SUPERTECH bronze valve guides Opel GM Ecotec Z22SE L61 LE5 LSJ

GM Ecotec engines concerned

This kit is intended for General Motors' 16-valve Ecotec family: the 2.2 litre Z22SE of the Opel Astra G, Vectra, Zafira and Speedster, its L61 counterpart in Chevrolet, Pontiac and Saturn models, the 2.4 litre LE5 and the supercharged 2.0 litre LSJ of the Chevrolet Cobalt and Saturn Ion.

SUPERTECH fits a single part number on both inlet and exhaust: 6 mm stem, 10.04 mm standard outside diameter, 35 mm length. Two sets of 8 make up the kit, i.e. all 16 guides of the cylinder head.

SUPERTECH manganese bronze valve guides

Seated in the aluminium, the guide keeps the valve aligned with its seat, removes part of the heat coming from the stem and provides a base for the stem seal. As it wears, play develops, the valve seats badly and oil seeps towards the chamber: blue smoke, a dropping oil level, declining compression.

SUPERTECH machines them to tight tolerances from manganese bronze, a copper-rich alloy which, in the brand's words, passes heat on much better than a sintered original guide. They are usually fitted at the same time as reinforced valves. The kit brings together the 16 guides needed for the whole head, the same part serving both sides.

Valve guide technical specifications

Valve guide installation

Technical guide

For the Z22SE, our catalogue also includes reinforced valves:

Our brand

Located in California, SUPERTECH has been producing valves, retainers, springs and guides for competition for more than thirty years. Numerical simulation, ultrasonic, X-ray and laser examination, trials with tuners: its parts are proven before they are delivered.

Manganese bronze

This bronze combines copper and zinc with a small share of manganese, iron and aluminium. Mechanically strong, it wears slowly under friction and is little troubled by corrosion, which is why it is used for heavily loaded bushes and guides.

When valve guides must be replaced

• Oil passing along the valve stems
• Reinforced valves planned for a worn cylinder head
• Cylinder head rebuilt for track, drift or rally
• General overhaul of the valve train

Vehicle compatibility

Remember the valve stem seals

New guides are fitted with new valve stem seals. For this guide SUPERTECH specifies its VS-T6SM seal, intended for a 6 mm stem.