Vacuum Caps
 

Has anyone found a good alternative to the crappy vacuum caps from Autozone, NAPA, etc... They always get old and crack on me and start leaking. It's such an annoyance replacing them so often.

I would like some information on this as well. I am tired of replacing all my caps every year. They seem to last until I am on the way home from DGRR, then they fail and begin to leak about 1/2 hour from home.

I am tempted to smooth out and weld them shut.

I have used the silicone caps from the local parts store and they do seem to hold up alot better than the rubber caps.

Which brand are the silicone ones and where do you get them (NAPA, Autozone, all of the above, etc.)?

Btw... TN representing... :)

Hmm, well its not a "great" or pretty option, but some silicone vac line with a bolt in the end can do the trick. And yeah the silicone (whether in hose or cap form) will last alot longer then rubber.

I'll probably do that, I don't care how it looks.

Can't remember the brand, been so long since I had to buy any :) But I got them at Advanced or O'Reillys.

Hmm, all I ever see is the crappy rubber ones. I'll look closer next time.

jb weld is your friend!! i have also used that epoxy puddy stuff, it seems to work well too.

I use those nylon colored caps you can get at the hardware store.
They come in like 3/16", 1/8", 1/4", etc. sizes.
They just look pretty on the engine. :)

Seriously, I shoot some RTV into the fitting before slipping the cap on.
This is what keeps the fitting from leaking.
The cap is there just to remind me nothing is supposed to go on it.
If I ever want to reuse the fitting again, using a proper sized drill bit will clear out the RTV, and viola...

I don't like the rubber vacuum caps cause they look butt ugly. :P


-Ted

Thanks Ted. That is what I will do next time the manifolds have to come off.

I saw some Vinyl caps today at Autozone. Has anyone tried those?

As in, Ace Hardware or something?

And aren't you afraid the RTV will get sucked into the engine or something? :p :dunno:

Yeah, figure Ace would have them.
I used to see them regularly at Eagles and Lowes.
I think Home Depot also has them in the miscellaneous fasteners section?
I think they are called "screw covers", or something like that...
They are used to cover the exposed threaded ends of screw when they stick out of things.
Hmmm...I've never had them crack or fail, even with the heat...
In fact, they shrink a little due to the heat for an almost custom fit. :)

I let the RTV dry overnight before having it handle a running engine, so there's no problem of it getting sucked into the engine.
Most fittings are close to an inch long, so it's going to take more than normal engine vacuum to get dried RTV out of them!


-Ted

Like these bad boys?

http://www.pro-dec.com/

Oops, not nylon - sorry, brain barf.
They are *vinyl*.
They come in a ton of sizes, so you just gotta get the right size for a snug fit.
I think the 3/16" ones cover the "small" (3mm?) fittings.
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF...2092&PMCTLG=00

These are used to protect the threads on exposed fasteners.
MSC has them rated to 300F, so they should be able to take the heat.

I also found out that Eagle Hardware & Garden doesn't exist anymore.
Lowe's bought the entire franchise out.


-Ted