I was going to post this under a general section but decided to list it here in the 6.7 Diesel section because that's what I own, drive, love and will always have since buying my first diesel, my 2016 F350 6.7 PSD. This is for information only. This peaked my interest after I saw the first video. Because I was considering an aftermarket diff cover for my rear axle since I bought the truck, I wanted to see the results of these tests. So I then decided to share with the 6.7 crowd here.

I've pretty much looked at all the aftermarket covers out there. I really didn't like the boxed look of most of them. I settled on BD's diff cover because it looked cool, it was made out of aluminum to keep the gear oil cooler and was supposed to help keep the ring and pinion lubed. I found a local dealer around my area that could get it and save me some money. Then I saw the first video of Gale Bank's future testing of aftermarket diff covers. He started talking about things that I never thought of and would not have thought of. Maybe the smarter than I folks around here would have and did think of some of the stuff that Gale talks about, but not me. I will post all videos here but we will have to wait for the last one with the results. I just wanted to pass this along...

I wish I would have seen his video on the testing of the the fuel pressure boxes before I bought mine.

 

 

 

 

This is very interesting. I'm curious to see what results he comes up with.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ff-covers.html

 

Not trying to steal anyone's thunder. I didn't see that thread.

EDIT** Okay, that thread is in the 1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks truck section where the gasser boys hang. I don't feel as bad now.

 

Me also. I'm going to imagine that the diff will run hotter because of the obstructions those diff designs cause.

I wonder what the inside of this one looks like as I've seen it before when I was shopping for them online?

https://www.flowmastermufflers.com/p...g-10-25-10-5/?

 

Go to about 45 seconds in this video:
Spoiler: It looks slightly better than the ones Gale Banks was ragging on.

 

Thanks for posting up. I guess I could have looked into it. Appreciate that. That thing sure is beefy as hell. But that FILL port is up way high making that A LOT of extra gear oil. I bet that would run hotter and lose power through driving the ring and pinion in all that extra oil and around those bolts....

 

Most mfg say refill with "x" pints or quarts of some fluid type. Ford says tge Dana on a 350 dually gets 8 pints of 85-90 full synthetic; most 250's get 5 pints of 85-140. Presenter is saying that this oem quantity does not necessarily correspond to the level of the oem fill hole. Maybe "instructions" tell you to not fill to the fillcap level of this new cover, but rather specifically how much oil to put into the differential to make up for the larger size reservoir. So my 5015 manual, in both instances says pints - that is not much 8 pints = only 2 quarts; 5 pints (1.25 quarts) seems crazy. Seems like it should be that number of quarts. Is there a misprint in my early 2015 manual?

 

From the 2016 Super Duty owner's manual online because I don't have mine handy:

Front axle 3.0 qt (2.8 L)

Rear axle- F-250/350 (10.50 inch axle) 3.5 qt (3.3 L)

Rear axle- F-350 (Dana M80) 4.2 qt (4 L)

Rear axle- F-450/550 (Dana S110/S130) 7.0 qt (6.6 L)

Automatic transmission fluid 16.7 qt (15.8 L)*

The only reason I see that they would put the fill hole that high would be to add EXTRA gear oil. The way I understand it, you are supposed to fill up the fill hole until it's coming out on axles and transfer cases.

 

My theory is that the major manufacturers felt an aluminum finned differential cover was needed, it would be installed from the factory. The 2011-2016 SRW with the 10.5 doesn't come with an aluminum finned cover, nor did the earlier models with DRW's that used the 10.25/10.5 come with an aluminum finned cover.

The 2011-2016 DRW with the Dana rear does come with an aluminum finned cover.

There must be a higher temperature generated with the Dana? Or they figure you will tow larger/heavier loads with a DRW?

I suspect you check the other manufacturers and will find similar to Ford. The engineers felt they were not needed in some applications as did Ford engineers.

JMHO, most people install the aftermarket finned aluminum covers for looks when they are not actually needed for their truck. Same goes with the aftermarket aluminum transmission pans.

 

I'll agree with what you said about the differential covers but disagree on the transmission pans. Pans are hard to see unless the truck is lifted like 10" or more.

 

Guys, you are forgetting 1 key ingredient - the almighty dollar, in this century stuff is built to "meet spec", not for durability or to increase something's life.