DIFFERENTIAL COVER UPGRADE any real benefit

[abdiver]

DIFFERENTIAL COVER UPGRADE any real benefit ? I would appreciate your comments.

I was going to upgrade & install after market Differential covers on my 05 3500 4x4 Quad Cab upon researching on TDR Forms



I became aware of potential clearance problems with some of the covers.


Now rethinking the issue as my primary reason was to make changing the diff oil easier not having to unbolt the diff cover & being able to check lube levels.


It appears that the cover should come off when changing the lube oil as to visually inspect the gears and clean the bottom of differential housing if needed. So I would have to remove the cover anyway.


I tow a 4 yd dump trailer 60% of the time 20 % of the time its loaded (4940 lbs wt of trailer and load)


I also tow a 24’ Camping trailer once in a while.

 

[mpaulson]

Yep, only good for easy checking and draining. As for changing the oil, yes, I prefer to clean out the bottom of the housing and look for larger chunks that may not be grabbed by a magnet (have experienced this). The cooling and extra capacity is a scare gimmic in my opinion for the minisucle difference that it would make.
Will make your truck lighter though, via a lighter wallet.:-laf

 

[seafish]

AFAIK, the clearance issues are only with some aftermarket FRONT diff covers.

That being said, other then aesthetics and also ease of changing the fluid at service intervals, there really is no benefit to an aftermarket FRONT diff cover.

Rear diff covers with a drain plug and dipstick, like the MagHytech, DO offer the benefit of ease of changing fluid as well as checking fluid levels with out a wrench as well as a greater lube capacity and heat conduction to help keep rear diff temps lower, particularly when towing. Some also offer a bung for a thermocouple to monitor diff lube temps on a cab installed gauge.

 

[Jim W]

I have used the Mag-Hytec Diff covers that Geno's sells. I installed them on my 2008 in Jan 09. I have notice that the diffs seem to run a little cooler (145F) when towing my 5er and I like the idea of the extra diff oil for cooling. I also have the Mag-Hytec transmission pan on my truck too.

 

[abdiver]

Jim, What temp does the diff run at without the trailer vs with it? Thanks

 

[Jim W]

Sorry, I have not checked the temp at highway speeds. We normally drive my wife's TDI and leave the truck home. I just never really get it up to highway speeds for 2 hours or more without the trailer attached.

 

[abdiver]

Thanks everyone