working truck precautions

[justatruck]

Hey there, I'm starting to put this truck to work and am kind of worried already... stomach is all upset.



Can anyone verify the cooling effect if any that the Mag Hytec diff covers have? I've cooked all the paint off of my rear diff cover, and even the paint on the cast housing is yellowed around the pinion and side bearing areas. I'm going to try to change the oil alot and go with the heaviest stuff I can find but really I know, one day I'm going to have to maybe upgrade the whole rear end. I don't think anything is wrong with this one, it's smooth I'm just pushing it's limits. Anybody running external diff. coolers?



Maybe I should think about the trans too, but I don't know that those coolers do any good? Any better ideas? I'll spend money if it's goint to make the truck feel better, but am not going to buy stuff just to say that I have it. Thanks.

 

[Jeff Clark]

I don't think that the MagHytec has a significant amount of cooling capacity. The cover does increase the amount of fluid in the diff and it will still reach operating temp, it will just take longer to get there. I don't know of any external diff coolers. Is there such a thing?

 

[justatruck]

I haven't seen any external diff coolers for trucks, but got the idea from the old Dodge factory race cars.

 

[RBender]

Mercedes Benz has them, but like you, I've never heard of a truck application. If you willing to have something fabricated, this will give you some ideas.

And to ensure that even the toughest of weather conditions are no problem, the SLK 55 AMG safety car is also fitted with a high-performance water cooler, two engine oil coolers in the sides of the front apron and a larger transmission oil cooler. The rear differential has cooling fins and a separate cooler installed into the rear valence. The air stream is distributed through it by a diffuser, thus helping to prevent the rear-axle oil from overheating. When the car is stationary, an electric fan is employed to increase safety even further.

 

[justatruck]

You're right, thanks. I forgot about them. I'm around them (MB's and such) all the time, I'll have to take some of that plastic off from underneath them and see how they do it.

 

[RBender]

If I can ask, what kind of trailer and what weight load are you pulling?



Just curious .

 

[thejeepdude]

Unless you are towing a LOT then I don't think an external cooler would ever be required. These rear ends are pretty stout. I'd be more likely to think there's a gear set-up problem, perhaps not enough backlash, too much preload, or some other differential problem causing the gears to generate too much heat. It doesn't seem unlikely to me, given the number of people with gear whine and other problems that have had to have their gears or whole axle swapped out. Keep in mind, however, that peeling paint isn't neccessarily a sign of TOO MUCH heat, only that there IS heat. Some diff covers just have a crappy paint job. If you're really towing heavy, I would probably install a gauge and see what the actual temp readings are.

 

[justatruck]

I don't want to get bashed for the weight, but it's fairly heavy... hauling cars on a wedge trailer. It's not rediculous though and I know a Dana 80 would be fine under the same circumstances. I've heard of the prob's with these rear ends but I think I got a good one: no noise, and smooth running. Paint probably wasn't the best, but still. Cast soaks up paint pretty good, so if the housing itself is getting discolored I know something's wrong.

FWIW I went ahead and ordered a new cover if anything just to simplify oil changes. Thanks.

 

[thejeepdude]

Originally posted by justatruck



FWIW I went ahead and ordered a new cover if anything just to simplify oil changes. Thanks.

The new cover has a temp probe port, right? If you hook that up, let us know what kind of readings you're getting. I know I'm curious...

 

[justatruck]

OK, I guess in my application I should get some temp guages to further worry myself. I'll get back to you all with some wow numbers.

 

[sag2]

If you towed in the first 500 miles you could have smoked it. If you did it is too late now. See how things look when you change the cover.

 

[ttreibel]

Try a 85w -140w synthetic gear oil instead on the thinner stuf Dodge sells. Both Redline and Royal Purple make one that is GL-5 rated.

 

[bmoeller]

I don't know that you are supposed to run the 85-140 in the AAM axles. Dana, yes. AAM, no. Check you owners manual.

 

[jelag]

Hey there, I'm starting to put this truck to work and am kind of worried already... stomach is all upset.



Can anyone verify the cooling effect if any that the Mag Hytec diff covers have? I've cooked all the paint off of my rear diff cover, and even the paint on the cast housing is yellowed around the pinion and side bearing areas. I'm going to try to change the oil alot and go with the heaviest stuff I can find but really I know, one day I'm going to have to maybe upgrade the whole rear end. I don't think anything is wrong with this one, it's smooth I'm just pushing it's limits. Anybody running external diff. coolers?



Maybe I should think about the trans too, but I don't know that those coolers do any good? Any better ideas? I'll spend money if it's goint to make the truck feel better, but am not going to buy stuff just to say that I have it. Thanks.

My 04 pulls a service trailer that weighs close to 22K most of the time. . I'm guessing about 80% of the time and the truck now has 70K on the clock... . I've not has a problem with that kind of heat... and I've done more than my share of 6% grades... . My 01 doesn't see more than 170* doing almost the same work with a gauge set up on the transmission and rear end... . So I didn't bother on the 04... ... . I'd take the thing in... and have it looked at.....



BTW I have a point and shoot temp gauge... and I've walked around this truck at the top of the grapevine (CA) and the Siskiyous, (northern CA and southern OR) and have not noticed any temps on mine that would melt paint... . except the surface of the brake rotors... .



Jim

 

[EB]

I wouldn't put anything other than the wt. oil that if listed in the owners manuel. The brand is up to you. I have 145,000+ miles on my truck now and have used Amsoil since 18,000 miles. My paint blistered off early also but there have been no problems. I tow for a living and the weights run from 10 to 24k. Like I said, no problems.