Leaking schrader valve? Spit on it!

[whoaghi]

Here is an easy way to discover if a schrader is leaking. Try spitting on your finger and rub it into the port. It'll bubble up just like soap solution, and it's right at hand.

[EugeneTheJeep]

Been doing that forever, glad you caught on too.

[02powerstroke]

very common

[northernfitter]

ah damn but I like the flashing and beeping from my yellow jacket leak detector...

[Mr Bill]

Tighten the cap good it won't leak. :weird:

[northernfitter]

[QUOTE=Mr Bill;7392182]Tighten the cap good it won't leak. :weird:[/QUOTE

Please tell me your joking

[Swampfox]

They all leak, its just a matter of how much

That is why they put caps on them

[northernfitter]

They all leak, its just a matter of how much

That is why they put caps on them

Sorry I don't agree with that. Easy to tell when one is leaking and easy to change them with a good Schaeder tool

[northernfitter]

They all leak, its just a matter of how much

That is why they put caps on them

Sorry I don't agree with that. Easy to tell when one is leaking and easy to change them with a good Schaeder tool

[cjpwalker]

They all leak, and if they don't they will. It's a tire stem trying to hold 400 psi. It'll leak. Change it when its bad, but always put a good cap on it.

Ditto for service valves - keep those caps tight.

[FJRSTAR]

Sorry I don't agree with that. Easy to tell when one is leaking and easy to change them with a good Schaeder tool

It's a potential leak for sure!

[beenthere]

I'm fairly sure the cap, is a dust cap, and not an anti leak cap.

But I've tightened more then one to stop the schrader from leaking. :D

[cjpwalker]

I'm fairly sure the cap, is a dust cap, and not an anti leak cap.

But I've tightened more then one to stop the schrader from leaking. :D

I don't know... the brass ones have a flare in them to seal when tightened, and the plastic ones have an o-ring. That's an awful lot for just dust.

I consider them more like insurance.

[Mr Bill]

I don't know... the brass ones have a flare in them to seal when tightened, and the plastic ones have an o-ring. That's an awful lot for just dust.

I consider them more like insurance.

GM has the idea the cap stops the leaks on there cars and trucks. I remember when I bought my GMC truck, about 3 years later that wormy little ball and spring setup they have inside the valve on my compressor was leaking a tiny bit. I called the dealer to get some approach to fix it, this is no lie the service department at the dealer told me that GM says the cap is supposed to be used to stop the leak, for me to come and get a new cap. :(

[northernfitter]

Been to many a house up here where the systems are losing a pound over the winter because people didnt replace the schraeders but put leak stop and tightened up the caps. If your in a cold climate the expansion and contraction over the winter from the cold will cause those caps to leak. The schaeder is not supposed to leak or need that cap to contain that refrigerant.

[Mr Bill]

The schaeder is not supposed to leak or need that cap to contain that refrigerant.

And I agree totally! :yes:

[whoaghi]

Appreciate the comments, but some may have misunderstood. I'm just sharing a useful tip that may help rule out the obvious before breaking out the leak detector.

[coolwhip]

Caps?....I super glue them on so it pisses the next tech off.

[cjpwalker]

Looking through Lennox HP install manual, and came across this:

Reinstall Stem Cap:
Stem cap protects the valve stem from damage and serves as the primary seal. Replace the stem cap and
tighten as follows:
 With Torque Wrench: Finger tighten and then torque cap per Table 1.
 Without Torque Wrench: Finger tighten and use an appropriately sized wrench to turn
an additional 1/12 turn clockwise.

[RayD8630]

I think it works as a seal. We've all gone to a system and took the cap off and heard the pffffffff.... I've seen systems lose so much charge from them that they go out on low pressure. And the sniffer doesn't smell anything but the leaky valve.

I do agree though that the schrader core under that cap is due for a replacement.

[shwung79]

biggest pain in the azz is when the previous guy decides to use some gorila strength leak lock on the threads. Or when you try to replace a schrader thats leaking to find thats been attempted before, and cross-threaded!

[RayD8630]

biggest pain in the azz is when the previous guy decides to use some gorila strength leak lock on the threads. Or when you try to replace a schrader thats leaking to find thats been attempted before, and cross-threaded!

Or when the core removal tool decides it doesn't want to grab it.