finger marks on the wings that marked the paint.

 

[Ron240]

I used metal ones for 6 years on a previous car. I knew to put a thin coating of copper grease on the threads and never had any problems.
Actually thats not quite true...I did have a problem with having them stolen on a couple of occasions as already mentioned.
On my Mercs I have stuck with the standard grey plastic caps.

 

[DSK]

Usually cause nothing but issues for us, with regards to the average caps themselves etc. Also they are heavy compared to the the standard plastic.


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[rorywquin]

THe caps on my wife’s car are metal (OEM) but they look as if they are brass.

 

[daibevan]

Mine continually corroded in place. got rid of them and now use black plastic.