I believe most of the people may first refer to some professional youtubers on youtube to test as well as explain the function of many differential covers before purchasing them. This is indeed a very good way to shop.
But very often we have to choose according to our own situation, because there are so many products in the store, and sometimes youtubers can't recommend what you want very accurately, but only give some choices with better overall performance.
I have collected many professional forums and some video reviews of many users' situations and suggestions, and summarized them:
1. Do I go with an aftermarket diff cover?
Some of you think that the stock diff cover is actually good enough and you don't need to spend more extra money to replace the aftermarket ford 9.75 diff cover
But there's also a significant number of people who believe that aftermarket differential covers result in better performance:
I think that if we have enough budget and also for people who have a higher pursuit of automotive performance, as long as there is no violation of the law, then why not?
2. Is a high performance overpriced diff cover better for me?
The material of the differential cover determines how well it dissipates heat and how durable it is. The current market is that highly functional, high priced differential covers typically offer better heat dissipation, enhanced corrosion resistance, and longer service life.
For example, some premium differential covers utilize more advanced coatings or built-in heat dissipation fins.
If you live on high ground or often have to tow heavy loads, then a high-performance, high-priced differential cover is perfect for you.
But if your truck travels a lot on gentle, weight-limited highways with mild conditions and no hot or cold chemistries, do you really need to need to spend close to $425 on parts?
What we actually need is not a highly equipped feature but a differential cover that fits us.
3. how do i choose the material for the diff cover?
This is a very important issue, the material of the differential cover determines its cooling effect and durability. We live in different environments, may be high temperature, high humidity, cold environment, then the material of the accessories is extremely important.
According to different environmental needs, you need to choose different materials for the differential cover: for example, if you are in the milder south, choose the cast aluminum differential cover, if you are in the cold north, then choosing stainless steel may be more suitable.
| Material | Common in the Market? | High-Temperature Resistance | Corrosion Resistance | Heat Dissipation | Weight | Suitable Environments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum Alloy | Yes | Medium to High | Moderate | Excellent (best for fast heat dissipation) | Lightweight | High-temperature environments, environments needing fast heat dissipation, off-roading, towing, mild corrosion environments |
| Stainless Steel | Yes | Very High | Excellent | Poor (slow heat dissipation) | Heavy | High-temperature, highly corrosive environments (coastal areas, industrial zones), cold environments |
| Cast Iron | Yes | High | Moderate | Moderate (good at holding heat but not fast dissipation) | Heavy | Extreme high-temperature environments, heavy-duty applications, cold environments |
| Titanium Alloy | No (rare) | Very High | Excellent | Good (better than stainless steel, but not as fast as aluminum alloy) | Lightweight | Extreme high-temperature, highly corrosive environments, military, aerospace |
4. Is a larger capacity differential cover better?
Conventional theory suggests that increasing the capacity of the differential cover delays the heating of the fluid and thus improves heat dissipation.
However, this does not always hold true. Increasing the volume doesn't mean better heat dissipation, it increases the delay in heating.
Just as a cast iron skillet takes longer to heat up, increasing the volume of the fluid will only lengthen the time it takes to heat up, not accelerate heat dissipation.
For most drivers, there is probably no significant cooling advantage to an oversized differential cover. If you want to spend more than it's worth to buy his, it's likely to be an IQ tax.
5. Differential cover coating selection
The choice of coating is also very critical. For the differential cover, aluminum has good heat dissipation, but corrosion and abrasion resistance will be slightly worse, this time with the appropriate coating is undoubtedly an excellent choice.
Many high performance differential covers utilize coatings to improve corrosion and wear resistance. This is especially true for areas prone to salt water and chemical attack.
Coatings are described as follows:
- Powder Coating (Powder Coating)
- Whether DIY is possible: Not suitable for DIY.
- Introduction: Powder coating usually requires specialized coating equipment (such as powder coating gun and oven) and high temperature operation. Basically, it is more suitable for large-scale factories.
- Clear Coating (Clear Coating)
- Whether DIY: Very suitable for DIY.
- Reason: Clear Coating A spray-type coating that can be easily used by automotive enthusiasts. It is mainly used to protect existing coatings (such as body paint or other coatings), increase gloss and provide protection against corrosion.
- HOW HARD TO USE: As long as you have hands. Simply clean the surface, make sure it's free of grease, and spray an even coat. It is one of the most common coatings people use.
- Polyurethane Coating (Polyurethane Coating)
- Is it DIYable: yes.
- Reason: Polyurethane coating is also a common DIY spray coating, which can be used to add surface protection, especially suitable for the car chassis, primer and other parts of the coating.
- Operation Difficulty: a little bit difficult. You need to treat the surface carefully to ensure the uniformity of the coating.
- Chrome Plating (Chrome Plating)
- Whether DIY is possible: Yes, but not very recommended.
- Reason: Complicated operation, need plating tools and chemical liquid, and low cost performance, it is usually applied to car interior parts, if the interior is damaged, it can be completely replaced with a new one.
- Anodized Coating
- DIY or not: Not suitable for DIY.
- Reason: It requires specialized equipment and is basically a coating that is added by the factory only when the parts are manufactured.
- Ceramic Coating (Ceramic Coating)
- Whether DIY is possible: Yes.
- Reason: Many car enthusiasts are now using ceramic coating to protect the car paint, brake system or differential cover, mainly to enhance the ability of corrosion resistance and high temperature resistance.
- Operation Difficulty: there are some difficulties. Although ceramic coating DIY kits are becoming more and more popular in the market, it requires some skill and careful work. The coating needs to be applied evenly and avoid contamination and improper handling during drying.
But we can't be sure that the original coating is useful, as in the case of the accident where the coating fell off and corroded 9 months after the user who came to use banks installed the product. Although the vendor will send a new diff cover. However, if you have the skills, you can add the clear coat yourself for double protection.
Finally, if there is a problem with the quality of the purchased product, it is usually possible to get a brand new part. So be sure to find the merchant if you have a problem.
