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I learnt me sompin yesterday...

Brandy

Brandy

Jack Stand Racer #6..and proud of it!
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For all of you who have vehicles with air pressure sensors inside the wheels there needs to be a RUBBER valve cap on the stem.
My local mechanic warned me yesterday that placing METAL caps on such valves sets them up for oxidation and ruin because of dissimilar metals. It ruins the sensors and is expensive to repair.

Word to the wise......it's an easy fix.

Ghost.
 
My wifes 21 Pilot has sensors and metal caps from the factory, as does my daughters 08 Optima.
Not really sure if this is just his preference or myth.
If I were a betting man I would say that those failures are due inpart to people putting non-dried air in. All of our daily drivers have nitrogen.
 
Last edited:
I'd agree about wet air.

I was pretty sure the sensors were not directly attached to the valve stems.
 
I can only relate my experience.
2008 Jeep Wrangler. Probably three valve stems have corroded so badly that they were destroyed. Once while I was on the road, at night. The stems were so corroded that I couldn’t even top up the tire and limp on as the air chuck wouldn’t engage.
 
Dry air and Nitrogen would not apply to this warning.
 
This came from a career certified mechanic with 30 plus years of seeing problems with vehicles. They sell a **** load of tires at this garage and have seen the issue first hand over and over again. Of course there are mitigating factors that make it non applicable to some vehicles. But, as a general rule. It applies.
 
Please read the entire post. I stated that it is a result of dissimilar metals. oxidation. While the sensor may not be ruined itself, the valve stem will so corroded that it will have to be replaced. Most sensors at attached to the stem base. At least every one that I have seen anyway. I know from personal experience they are expensive. Minimum $80 bucks each. Plus the labor. X4. Why take the chance when a .50 cent rubber or plastic valve cap would solve it.
 
I remove the sensors and put regular stems in. I can check my own pressures.
Mike
 
Don't forget to flush out the old air and replace with fresh air every 3000 miles. You could do it when you change the blinker fluid.
 
themechanic said:
Don't forget to flush out the old air and replace with fresh air every 3000 miles. You could do it when you change the blinker fluid.
Click to expand...

I’ve been searching for a survivor Mopar with factory air in the tires...

I’ve come up empty.
 
Ghostrider 67 said:
For all of you who have vehicles with air pressure sensors inside the wheels there needs to be a RUBBER valve cap on the stem.
My local mechanic warned me yesterday that placing METAL caps on such valves sets them up for oxidation and ruin because of dissimilar metals. It ruins the sensors and is expensive to repair.

Word to the wise......it's an easy fix.

Ghost.
Click to expand...
Do you mean plastic caps?
 
Yup. Replaced my factory caps with nice shiny "chrome" caps. Corroded onto stem. Destroyed the stem when trying to remove. Was on a 2009 Ram 1500. Right on Ghost.
 
themechanic said:
Don't forget to flush out the old air and replace with fresh air every 3000 miles. You could do it when you change the blinker fluid.
Click to expand...
Just be very wary of that Lucas brand blinker fluid.
 
Thanks for the heads up @Ghostrider 67

I don't own anything new enough
but I will keep that in mind if I ever do
 
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