How many of you run a Mag-Hytec diff cover?

Caver Dave

Caver Dave

Just holdin' it down here in BFV
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On my twice/week commute up/down US52, I see a HUGE number of travel trailer transporters hauling them south out of Indiana/Illinois.

Mainly 3/4ton SRW, diesel, and almost all of them sporting Mag-Hytec covers.

Now I get that they're dragging around some pigs (have seen a couple triple axle, high-bay, toy-haulers), but wondering if overheating rear axles is a real issue? Or do these guys have enough expendable income that $300 for a cover is the equivalent of a fart can on a ricer?
 
The extra fluid and ease of service are nice but too pricey for me.
 
I put one on my truck just for the warm & fuzzy while towing >20K, but I have no data to support it.



Apparently the data will be out shortly.
 
I put a few on while at the independent shop I was at. Hot shot guys would shoot them with temp guns after pulling long grades and they all claimed 20-30 degree temp drops. I suspect the BG synthetic gear oil I put in at the same time had as much to do with the temp drop as anything. I just put the synthetic gear oil in mine and left the stock cover. No temp testing though.
 
BigSouth said:
I put one on my truck just for the warm & fuzzy while towing >20K, but I have no data to support it.



Apparently the data will be out shortly.
Click to expand...


Well I am hooked. Is this like an annual blog post sort of cast? Super nerdy approach. I like it!
 
Caver Dave said:
On my twice/week commute up/down US52, I see a HUGE number of travel trailer transporters hauling them south out of Indiana/Illinois.

Mainly 3/4ton SRW, diesel, and almost all of them sporting Mag-Hytec covers.

Now I get that they're dragging around some pigs (have seen a couple triple axle, high-bay, toy-haulers), but wondering if overheating rear axles is a real issue? Or do these guys have enough expendable income that $300 for a cover is the equivalent of a fart can on a ricer?
Click to expand...

Considering the OEMs now provide finned diff covers from the factory, they must think they're needed.
 
I know that some race car guys use them on their tow rig with a gauge on them. It saved one truck from bigger problems, they had time to stop an get anther truck out there.I would say hot shot drivers would use them due to ease of care.
 
shawn said:
Considering the OEMs now provide finned diff covers from the factory, they must think they're needed.
Click to expand...
FWIW, Ford had them on the 2011 Superduty, then went back to stamped steel for a few years. They also had aluminum driveshafts on the 2011s, and went back to steel for a couple years. Constant battle of beancounters vs engineers.
 
I want one soley because it uses an o-ring instead of RTV or a gasket. My rear diff already has a drain plug and holds a good amount of gear oil...but it would definitely look sexier than the stock cover.

What I really want is a PPE lower oil pan for my Duramax. It's quite a bit cheaper than a Banana Pan, it's not stupid ass yellow, and it lets all of the oil drain out instead of holding a quart or more of dirty oil.
 
jeepinmatt said:
FWIW, Ford had them on the 2011 Superduty, then went back to stamped steel for a few years. They also had aluminum driveshafts on the 2011s, and went back to steel for a couple years. Constant battle of beancounters vs engineers.
Click to expand...

My 2017 superduty has a stamped one, but I assumed it was because I bought a base model XL.
 
Pless said:
My 2017 superduty has a stamped one, but I assumed it was because I bought a base model XL.
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My 16 xlt f250 has a stamped cover also.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk
 
Pless said:
My 2017 superduty has a stamped one, but I assumed it was because I bought a base model XL.
Click to expand...

Tim C said:
My 16 xlt f250 has a stamped cover also.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Maybe it was just the driveshafts that went back to aluminum. I thought I saw a finned aluminum cover on a newer truck, but it certainly could have just been swapped on. My 2012 has an aluminum driveshaft because my 2011 did ;)
 
I have one on my Excursion, which I don't tow with it much anymore, but I bought it back when the Excursion was regularly towing stuff it probably shouldn't have.

On another 'cooling' note, I put a Derale transmission pan on my f-350. Not sure if it dropped the temps or not (no trans gauge until I added it) but it added 7-8 quarts to the capacity. Didn't spend the extra on an aluminum pan because I didn't feel it was worth an extra $100-150 just to have it be pretty. I can say pulling the same mountains with similar weight, the f350 transmission has never gotten as hot as the Excursion did (same transmission)
 
I put an ATS aluminum cover on the Duramax dually..not sure if it runs cooler, but it lOOks Cooler.
 
BigJUGGY said:
I put an ATS aluminum cover on the Duramax dually..not sure if it runs cooler, but it lOOks Cooler.
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Knowing is half the battle!
 
I put a PPE transmission cooler on my LB7 and that made a helluva difference in transmission temps. I may or may not do a transmission pan...but I do want a diff cover for the rear one day.
 
jeepinmatt said:
Maybe it was just the driveshafts that went back to aluminum. I thought I saw a finned aluminum cover on a newer truck, but it certainly could have just been swapped on. My 2012 has an aluminum driveshaft because my 2011 did ;)
Click to expand...

It would be a very Ford thing to do, to mix parts amongst the same years...
 
Serviced a base '08 super duty yesterday that had a finned cast cover on it. I know it was stock because "fleet".
 
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