Guys,

Was up under my truck the other day and noticed that my diff cover was leaking oil. Not from the seal but right in the middle, I did a "seal-all" patch for right now.

Just wanted to let everyone know that this can happen. Especially if you live in an area where there is lots of salt on the roads, because it was rusted through not from an impact.

Are these covers expensive?

Tony

better start saving some serious coin. the price is gonna shock you. Ed http://cgi.ebay.ca/DIFFERENTIAL-COVER-1988-99-SIERRA-TAHOE-CHEVY-GMC-TRUCK_W0QQitemZ270308897477QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMoto rs_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2703088974 77&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4%7C65%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

or here for all listings http://motors.shop.ebay.ca/items/Automotive__gm-differential-cover_W0QQQ5ftrkparmsZ66Q253A4Q257C65Q253A3Q257C39 Q253A1QQ_dmptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAcces soriesQQ_sacatZ6000QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQ_so pZ2QQ_scZ1

Yeah, not that expensive for a chromer (i think it looks ugly being the only chrome thing under a rusty truck) but a painted metal one was more like 30 i think.

Hehe, yea that really blew me away. I can't believe that one was a whole 6 bucks...lol

Guys,

Was up under my truck the other day and noticed that my diff cover was leaking oil. Not from the seal but right in the middle, I did a "seal-all" patch for right now.

Just wanted to let everyone know that this can happen. Especially if you live in an area where there is lots of salt on the roads, because it was rusted through not from an impact.

Are these covers expensive?

Tony

Get an aluminum one - they're not as prone to rust:D

If you go to an auto wrecker, I would imagine they are cheap as people that take out the gears don't need the cover. Seal-all, as a base then a seal-all coated rag, and covered again. I have used it myself, It works on Intake manifolds that are leaking also as a presale fix.

The dif cover on my truck is starting to get some surface rust on it as well. When its rots out its time for a Mag-hytec cover, if i can afford one.

I'm thinking scrapyard as I don't want it to be too pretty up under there. Although I could always get the aluminum cover and rockerguard it.

Seal-All is great stuff. I was in the middle of no where a little while back in my grand prix. Get this, a rock went back and dented in the fuel filter causing it to spray gas everywhere. I got to a very "rural" shop and picked up a tube of Seal-All, fixed the gash in the parking lot and drove home another 1200kms on it.

Update on this one: I got my new chrome cover, hey it was cheap, and when i opened up the diff there was rust in the oil. Looked like crap.

Turns out the cover had rusted from the inside out, guess the PO never changed the oil in the rear. Now I'm off to change the front diff oil for sure.

I had some water in mine also..... But i couldnt find any holes on the inside, so they must have been pin holes...

there is a vent, and condensation will build in there.

Fuel tanks, Oil Pans, Rocker Covers, and Diff Covers...they all rot inside out...not outside in

I had some water in mine also..... But i couldnt find any holes on the inside, so they must have been pin holes...


Or the PO had the back of the truck buried, too deep, in the water at a boat ramp. How many times has everybody seen that?:eek:

No, i was just driving it all winter so some crud must have gotten in there. It was leaking for a very long time.

God only knows what the PO of my truck had been at with it prior. I know I found alot of 30-06 casings in the door and a couple .22 casing stuck up around the windshield.

My diff vent is up around the frame so at least it didn't get submerged. Probably just regular breathing.

bad axle seals will do that to.

How can you tell if you have poor axle seals? I have a semi floater and have never seen any oil leak out.

if theres no oil leaking, i wouldn't worry about it. but leaking oil seals, if on an axle that gets placed in water during off roading or boat launching, can leak water in.

a plugged vent can also allow condensation to build up.

pressure washing the differential is another way.

My differential cover was $170 USD:eek: for my 12 bolt.
The one for my 14 bolt is going to be $190 USD:eek:

I like to overbuild things:cool:

My old differential cover was almost rusted through, so I just scrapped it.

There are some nice covers available with more capacity and small cooling fins, I'm guessing thats the one your buying chevy. They were pretty expensive. The one I got was chrome $15US +shipping off the bay. Good enough for my purpose.

If I get sick of the chrome under there I'll just spray it with rockerguard.

Close, I prefer strength over looks, this is my rear end cover. (http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/garage.php?do=big&p=86357)

It looks wet after sitting through winter for some reason... I guess I'll have to clean it off.

Thats a nice piece, looks tough. Mine was decent, certainly for what i paid for it.

Care to part with one of those shock mounts....lol