Gear grease and differential covers etc ??

[bcbender]

I think I read somewhere that they were designed to "break off" if impacted hard enough

 

[AH64ID]

Anything could happen, but doubt seriously it's an issue.

You must drive different roads than I do.

 

[Dasmoeturhead]

You must drive different roads than I do.

Come on Man! Your not a fan. I get it. Leave it at that.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Wish the factory put a drain plug on them. But I to would not pay for a after market cover again. $250 is still a lot of money. Buys a lot of gear oil

 

[AH64ID]

Come on Man! Your not a fan. I get it. Leave it at that.

Just throwing some concerns about since it sounds like you have to return it and reorder anyways.

 

[Topzide]

My exact thought was that they would just break off without affecting the main cover. I'm sure there was some design thought in the tabs directing air flow. I'm a bit spoiled since I have the factory finned cover on mine. I'm sure it helps keep the temps down especially since I have DRW. Don't think I'll ever put a temp sensor in it unless I start towing a "BIG" 5er!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AH64ID]

My exact thought was that they would just break off without affecting the main cover. I'm sure there was some design thought in the tabs directing air flow. I'm a bit spoiled since I have the factory finned cover on mine. I'm sure it helps keep the temps down especially since I have DRW. Don't think I'll ever put a temp sensor in it unless I start towing a "BIG" 5er!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not sure a temp probe is really needed. Look at the current trucks, higher GCWR, more power, and no finned cover.

I ran a MH cover on my 05, but I likely won't again. These diffs don't fail from heat and I noticed a fuel economy hit from the added fluid taking longer to warm up (if it even warmed up in the winter). Stock covers seem to work just fine.

 

[Cummins12V98]

My exact thought was that they would just break off without affecting the main cover. I'm sure there was some design thought in the tabs directing air flow. I'm a bit spoiled since I have the factory finned cover on mine. I'm sure it helps keep the temps down especially since I have DRW. Don't think I'll ever put a temp sensor in it unless I start towing a "BIG" 5er!!!!!!!!!!

Some say I tow a "BIG 5er", it's only 24k plus the Kendon MC Trailer and full dress HD behind it. I just use AMZ/OIL 75-110 Severe Gear and carry on.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Think about it, our diffs take 4 quarts and the good ol 350 GM takes 5 quarts.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

I used to run mine filled to the upper mark on the dipstick. Thinking that more oil is better. After researching it a bit more I tried running it at the lower mark on the stick and found that it ran cooler. It appears that all of that extra oil doesn't provide all that it is whooped up to be in this differential. Temperature tells the story. These covers are an inexpensive attempt to control temperature. I think that we all would be better off with an external cooler on the differential. And it would be one hell of a lot more expensive. Make your choice and experiment to find what works for you.

 

[AH64ID]

I used to run mine filled to the upper mark on the dipstick. Thinking that more oil is better. After researching it a bit more I tried running it at the lower mark on the stick and found that it ran cooler. It appears that all of that extra oil doesn't provide all that it is whooped up to be in this differential. Temperature tells the story. These covers are an inexpensive attempt to control temperature. I think that we all would be better off with an external cooler on the differential. And it would be one hell of a lot more expensive. Make your choice and experiment to find what works for you.

Similar to the effect of overfilling a NV5600, they seem to run hotter. But is that because it’s hotter overall (bad), or because it’s pulling more heat from the unit (good). Just using fluid temp sensors doesn’t tell the whole story.

The AAM’s are also different axles than the D70/80’s.

 

[Diesel Gunner]

Similar to the effect of overfilling a NV5600, they seem to run hotter. But is that because it’s hotter overall (bad), or because it’s pulling more heat from the unit (good). Just using fluid temp sensors doesn’t tell the whole story.

The AAM’s are also different axles than the D70/80’s.

I hear you. If it is running hotter, then it is hotter overall (bad). If the heat is not being dissipated it is retained in the gear unit and that is why I said that an external cooler is the better, but more expensive, choice. If the oil were being pumped externally from the gearset to a cooler, or even a reservoir, there is opportunity for heat dissipation and air release which would both help to lower temperature and increase lubrication of the gear set. The engineers who design these things actually do a good job most all of the time. They are striking a balance between longevity and cost. There are times when we Shadetree's believe that we are taking huge steps in improving things and we get it wrong. Remember back in the early 70's when we took the air pumps off of our cars believing that they robbed significant amounts of horsepower, reduced fuel mileage, and that the engines ran SOOO much better without them? Well, OK, the car was faster 0-60 but only because it was a couple of pounds lighter.

 

[AH64ID]

Hotter fluid doesn't mean the whole unit is hotter, it means the fluid is hotter. The gears could be cooler by transferring heat to the fluid, but you can't tell that just by fluid temperature.

 

[kthaxton]

Too much oil (in transmissions and differentials) gets aerated. Oil loaded with tiny air bubbles doesn't lube as efficiently.

Seems like a classic case of a solution looking for a problem.

 

[Ozymandias]

Too much oil (in transmissions and differentials) gets aerated. Oil loaded with tiny air bubbles doesn't lube as efficiently.

Seems like a classic case of a solution looking for a problem.

I second this a lot, we never heard of a heat related failure of an AAM axle through the last twenty years, and in general very low issues with the rear end at all.
Why try to fix something that isn't broken and doesn't go to break at all.
It isn't a Landrover after all.

 

[Wiredawg]

My two cents on aftermarket coolers and diff covers: I used them on past trucks (2nd gen) that I was running over the published weight ratings of the truck, but never exceeding axle or tire ratings.

Now the ratings on everything are such that for the most part, aftermarket coolers and covers are not needed.

As has been discussed, debated, and argued, use of aftermarket oils and lubes is one of the few, if not the only real improvements possible on our trucks, IMHO.

 

[Regcabguy]

Wish the factory put a drain plug on them. But I to would not pay for a after market cover again. $250 is still a lot of money. Buys a lot of gear oil

Ditto.

 

[Dasmoeturhead]

Got the right cover back from Banks today. To hot to put it on though. In a couple of days it's going to be better.

 

[BigPapa]

Come down out of those mountains over to Nashville. It was 92* at my desk today…..

 

[Dasmoeturhead]

It was 92° here, 100 in my garage. I moved out of the mountains 1.5 yrs ago. We live 5 miles outside of J.C. near Boone Lake.