Rear diff covers now available

[Racket]

A big pitch for these new Dana diffs is better lubrication and cooler running. I switched to Ford premium diff fluid a couple weeks ago at 23K miles.

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[GhostStrykre]

Gonna resurrect an old thread here...

I was planning to get the Ford Performance rear diff cover because I thought it would help keep things a bit cooler and prolong the life of the rear diff. From what I'm read in this thread, the focus just appears to be durability from hits while offroad.

Is there any benefit to these rear diff covers with regards to keeping temps lower and making the truck more durable while towing? Or does that just boil down to using better fluid and I can skip the diff cover upgrade?

 

[Canadian Ranger]

Gonna resurrect an old thread here...

I was planning to get the Ford Performance rear diff cover because I thought it would help keep things a bit cooler and prolong the life of the rear diff. From what I'm read in this thread, the focus just appears to be durability from hits while offroad.

Is there any benefit to these rear diff covers with regards to keeping temps lower and making the truck more durable while towing? Or does that just boil down to using better fluid and I can skip the diff cover upgrade?

The only one who makes a diff cover that actually helps is Gale Banks, but he doesn't make one for the Ranger. If you search his Youtube channel he shows how his are different. He's also a proponent of Amsoil fluids as they don't foam, or thin out from heat.....they maintain proper viscosity.

 

[GhostStrykre]

I like to stick to Motorcraft products most of the time, but I've been around long enough to know Amsoil is good stuff. I've never changed differential fluid before, but it looks about as easy as it gets. I saw Bank's videos so I may take that Amsoil advice and go for it.

That said, by what you're saying there's no need for the upgraded diff cover. Good news to me, that saves me $290ish! Thanks!

 

[Canadian Ranger]

I like to stick to Motorcraft products most of the time, but I've been around long enough to know Amsoil is good stuff. I've never changed differential fluid before, but it looks about as easy as it gets. I saw Bank's videos so I may take that Amsoil advice and go for it.

That said, by what you're saying there's no need for the upgraded diff cover. Good news to me, that saves me $290ish! Thanks!

Correct don't bother wasting the money on a diff cover. Just keep the fluids changed. That goes for the front diff too, and transfer case too.

 

[Zvedza]

i like the aftermarket diff covers for extra fluid capacity and easier drain/fill.

Im kinda in the middle on the banks vids cause the engineer in me cant debate what he shows, but ive never seen a flat back diff cause any kind of failure. My dad has nearly 270k miles on his excursion with his mag hitech, and fluid/diff is still good every 50k.

I have one on my raptor and even offroading dont notice any issues, maybe its more pronounced at higher-prolonged high speeds?

 

[jtzako]

i like the aftermarket diff covers for extra fluid capacity and easier drain/fill.

Im kinda in the middle on the banks vids cause the engineer in me cant debate what he shows, but ive never seen a flat back diff cause any kind of failure. My dad has nearly 270k miles on his excursion with his mag hitech, and fluid/diff is still good every 50k.

I have one on my raptor and even offroading dont notice any issues, maybe its more pronounced at higher-prolonged high speeds?

Depending on what kind of driving you're doing, it may not be an issue. Offroading tends to be short bursts of low speed and likely wont get the fluid hot. (long hill climbs mabye, but still, low speeds make a difference) Normal city/highway driving is also likely not an issue since it wont get as much of a chance ot build up heat for most drives people do. Putting more strain on the diff gears via something like long uphill/towing drives could be more of an issue.

Diff covers are entirely cosmetic no matter what the mfg of them tries to tell you. They dont provide protection, since you are not likely to be driving backwards into a rock and most stock steel diff covers are plenty strong enough. Their ability to cool the diff is suspect at best (due to the points in that video and lack of airflow on the back of the diff).

 

[Zvedza]

Depending on what kind of driving you're doing, it may not be an issue. Offroading tends to be short bursts of low speed and likely wont get the fluid hot. (long hill climbs mabye, but still, low speeds make a difference) Normal city/highway driving is also likely not an issue since it wont get as much of a chance ot build up heat for most drives people do. Putting more strain on the diff gears via something like long uphill/towing drives could be more of an issue.

Diff covers are entirely cosmetic no matter what the mfg of them tries to tell you. They dont provide protection, since you are not likely to be driving backwards into a rock and most stock steel diff covers are plenty strong enough. Their ability to cool the diff is suspect at best (due to the points in that video and lack of airflow on the back of the diff).

I do think they do a difference but it may be case by case like you said. I mainly did mine for ease of changes, but my dads excursion for example he tows a bit and overheated the stock diff fluid. Hasnt done that on the mag hytech.

Yeah protection is a weak marketing thing, youd need a skidplate to actually protect it.

One thing i found scummy was mag hytech has a fill range on the dipstick, but i filled thru the factory fill port until it leaked out and it wasnt close to that "fill range" on the dipstick. Took a qt more from factory, but not the 4-5 qts like advertised without overfilling the diff which isnt good.

On cooling, i like extra capacity in terms of having a longer time to heat up, and the fins will help with cooling, there is some decent airflow going over it. Pic below is the GT500 factory cover, SVT goes over how they added them to help with cooling.

 

[jtzako]

The fins may help some but its probably more to do with it being aluminum rather than typically factory steel covers. I'd want to see actual temps to prove a product is worth it if I needed one for cooling purposes (heavy towing primarily)

I have one on my offroader but it was the closest one I could find to factory capacity and was put on to make drain/fill and checks easier (has a dipstick). Offroading, including going through water crossings, means the oil will get contaminated more often and it just make sense in that application.

 

[Zvedza]

The fins may help some but its probably more to do with it being aluminum rather than typically factory steel covers. I'd want to see actual temps to prove a product is worth it if I needed one for cooling purposes (heavy towing primarily)

I have one on my offroader but it was the closest one I could find to factory capacity and was put on to make drain/fill and checks easier (has a dipstick). Offroading, including going through water crossings, means the oil will get contaminated more often and it just make sense in that application.

Agreed, sadly very little in actual #s. I do have the option to add a temperature bung to my diff cover, but without any reference to go off of, seems rather moot.

 

[shovonmshahriar]

Here’s a new question. Why does it say in the product page for the Ford Performance Parts the M-4033-R diff cover does NOT fit Ranger TREMOR?!

I have a 22 Tremor and I can’t visibly see any difference in the stock diff cover to the ones in the FX4! Trying to understand where’s the issue?

 

[Dr3wDrop]

Here’s a new question. Why does it say in the product page for the Ford Performance Parts the M-4033-R diff cover does NOT fit Ranger TREMOR?!

I have a 22 Tremor and I can’t visibly see any difference in the stock diff cover to the ones in the FX4! Trying to understand where’s the issue?

Its the bracket that holds the brake line.

 

[Ace]

Gonna resurrect an old thread here...

I was planning to get the Ford Performance rear diff cover because I thought it would help keep things a bit cooler and prolong the life of the rear diff. From what I'm read in this thread, the focus just appears to be durability from hits while offroad.

Is there any benefit to these rear diff covers with regards to keeping temps lower and making the truck more durable while towing? Or does that just boil down to using better fluid and I can skip the diff cover upgrade?

I too had the same questions you had before upgrading mine to the FP rear diff cover. I've read a bunch of members performing the service and was seeing lots of metal shavings at low mileage. ~20k miles. This concerned me so I wanted to do a service and made sure I put fresh fluid in there. I found one on FB Marketplace so I went ahead and installed it when I did a service. For me, it's more of a peace of mind having that extra protection when I go off road. But if you do majority hwy driving, it really not needed to be honest.

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