Tyre Valve Covers

[dougtsc]

Not a Mercedes story but thought I'd mention it anyway.

A neighbour of mine called me over the other day. His daughter had put some fancy metal valve covers on her wheels, (purchased from a well known web auction site). He wanted to check the tyre pressures and he had removed three of the four valve covers but this last one refused to budge and nothing we did would shift it.
Anyway the outcome was the daughter drove the car to a tyre fitting place down the road and they said this was becoming quite common. The alloy cover reacts with the metal part of the valve and corrodes. Result was they had to take the tyre off and cut off the valve.
New valve, refit tyre and balancing cost £10 ..... despite her smiling and flashing her eyebrows.

Neighbour has now put back the four original rubber ones.

Just thought I'd warn you all.

 

[SLIGOGOLFER]

A smear of Vaseoline applied when new prevents corrosion and occasionally
removing them weekly/monthly to check tyre pressure would help as well.
Do ladies check tyre pressures? (My wife certainly does,nt)

 

[ivegotcclass]

I bought a set of 'Chromies' from said well known internet auction site and the manufacturer advises that a light spray of WD40 every now and again will prevent them seizing onto the valve.

 

[television]

The corrosion is caused through electrchemical oxidation and moisture with dissimilar metals

brass is +.5 and aluminium is -1.67. it is the one in the lower table (alli) that gives itself away to the higher one (brass)

So don't take your car out in the rain and no problem or buy brass caps if you must go out in the rain.

Malcolm

 

[fent77]

those bleeping metal valve caps!

:x :x :I made the same mistake last year & had thrown them away within the month after having to get a spanner to one cap, which really had me worried I was going to tear the valve stem. went back to the plakkie ones - it seems those metal ones (mine were only a quid from poundland) are just not worth the risk, even if they look smart. Not sure now that it makes any sense to try to jazz up a merc anyway. its not like its a ford capri!

 

[Frank Patten]

I bought a set of shiny aluminium valve caps, fitted them and local school kids stole the lot. Back to black plastic, they're not interested in those!

 

[television]

I bought a set of shiny aluminium valve caps, fitted them and local school kids stole the lot. Back to black plastic, they're not interested in those!

How can you drive around with cheap plastic valve caps on a MB what ever next

Malcolm

 

[philharve]

Hi All

I had a nice set of 'chromies' stolen, presummably by kids, and I reverted back to using the black plastic ones. I've now replaced the plastic caps with smart, metal, 'thief proof' caps that require a special key to tighten/loosen them. The key locks the shiny outer cap with the inner brass one that screws onto the valve. Without the key the outer cap merely rotates around the inner cap and nothing much happens.

However, I wonder how long it will be before the kids crack this puzzle?

REGARDS Phil

 

[thegoonerman]

i have special valves on mine that tell you when you dont have enough air in your tyres and come with a spanner(fitable on keyring) and locking nut...here is the link http://www.thetyrepressuremonitor.com/aircheckers.asp

 

[philharve]

Hi thegoonerman

I have seen these advertised. They usually have a little window which changes colour when the tyre pressure falls below a certain point. I believe they are purchased based upon this lower pressure?

It is my understanding - correct me if I'm wrong - that when these valve caps are screwed onto the valve neck they break the air tight seal provided by the valve. These caps somehow measure the pressure in the tyre which turns the window 'green' when above the preset pressure. I believe it turns 'red' when the tyre is underinflated?

It's the nature of the air tight seal that has always bothered me. Is it as air tight as the valve itself?

I believe there are other pressure monitoring systems but they rely upon transmitting tyre pressure as a radio frequency signal. I guess the valve itself incorporates the pressure+rf transducer. I assume each transducer requires a small battery?

Whatever happened to run flat tyres? Bring back solid tyres!!!

REGARDS Phil

 

[television]

Whatever happened to run flat tyres? Bring back solid tyres!!!

REGARDS Phil[/QUOTE]

Phil, you could put 19" rims with 35 profile and you have the next best thing

Malcolm

 

[philharve]

Hi television

I'll bear that snippet in mind.

I've seen something very similar in the last couple of days ... on an old, red Escort. I thought I was seeing things because the thickness of tyre appeared to be only a couple inches wide in comparison with the rims which looked too big for the car.

I remember encountering a website a few years ago where you could pick a make and model of car, depict it in profile, choose its colour then select different rims and tyre cross sections to see what they would look like. Some wheels combinations don't look right on some cars. The Escort for example.

REGARDS Phil

 

[James q]

Sticky chrome valves

After reading all of the attached comments i checked my valves and two were stuck Had to use grips to prevent valve from shearing.

So glad i have found this site thanks very much. Not sure whether to refit and use Vaseline or get a good brass set