Do Diff Covers Work Or Are They Just Bling?

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: billt460
Originally Posted By: 4WD



What's the small brass plug for in the center, just under the label?


Subscribed. Good question. I'd hope it doesn't go through, that would make it another potential point to leak.

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: 4WD
If you look at what I wrote and the G2 picture … I can get the level where it was using the tell tale port


I think that the ability of people to look at things mechanical and understand intuitively how they work from past experience with similar things is diminishing over time.

 

[SOHCman]

Originally Posted By: billt460
Originally Posted By: 4WD



What's the small brass plug for in the center, just under the label?


Bet that's the oil level plug, when it starts dribbling out it's "full".

It would be easier to move that small plug for different fill levels on different models than the big fancy easy fill port up top.

 

[hatt]

Originally Posted By: Kibitoshin
What about diff covers with load bolts that strengthen the bearing caps? Seeing that it's a popular mod for anyone running big power through a GM 10 bolt.

If it keeps the capacity and fluid level the same as stock I can't imagine a possible downside. It appears Banks is looking at the larger capacity covers.

 

[slo town]

Originally Posted By: Snagglefoot
Just being able to change your diff oil without going through the mess of pulling off the rear cover might make it worthwhile for some.


This^^^

 

[MCompact]

Chevrolet makes an effective one for the Camaro:


Alpina also fits some nice ones to their cars:

 

[CarbonSteel]

Differential covers which have cooling fins are more than just bling. Plenty of information out there that shows the cooling fins perform a function and lower the oil temperatures. In the case of Mag-Hytec, there are other features such as magnetic dipstick, increased oil capacity, and magnetic drain plug. I have them on the front and back of my Powerstroke--makes axle maintenance a breeze.

 

[4WD]

 

[hatt]

Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Differential covers which have cooling fins are more than just bling. Plenty of information out there that shows the cooling fins perform a function and lower the oil temperatures. In the case of Mag-Hytec, there are other features such as magnetic dipstick, increased oil capacity, and magnetic drain plug. I have them on the front and back of my Powerstroke--makes axle maintenance a breeze.
Pulling the cover off to change fluid does give you the opportunity to inspect the gears. I put lubelocker gaskets on my factory covers so I'll see how easy it is to change at some point.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: hatt
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Differential covers which have cooling fins are more than just bling. Plenty of information out there that shows the cooling fins perform a function and lower the oil temperatures. In the case of Mag-Hytec, there are other features such as magnetic dipstick, increased oil capacity, and magnetic drain plug. I have them on the front and back of my Powerstroke--makes axle maintenance a breeze.
Pulling the cover off to change fluid does give you the opportunity to inspect the gears. I put lubelocker gaskets on my factory covers so I'll see how easy it is to change at some point.


The nice thing about the drain plug is you don't have the mess associated with taking a cover off a diff, just like with a drain plug on a transmission pan.

 

[hatt]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Originally Posted By: hatt
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Differential covers which have cooling fins are more than just bling. Plenty of information out there that shows the cooling fins perform a function and lower the oil temperatures. In the case of Mag-Hytec, there are other features such as magnetic dipstick, increased oil capacity, and magnetic drain plug. I have them on the front and back of my Powerstroke--makes axle maintenance a breeze.
Pulling the cover off to change fluid does give you the opportunity to inspect the gears. I put lubelocker gaskets on my factory covers so I'll see how easy it is to change at some point.


The nice thing about the drain plug is you don't have the mess associated with taking a cover off a diff, just like with a drain plug on a transmission pan.
No doubt a plug will be faster and easier. However the worst part of pulling the cover is scraping gasket material and RTV. The Lubelocker gasket should make this a much quicker job. Changing gear lube is an every few year job anyway. The benefits of a drain plug diff cover aren't earth-shattering when you get down to it.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Originally Posted By: hatt
Originally Posted By: 2015_PSD
Differential covers which have cooling fins are more than just bling. Plenty of information out there that shows the cooling fins perform a function and lower the oil temperatures. In the case of Mag-Hytec, there are other features such as magnetic dipstick, increased oil capacity, and magnetic drain plug. I have them on the front and back of my Powerstroke--makes axle maintenance a breeze.
Pulling the cover off to change fluid does give you the opportunity to inspect the gears. I put lubelocker gaskets on my factory covers so I'll see how easy it is to change at some point.
Speaking only for me, I am less concerned about the appearance of the gears as I am with the mess created by pulling the cover. Since I tow frequently, if there was a problem with the axle, I would know about it long before the fluid change was necessary. In addition, the cooling and extra oil capacity are also prime reasons that I have one, but YMMV.

 

[02SE]

Originally Posted By: maxdustington


Diff covers are total bling, be it a Mag-Hytec or a transparent one.


What are your qualifications that you think you know more than the engineers that speced my truck with one from the factory?

I guarantee that if my finned aluminum diff cover on my 11.81" AAM axle wasn't deemed necessary or even beneficial in the application after far more extensive testing than Gale subjected his old-style RAM to, they'd use the standard stamped steel cover which are used in the lower rated trucks, and save some money.

Running on a dyno doesn't replicate towing 30k+ lbs up a steep grade, at maximum GCVW, on a 100°+ F day.

 

[billt460]

I wonder how many vehicles are plagued with any type of ring and pinion failure over the life of the vehicle? I'm guessing it's very few. In fact I'm willing to bet the differential is one of the most dependable, trouble free components in the entire car. I've never had a problem with one in almost 50 years of driving. And I don't know, or have come across anyone who has. And how many drivers have ever had their differential fluid changed? Again, very few.

If there was a component on the car that could be considered "bulletproof", my vote is for the differential. So therefore the question needs to be asked, what if anything are these finned covers going to improve by installing them? Yeah, you can try to make an argument it will keep things cooler when towing, and all of that. But if they were actually necessary under those conditions, they're cheap enough that the factory would be installing them on every single vehicle that came off the assembly line with a towing package. They don't.

Both my F-150 and my Jeep both came with extra cost, "Heavy Duty Towing Packages". Neither has a finned differential cover. So.... Would it help? Possibly. Are they necessary? Probably not. At least not enough that you could prove it either way.

 

[Shannow]

Yeah, but you also missed how to check the level in the aftermarket covers.

How stuff works, and how stuff is designed, as opposed to how it's made is a shortcoming in your understanding...understandably so.

 

[hatt]

It looks like everyone has chosen positions. It's going to be interesting to see the data.

 

[billt460]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
Yeah, but you also missed how to check the level in the aftermarket covers. How stuff works, and how stuff is designed, as opposed to how it's made is a shortcoming in your understanding...understandably so.


So what? I've never had to add a drop of fluid to a differential in my entire life. The only time most ever do is if they have a bad seal and they leak. And you will know that without checking it. Besides, on most every banjo out there you simply fill it until it oozes out of the fill port. You check it the same way. You don't need or require a special aftermarket cover with a removable plug to fill it to the correct level. And this is regardless if the cover allows extra capacity or not. The full level will still be the same.

All that plug accomplishes, as demarpaint mentioned, is creating something else to leak, that didn't exist on the original cover, because it is totally unnecessary..... Except for people like yourself who think it offers some kind of nonexistent benefit.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: billt460
I wonder how many vehicles are plagued with any type of ring and pinion failure over the life of the vehicle? I'm guessing it's very few. In fact I'm willing to bet the differential is one of the most dependable, trouble free components in the entire car. I've never had a problem with one in almost 50 years of driving. And I don't know, or have come across anyone who has. And how many drivers have ever had their differential fluid changed? Again, very few.

If there was a component on the car that could be considered "bulletproof", my vote is for the differential. So therefore the question needs to be asked, what if anything are these finned covers going to improve by installing them? Yeah, you can try to make an argument it will keep things cooler when towing, and all of that. But if they were actually necessary under those conditions, they're cheap enough that the factory would be installing them on every single vehicle that came off the assembly line with a towing package. They don't.

Both my F-150 and my Jeep both came with extra cost, "Heavy Duty Towing Packages". Neither has a finned differential cover. So.... Would it help? Possibly. Are they necessary? Probably not. At least not enough that you could prove it either way.

I agree. I could see for someone that uses their vehicle off road where rocks, or other obstacles could pop a hole in a differential cover, a thicker beefed up cover could be of some benefit. Other than that, maybe the convince of a drain plug could be of benefit, or someone looking for some bling. But as billt460 stated I don't know of many people that had problems with differentials that a finned cover would have benefited them one way or another.

 

[meep]

I may have.

I towed near the max limit of my truck through the smokies a few years back. Lots of climbing and descending. When we got to the campground, I could feel heat from everything back there when standing next to the bed. I could not physically touch the axle, it was too hot. Within a few months after that, the it developed bearing problems which eventually lead to an expensive repair. IDK for certain if it was cause and effect, and this was on a toyota where the outboard bearings are not flooded in gear oil, but I can say this - the transmission temp stayed under 220 but i can't be sure of the axle. It was quite hot.

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted By: meep
IDK for certain if it was cause and effect, and this was on a toyota where the outboard bearings are not flooded in gear oil, but I can say this - the transmission temp stayed under 220 but i can't be sure of the axle. It was quite hot.


And Toyota's axle housings are like a big rig or bus axle - the housing is one-piece and the diff is serviced by pulling the carrier and pinion assembly from the pumpkin when the axles are pulled. And people don't check Toyota diffs - they don't visibly leak oil.

However, the Lexus diffs use rear covers.

If it was me and I did any kind of towing, a Mag-Hytec will be installed if I can get one.