YouTube Do aftermarket diff covers really work?

[Mook]

This old man decides to find out.

First, here is a neat vid on how diffs actually work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-yG3D3JBRs

Here is part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4DQ-jzKQRw

Here is part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09JsDorR6tw

Part 3 is not out yet.

Click to read more...

 

[Pressure Ratio]

That is a lot of time watching videos to not even get an answer yet. lol


And the answer is obviously "It depends" lmfao

 

[Yaj Yak]

forty minutes of videos?!

#TCGDOESNTREADORWATCHLONGVIDEOS

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

I’ll watch them all and report back. Plenty of time on my hands.

Y’all spend a lot more time than that on social media or random phone bs every day. Guaranteed.

 

[Yaj Yak]

 

[CMNTMXR57]

The first one was cool with the fluid getting splashed around.

 

[DEEZUZ]

I watched these last week. Banks is a genuine curious dude.

I'd never put an aftermarket diff cover on anything. So stupid

 

[Gone_2022]

One with a girdle that supports the caps yes. Other than that I feels it’s all for show

 

[Pressure Ratio]

They can help with fluid directions if designed right. They can dissipate heat better if aluminum and have fins to increase surface area. And the girdle style for smaller type rear ends can help keep the cap from moving. So yes, if you have a correctly designed cover it can be beneficial.

 

[Kensington]

Cliffs:

Lots of aeration in the fluid.

Aerodynamics play a significant part (flat rear surface can actually impair cooling)
Carbon fiber diff covers are extra dumb

Aftermarket diffs raising the fluid levels can decrease wheel horsepower by creating extra friction in the diff and actually creating higher diff temps

Tires don't like to be put on the dyno for 160+ minutes continuously

The interior shape of the diff cover may be the most important aspect. In theory the squared diff cover impairs flow up and over the ring gear to the pinion and adds work to the fluid

Actual results TBD

 

[CMNTMXR57]

That was my first thought. That's a shit ton of aeration in that fluid and fairly quickly. If it's aerating, it isn't protecting perhaps... Much like oil, I thought it had anti-foaming/aeration agents.

Also, the liquidity of the viscosity... When you pour it in, it doesn't seem that "fluid". You can see he has a 75W-90 bottle there. That and 80W-90 are the most common on todays diffs

 

[Kensington]

They are using 75W-90 manufacturer brand (Chrysler for Chrysler, GM for GM) full synth fluid. To keep it within manufacturer specs.

 

[CMNTMXR57]

Still, when you pour it in, it's not that "watery".

 

[Kensington]

I mean, there's a ton of rotation, and it's not "smooth" pieces, so aeration seems pretty unavoidable

 

[CMNTMXR57]

That's pure chocolate milk though.

I think where it's actually happening is on the teeth of the gears, as the thrust side(s) come together, they squeeze the fluid, creating the bubbles. The whipping is just frosting on the cake.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

I have aftermarket diff covers on the k5 made out of 3/8 and 1/2” plate. I think there’s a benefit to them. Also have a ta performance diff cover on Buick that preloads the caps. I feel like that’s also a benefit.

 

[Kensington]

In these videos, he hasn't really talked about diff covers that offer extra support, just fluid capacity, cooling, and internal fluid dynamics

 

[DEEZUZ]

Trucks don't require that.

 

[Kensington]

Don't require what?

 

[Flyn]

I blew my stock cover on the Cobra. Put on a brace and never had a problem after that.

 

[DEEZUZ]

Don't require what?

Added strength to rears

 

[blakbearddelite]

I replaced my stocker on the 2V when we re-built the rear-end. I think the drain or fill hole was in a much better spot. And it supposedly provided more 'support'.

 

[Kensington]

Flat back diff covers bad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PMvVcsU3PE&feature=youtu.be

 

[DEEZUZ]

Stock is better, stockest is faster! Said it a million times