Why Steel Intake Gaskets Are a Must for Modified Ecotec Builds
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Why Steel Intake Gaskets Are a Must for Modified Ecotec Builds
If you're running a Holden with a 3.8L Ecotec engine — whether it's the naturally aspirated L36 or the supercharged L67 — your intake manifold gasket is doing more than you think. It's not just sealing coolant and oil. It's keeping your powertrain alive under heat, boost, and vibration. And if you're modifying your build, the factory plastic gasket just doesn't cut it.
The Problem with OEM Plastic Gaskets
From the factory, Holden fitted Ecotecs with plastic lower intake manifold (LIM) gaskets. These worked fine on a stock engine — for a while. But once temps start climbing or you add a bit of boost, these gaskets become a liability.
They warp. They crack. They allow oil and coolant to mix — or worse, they suck coolant into your intake runners, killing your engine.
Why Steel Gaskets Are the Upgrade You Need
Steel gaskets don’t flex, deform, or melt. They hold torque under load, seal more evenly across the intake valley, and resist long-term heat cycling. Our steel Ecotec intake gaskets are designed specifically for Aussie conditions and modified street builds.
- ✅ Heat-resistant steel core construction
- ✅ Leak-proof under boost and high RPM
- ✅ Direct replacement for L36 and L67 applications
- ✅ Built for turbo, supercharged, or cammed Ecotecs
Who Needs to Upgrade?
If any of these apply, you should be running steel gaskets:
- 🔧 You’ve cammed your L36 or L67
- 🔧 You're pulleying down your L67 blower
- 🔧 You’re overheating or leaking coolant from the valley
- 🔧 Your engine bay temps are higher than stock
Even on a stock daily driver, the factory plastic gaskets are a ticking time bomb. Don’t wait until the valley fills with coolant.
Application-Specific Fitment Pages
We’ve created fitment-specific pages so you can grab the right gasket kit for your model:
- VT–VY Commodore L67 Supercharged
- VS–VY Commodore Ecotec L36
- WH Caprice L67 Valley Gasket
- VY Crewman L67 Supercharged
Don’t Let a $100 Gasket Cost You a $3,000 Engine
Sealing your valley properly is one of the most important upgrades you can make to any Ecotec. Stop wasting time with cheap plastic — upgrade once and drive with confidence.