ok the plastic cover on the 2.4 i removed it but the oil cap sticks out soo far. is that just a spacer i can pull out? i wanna know becuz i started to then deccided against it incase i couldnt get it back in.

 

Yes the extension comes out. Pull up and forward (towards the front of the car) it will distort enough to pop out with enough pressure. After you get it out you will see how it screws back in and has a lock that holds it in place -- just can't get to the lock while it's in the valve cover to remove it easy.

 

completely safe to remove it.

I just took undid the oil cap, took some pliers to the spacer...popped out...put the cap back on.

 

I still can't help to wonder why GM put that plastic cover on anyways. Some say its to keep engine noise down but I didn't notice a difference when I took it off.

 

its for aesthetics(spelling).

This is a commuter car, and people would rather look at a plastic cover, than to see the actual engine.

 

oh right I upgraded (or downgraded on how you look at it) from a V8 that never had a cover so I always saw the engine when I opened the hood.

 

lolz, $3.00 chunk of plastic to make our econo boxes look more expensive. Any wonder GM is in trouble with that kind of logic?

Not to mention it is always in the way if you need to get at something. Wonder how many are laying in the corner of the garage / basement / landfill

 

I belive I took that ******* cover off right when I got home from the dealership lol I hate those stupid covers

 

Very helpful post, thanks guys.