Higher Capacity Diff Cover?

[C & A s Dad]

I have been considering adding a finned alum. higher capacity diff cover to my Yuk XL for some time. I tow a 6500 lb camper and have taken other precautions to help the Yuk's longevity. This is about the only other piece I could do. Of course the finned alum is supposed to reduce temps but this one also offer .5 qt extra capacity. Not a lot but when you consider this diff holds only 2.5 qts to begin with, this is a 20% increase in capacity. There are others that offer more capacity but they will not fit on a GM SUV due to the track bar that runs just behind the diff. This one is designed to fit the SUVs as well as a P up.

 

Here is a link to what I am looking at. Diff Covers If I do it, I will opt for the 10815 in the cast cover and if I want it black, I will paint it myself.

 

I would really like your opinion.

[Zembonez]

I have been considering adding a finned alum. higher capacity diff cover to my Yuk XL for some time. I tow a 6500 lb camper and have taken other precautions to help the Yuk's longevity. This is about the only other piece I could do. Of course the finned alum is supposed to reduce temps but this one also offer .5 qt extra capacity. Not a lot but when you consider this diff holds only 2.5 qts to begin with, this is a 20% increase in capacity. There are others that offer more capacity but they will not fit on a GM SUV due to the track bar that runs just behind the diff. This one is designed to fit the SUVs as well as a P up.

 

Here is a link to what I am looking at. Diff Covers If I do it, I will opt for the 10815 in the cast cover and if I want it black, I will paint it myself.

 

I would really like your opinion.

Logic would say that larger capacity is better.

 

Cooling while towing is probably the biggest advantage. Heat can be a problem. I know a lot of racers run diff coolers - especially on road courses. I wouldn't think the added capacity is going to help you any otherwise. Gear oil is pretty long lasting stuff and there just isn't anything contaminating it. As long as you change it as needed and use premium products anyway...

 

But it is COOL!

[MS3DALE]

I like'em Trey,I was thinking about getting one for mine.

[svensk]

Waste of money if your worrying about the part breaking down over time. However if your going for looks they are a lot nicer than stock.

[Silverado4x4]

As said above waste of money and as for the looks the only rears I look at are girls walking down the road.

[Draenor]

Dont forget one of THESE too. It doubles the coolness factor.

[C & A s Dad]

John, Thank you very much for that link. Too bad I will not be able to use one of them if I opt for the alum cover. I really hate that I will not be able to use one, especially that skull, my wife would have really liked that.

 

Thanks for the input. I had almost come to the conclusion that this is one of those things that I really want more than I need. I wish I knew how much cooler the diff would run with this unit but I have not been able to find any data on this. Only that it will run cooler. I am going to be changing the gear oil pretty soon and will have to make up my mind what I am going to do.

 

I will add one more thing. I live very near the Nissan plant in MS and when the Titan and Armada were first introduced, they had a stamped steel cover. They had some diff problems and the general concensus was they were too small. One of the things they did was to add finned alum diff covers to all of their trucks and SUVs. I do not know if it helped or not but they are still rolling out with these cool looking covers.

[svensk]

Considering the titans and armageddons initially came with a pretty weak dana 40 rear end I can see their problems. The 5.6 is too much motor for it.

[C & A s Dad]

You are correct Zach. BTW, when I said "they were too small" I was speaking of the entire rear end not just the cover.

[Norseman]

You are correct Zach. BTW, when I said "they were too small" I was speaking of the entire rear end not just the cover.

 

 

Yep, first time I saw the diff in the Titan I thought d@mn thing is to small and that's gonna be a problem. Sure enough started seeing them come out with those finned covers. I wonder did Nizzan figgure that out or did they have to go through a few burned up diff's first.

[xsports33]

i have the mag-hytec diff cover and i like it a lot. I think it gave me an extra quart capacity and i'm pretty sure it helps with cooling. The best thing i like about aftermarket diff covers is that most come with a drain plug and fill plug so you never have to pull off the cover again, just drain and refill. Also, i've touched my hand to the cover numerous times after driving and after towing and it's been warm-hot, but never scalding hot. I don't have any hard data, but that's good enough for me.

[C & A s Dad]

Wasted money or not, I just placed my order. I researched the Mag Hytec and really liked it but it too deep for a late model GM SUV and will not clear the track bar. I ordered the one I originally posted from PML Covers.

 

I placed the order and left the office to go get some gas. While I was getting gas there was a guy there with a Duramax and a 30 ft camper hung behind it. The truck was lifted with large tires and I could plainly see the finned alum diff cover.

 

I asked him if he had checked his diff temps before and after and he told me he had been running in the 250 degree range with the stock cover and lube. The new cover was a much higher capacity and he said he was using some aftermarket syn fluid but could not remember the brand. He said his highest temp with the new cover had been in the mid 140 degree range. Not sure if he was jerking me around or not but he had a nice truck with a Bulldog programer, exhaust and all the goodies. If mine will do this, I will feel like I have made a good move.

[Starrman]

The extra fluid should help keep it cooler.

 

I don't have any experiences with the covers you've linked to, or for GM rears for that matter, but I do use them on both of my mustang 8.8" housings. I don't use them for the cooling, but because of the drain and fill plugs and the bearring cap support it provides. I've never had a problem with my trac-lock using one of these support covers, Redline synthetic oil, and launching on slicks by dumping the clutch at 5k rpm and pulling the front wheels off the ground!! (I also have aftermarket hardened axles, but its still the stock 28 spline 8.8" trac-lock)

 

Here's a link to like the ones I've used but for a GM 10 bolt

 

Summit Racing GM Differential Support Cover

[pm26]

It is not just slightly higher capacity that is helpful here. What nobody mentioned is that aluminum, especially finned aluminum, dissipates heat at least three times faster than a stamped steel cover.

 

It is a good investment if you tow regularly and long distances.

[C & A s Dad]

Pete, that is what I am hoping for. Just a little extra security when I am pulling my camper. I wish I had taken a heat reading the last time I towed so I would have a reference point. I could wait to install the cover until the next time I tow but that will likely be March. Once it arrives, I don't think I will be able to wait that long to install it.