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[gazza57]

Hi,I'm thinking of replacing the plastic cam covers on my '96 2.5 V6 with aluminium covers from the 2.5 vectra,has anyone done this and is there any benefit?

[Lazydocker]

Yep... It's been done before. To get the oil filler on the same side as it is currently they have to be fitted the wrong way around and may cause issues with the leads

Not really a recommended mod by most on here as the plastic ones are fine if fitted and torqued correctly with genuine Vx Gaskets

Oh... And the breathers kept cleaned correctly

[gazza57]

Thanks for the information,I'm in the process of changing my cam cover gaskets and was just wandering wether the upgrade to aluminium was worth considering but now I think I'll press ahead with the original covers.

[Lazydocker]

Thanks for the information,I'm in the process of changing my cam cover gaskets and was just wandering wether the upgrade to aluminium was worth considering but now I think I'll press ahead with the original covers.

Just remember the torque setting... 8Nm (i.e. not much over finger tight) and to clean the breathers properly

[gazza57]

I've really gone to town on the breathers especially at the rear of the engine and the breather box is as clear as a set of pan pipes.

[Bent valve]

I have fitted aluminum ones to mine. The benefits are that the gaskets for the aluminum covers are far superior to the ones for the plastic covers in that they are quite a lot wider and therefore have a more efficient seal.
Also you can use cheaper aftermarket gaskets without fear of oil leaks unlike the plastic covers which must be fitted with expensive genuine gaskets.
The ally covers have to be fitted so that the oil filler is at the back of the drivers side bank next to the master cylinder, but this does not pose a problem when filling with oil as i use a schweppes(it must be schweppes ) tonic  bottle with the bottom cut off as a funnel.

You must keep the breather system clean to ensure that that crankcase pressure does not build up and force oil out of here there and everywhere, there are guides on here that tell you how to clean them out.
some people will try to tell you that if you use aluminum covers that all your oil seals will burst and that you will go to hell, but my advice is to fit em and forget em

[feeutfo]

Bent valve has answered my question in that the gaskets must be different as well to make any improvement ...?

And does the vectra blow it's crank seal regularly with blocked breathers, or are the breathers different as well? I guess they must be, and do hey bung up the same as the omega ones...?

[WGoins88]

I have aluminum covers on mine as well, but mine came off of a Saab 9-5.




There's JUST enough room to pull off the oil cap and get a funnel in there.

[Dishevelled Den]

There's JUST enough room to pull off the oil cap and get a funnel in there

You do not exaggerate W. 8-)