Installed PPE Diff Cover on my 24 Sierra 1500

[Nuclear_42]

Nice piece OP. I have fill and drain plugs on my IRS diff of the Tahoe. I’ll prob also go with a 75w90.

Now if only the front diff cover came out cause I’m not a huge fan of (a) dropping a cover ever time or (b) sucking the fluid out. But it is what it is.

It is dumb GM got rid of drain and fills on the front diffs.

I haven’t touched the front yet because I don’t have the resources yet to place the truck on 4 stands. However if it’s the same for GM SUV this is the only front cover on the market. It’s currently in the back burner for now giving priority to other projects due to low interest. Sign up for emails below to let them know your interested. I’d suggest something like Amsoil, HPL, or Redline for the front diff. So you can run it longer and not take it off as much. Another option would be to suck the old oil out by the fill port.

https://yourcovers.com/pml-gm-front-differential-cover-for-1500-trucks-and-suvs.html

 

[CKN]

What will this do for your truck besides looking spiffy?

Rear ends are not an issue on that particular truck-so not real tangible benefits.

"A money flush". JMHO.

 

[Exhaustgases]

Red loctite by GM? If so a torch would have been needed. Must just be some red looking GM stuff.
Auto parts stores should not even have red on the shelves. Using it in the wrong place is asking for problems.
But then if the holes are dirty maybe all is okay.

 

[Nuclear_42]

Rear ends are not an issue on that particular truck-so not real tangible benefits.

"A money flush". JMHO.

Time is money. For someone that’s looking at putting 20-30k annual miles very soon it’s a big deal. I’d be in and out in 5-10 min tops every 1-2 years. Instead of waisting time cleaning, torquing and replacing gaskets. I just don’t feel like doing all that work for something that should of had a plug like the rest of vehicles made in the past century almost. For me it’s worth it. Money is not an issue. What’s a $225 cover compared to the cost of a $50-60k truck.

 

[RooflessVW]

Rear ends are not an issue on that particular truck-so not real tangible benefits.

"A money flush". JMHO.

It's has a drain plug. The factory one didn't.

"No tangible benefits"

 

[redhat]

Since this diff cover is shaped internally like the factory (curved) and you aren’t worrying about gear oil not reaching the pinion, that’s good.

The ease of service with a drain and fill is well worth it. Perhaps the cover is pricey… but what isn’t these days. You cannot buy time. Plus not having to disturb a sealed surface… I think it’s a good idea.

Plus additional fluid for a longer interval. It’s only a money flush when it would be installed on the trucks that see 175k on factory fill only to be changed when a wheel seal leaks.

 

[4WD]

If you take a look at my specific part# you can see it differs form the bigger trucks. It has round profile similar to oem. You’re just using blanket statement to condone all aftermarket diff covers. Banks doesn’t make a cover for smaller trucks.

Why I went to the website to see the inside - the ring gear works like an impeller if the housing is concentric to the ring gear …

 

[OVERKILL]

Not really. He shows how the factory covers got it right.

I'm not familiar with your cover but it would be an interesting eye opener for you to watch his videos on aftermarket diff covers. It's, at least, a three part series.

That's an interesting series of videos there, just took the time to watch them. That's a lot of work they put into testing OE, and then designing their own to mirror the desirable characteristics of that, while improving heat dissipation.

 

[Nuclear_42]

For the members worried about my ring gear. Here’s some better pictures of the covers profile. It’s not as flat as Iowa like some covers in the past or other current brands.

 

[thastinger]

Holds an extra quart! I got a Spicer one cuz it was half the Ford Racing price and gave me both a drain & 2 fill ports since Ford seems to think the 9.75”s don’t need it from the factory.

What did I miss? My 9.75 doesn't have a drain but the fill is on the front driver side above the pinion.

 

[Hohn]

They're all a bad idea except his, right?

how did you know?

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

What did I miss? My 9.75 doesn't have a drain but the fill is on the front driver side above the pinion.

It gives you the ability to tailor the fillpoint if needed, and gets you away from needing the truck on a lift or ramps to be able to fill. I was able to do mine on the ground, both drain and fill. That way the level is exactly where I put it.

 

[4WD]

One video isn’t a blanket statement for all covers. While some PPE covers may be flat. Atleast the one I have follows the ring gear curvature like the oem. No idea it’s just my model. However not all covers are completely flat.

You’re good with that one - The point is the ring gear must perform like an impeller to get a concentrated flow to the pinion region … Those that don’t understand that - just don’t want to understand that …

 

[oil pan 4]

Went to website - better design than the flat backers …

Yep the flat back ones appear to make more heat. It's almost like the OEMs knew what they were doing....

 

[Dave9]

The linked videos have good info but seem to keep vaguely implying that the replacement cover and fill must increase the fill level higher than stock, which isn't necessarily true, and the wind tests also don't inspire me as much as simple temp readings with both configurations on the specific vehicle.

There is no doubt that a diff cover that maintains the same splash/pull volume and yet increases fluid volume without a level increase, while adding surface area to shed a little more heat, while also providing a drain plug, is an upgrade. Are all those ducks in a row? The videos would have to test this specific vehicle. There was a little too much hand waving " I know based on experience" to satisfy me beyond a generalization level.

Maintain same fluid movement, but add capacity, and cooling surface area, yet at the replacement cost to the owner, there is no question that the stock diff cover could be improved upon. The question is whether it matters, that if you're that diligent about diff fluid, then it might be enough to just replace it at the shorter interval that someone OCD about it would do, so then it comes back to just having the drain plug.

 

[redhat]

OP — did you notice any fuel economy difference with the 75w-90? Buddy of mine went to 75w-90 on his ‘21 Trailboss and thought he was returning less MPGs. I told him any difference was negligible.

Wish that PML pan for the front could get some traction.

 

[johnmyster]

Aluminum has ~5x the conductivity of steel.

Yet, cast covers are >5x thicker than a stamped steel cover.

So...moot.

But having a drain plug can be nice.