As you guys know the screws on the breather cover are sort of a joke, they are aluminum and are so touchy that they will break if you even look at them wrong.

They dont take much torque, think about a smidge more than snug or like a gentle tightening with a screwdriver. Im thinking of using stainless steel screws in place of the 4 little ones (I have about 10 M5x20 SS screws).

Is using SS in such a situation bad? corrossion problem?

Im armed with the half caulking tube of GM sealant and the only bit stopping me is the stupid screws, dealership also handed me the cheap aluminum screws and told me thats the part.

Reason to use GM sealant - it was easily available at the chevy dealer and it can really seal up oil pans.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

corrosion can be beat with anti-seize, but the problem is expansion under heat. aluminum and ss expand at different rates. try at your own risk-for leaks, I guess, and report back. I've broken a bunch of those screws so I know the deal. good luck, chuck.

Aluminum alloy and SS are pretty close on the galvanic chart so there shouldn't be a corrosion problem due to dissimilar metals. However, since steel is much harder be careful with cross-threading.

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Good luck.






1998 E320 Wagon

Use the OE screws. Just make sure ALL the threads are clean. We do tons of 'em with no problem.

should I just reuse them or buy new ones from the dealer?

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

If they aren't cheese-headed, you can reuse them.

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Prost!

they are literally cheese. - cast from aluminum alloy.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)