[SirKeats]

I'm going to be towing a 16ft camper with my non-BT rig, so I'm wanting to upgrade my stock '04 diff cover with something that'll cool better.

I think I've pretty much decided to go OEM with the '05 diff-cover upgrade, but wanted to see what everyone thought about something...

the after-market covers that hold about a quart more fluid don't seem to have near as many or as deep of cooling fins as the '05 OEM replacement.

I'm thinking that having twice as many fins (yes... I counted... LOL) as well as deeper fins (from what I can tell in the pics of the PML vs. OEM) is going to provide better overall cooling than would the fewer and shallower fins with an extra quart of fluid.

Your thoughts?

 

[TitanLou]

I have an 05 and tow a 27'TT. So far no rear end problems. I think you would be fine with OEM or one of the others.

 

[tiller87]

how much do the fins actually help?

Price would lead me to my final decision the most :teeth:

Those stillen covers are nice though... my take on things has always been when a stock part breaks it's a good excuse for a mod if money allows tehehehe

 

[cneary812]

im pretty sure that the OEM finned one will add some fluid space too. I think its a little bigger on the inside. Finns really do alot for heat disipation. Extra fluid will absorb some extra heat but will still overheat. Finns add a little extra protection IMO.

 

[Brundy]

Going to synthetic oil will help also.

 

[TallTexan]

Synthetic oil, finned cover and I would add the helper springs from Autozone for -$25. JMO

 

[SirKeats]

Synthetic oil, finned cover and I would add the helper springs from Autozone for -$25. JMO

what are the helper springs?

 

[AF-Medic]

except for 04's I thought the factory fill was synthetic

 

[SirKeats]

except for 04's I thought the factory fill was synthetic

I have the '04. Will be making the switch to synth for sure when I replace the cover.

 

[TallTexan]

what are the helper springs?

Do a search on helper springs here on TT. Lot of info. I put mine on the front of the axle on the bottom with ubolt closest to axle. About two inches from the front shackle. Set on highest setting, 1500#

 

[loufish]

The factory aluminum cover isn't bigger, so you won't hold more oil, but it's fins are thinner, and that makes for better heat transfer then thicker ones everything else being equal.
I like the Stillen cover, it holds about 1qrt more, but that helps the oil last longer, but not much for cooling.
Mis-conception...More oil doesn't really run cooler, it just takes a little more time to heat all of it up...
I'd ALWAYS run synthetic oil in any diff I'd own...