tips for the x20xev

[phunkymonkey]

by shrink

Having owned an ecotec for quite a while, heres my list of top tips

1) make sure your using a close ratio gearbox, the SRI was the only one to come with one as standard, this makes a huge difference to the car.

2) Change the flywheel.... that 12 kilo beast on the ecotec kills acceleration and throttle response, it ruins your in gear acceleration and mucks up downshifts something spare. Take a visit to courtenay and pick up their 5.6 kilo lightened billet flywheel.

Once thats in, and mated to a close ratio gearbox, the ecotec REALLY flies, and has no trouble whatsoever keeping up with a standard XE SRI.

3) Wrap the air inlet pipes in heat rejecting foil, stop heat getting to any of the air feeds in the car, the ecotec runs like crap when its hot, so keep it cool, make sure a plentifull suply of cold air is getting in.

4) Lexmaul manifold, this replaces not only the poor manifold on the ecotec but also the 2-1 downpipe. Expect a noticeable improvement in torque, power and overall driveability, as well as a great noise and a manifold you will never need to replace.

5) Get a cat back system (but dont remove the cat) a decent cat back system will make the most of that lexmaul manifold and you can expect slightly cleaner and free-er feeling top end. Dont remove the cat though, its just not worth it. All it does is mess up your torque curve and ruin the ecotecs lovely low RPM pull.

6) Decent spark plugs and good 15w40 oil are a must. The engine responds well to good semi synthetic oil. in fact a good service with some NGK spark plugs, some good oil and a proper vauxhall air filter can make all the difference.