Dont use metal valve caps.

[JohnnyG]

My Mercedes came with metal caps (with green dot centers) and the first time I added air they were a bit corroded on. I figure the previous owner was told by the dealer that the tires were filled with nitrogen and he shouldn't need to check them. So I suspect they were on there for a couple years without being removed.
They all needed air of course, and after that first issue I've not had a problem.

 

[DwightFrye]

I have been using metal valve stem caps since the days of rubber stems with brass threads and never had one seize. Of course I am in Southern California and salt on the roads is not a thing like it is in other regions.

But after reading warnings about them on TPMS stems, I have taken to putting a tiny bit of anti-seize grease on the stems just as a precaution. I check my tire pressures often with a dial gauge in addition to what the vehicle's readout may be so the caps aren't going to be on the stems for months at a time anyway where they would have time to corrode.

 

[Wylie6G72]

I don't have this issue with valve stem caps because of how often I adjust tire pressure this time of year, but the cheap metal Lowes jet nozzle I keep on the garden hose is usually welded on by the time I take it off for winter. Different metals stop liking each other when moisture is introduced.

If you don't remove them often, switch to plastic.

 

[jeepman3071]

Probably going to blow some minds here but the valve cap threads don't have to be dry.

And I figured that a bitoger's valve cap could never be on long enough to corrode in the first place...

 

[JavierH19]

My Mercedes came with metal caps (with green dot centers) and the first time I added air they were a bit corroded on. I figure the previous owner was told by the dealer that the tires were filled with nitrogen and he shouldn't need to check them. So I suspect they were on there for a couple years without being removed.
They all needed air of course, and after that first issue I've not had a problem.

Nitrogen filled tires are such a scam and are up there with obd2 gas savers with just an led inside of them that blinks randomly every so often. 80% of the air is made of it and what difference is it ever gonna make in my lead sled escalade.

My friend got screwed by being told if they put regular air in with nitrogen it will react and blow the tire on his wifes q3 causing it to crash and charged him almost $80 to top them up. i then told him to just google search the atmospheric composition. Immediately got pissed and vowed to never return to the audi dealer.

 

[Jetronic]

Probably going to blow some minds here but the valve cap threads don't have to be dry.

And I figured that a bitoger's valve cap could never be on long enough to corrode in the first place...

half a season is plenty of time... we put on winter (or summer) wheels on a customer car with plastic valve caps and it comes back for maintenance with metal caps stuck in place. With some luck we can remove them and apply some anti-seize.

 

[IcarusLSC]

I've always used metal ones without issue for decades now on all my vehicles. I put them on tight too so ppl don't steal them as easy.

 

[joekingcorvette]

My 2005 Corvette came from the factory with metal caps. I still have the OEM caps without any problems.

 

[Cujet]

Thanks for the input. We use metal valve stem caps on aircraft wheels. They are trouble free. however I think they are brass, and don’t ever seem to corrode.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Happens a lot, Anti-seize on the threads works though. I stick to plastic caps myself.

I started taking the HondaLogo caps and replacing with plastic. No one seems to want to steal those..

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Don't most TPMS cars have metal caps from the factory?

 

[hardcore302]

Wonder if this was some incompatibility between two metals... and then add in some road salt and brine for good measure.

I'm thinking it was this.

 

[Rand]

My tpms are still rubber stems with brass threads... many different types out there.

 

[930.engineering]

.
My BMWs and Minis used to come from factory with aluminum caps and
I still use them in the summer season on all cars. Plastic caps during winter.
I don't remember any issue removing the metal/aluminum caps. They have
a rubber seal inside. Never used antiseize on them.
.

 

[Cujet]

Here is a link to aircraft valve stem caps. They can hold up to 5000PSI.

https://pilotshq.com/products/yellow-brass-aircraft-valve-cap-637

 

[billt460]

I just wish they came in white or plated.

 

[nthach]

Weird - Toyota uses metal valve caps stock on nearly all Lexus models from the factory. It was the case with a 2018 GX(Tahara, Japan) and a 2019 RX(Cambridge, Ontario in Canada).

The valve stem on TPMS sensors is aluminum or magnesium(for the clamp-in types - snap-in types still use a rubber-clad brass body) - the valve cores are plated brass or stainless steel. I think the big no-no is when an aftermarket metal acorn cap made from chrome-plated mild steel is used on a clamp-in sensor.

 

[buck91]

And I figured that a bitoger's valve cap could never be on long enough to corrode in the first place...

This.

 

[Dave Sherman]

My friend got screwed by being told if they put regular air in with nitrogen it will react and blow the tire on his wifes q3 causing it to crash and charged him almost $80 to top them up. i then told him to just google search the atmospheric composition. Immediately got pissed and vowed to never return to the audi dealer.

Man, that's where I think a call to your local TV news station that has their "problem solver" reporters would be in order. That would make for some nice (bad) publicity for that dealer!

 

[mightymousetech]

Don't most TPMS cars have metal caps from the factory?

No. All the ones I work on are plastic only.