Hi All.I am looking for a bit of advice. I have a 2010 Ram 2500. Overall, I really like it and it tows our trailer well.One thing we noticed right away, though, was that the rear differential cover rusted right away. It was replaced but that one rusted, too. It probably isn't a big deal but it is visible and looks bad in comparison to the rest of the truck.I am considering a replacement. I have looked at the Mag-Hytec cover and it seems really nice. Does anyone have any experience with this or a similar product?Looking forward to your recommendations.the e-man

Does the paint 'burn off' on it?? If so, it's getting pretty hot IMO..On my old F150 with a 9.75" rear end, the first time I changed the gear fluid, it found the previous owner had covered it with spray on undercoating! To me, that would not allow the cover to dissapate the heat very well..So, I removed all that to bare metal and used just your basic cheap grey primer and then a couple of coats of basic cheap black paint (rattle cans BTW) and expected to see the paint 'burn off', and then I'd at least know how hot the diff was getting.. Well, in the 12 years I owned it, it never burned off, and I never had to repaint it.. I changed the fluid a couple of times and just cleaned it off and it looked great!Or, pop for a nice finned aluminum cover... ;)Good luck!Mitch

I had the same issue with my 2007 diesel and I installed an aftermarket cover on mine and refilled with AMSOIL 75w110 synthetic gear oil instead of the OEM 75w90 synthetic. The higher viscosity at operating temp gave me some peace of mind.BEFORE:AFTER:

I've put Mag-Hytec covers on previous Rams and really liked them. They have a little larger fluid capacity over stock.My new Ram has the Max Tow Package so it came from the factory with a machined aluminum diff cover. Very nice. I won't be changing it.

Take a wire brush to it, and then paint it with black paint. Rustoleum makes a high heat paint that works wonders.

Or you could take it to your local powder coating shop and have an epoxy coating on it. :B

Ram Differential Cover Question | Good Sam Community

MitchF150
Explorer III
Apr 25, 2014
Does the paint 'burn off' on it?? If so, it's getting pretty hot IMO..

On my old F150 with a 9.75" rear end, the first time I changed the gear fluid, it found the previous owner had covered it with spray on undercoating! To me, that would not allow the cover to dissapate the heat very well..

So, I removed all that to bare metal and used just your basic cheap grey primer and then a couple of coats of basic cheap black paint (rattle cans BTW) and expected to see the paint 'burn off', and then I'd at least know how hot the diff was getting.. Well, in the 12 years I owned it, it never burned off, and I never had to repaint it.. I changed the fluid a couple of times and just cleaned it off and it looked great!

Or, pop for a nice finned aluminum cover... ;)

Good luck!

Mitch
ib516
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2014
I had the same issue with my 2007 diesel and I installed an aftermarket cover on mine and refilled with AMSOIL 75w110 synthetic gear oil instead of the OEM 75w90 synthetic. The higher viscosity at operating temp gave me some peace of mind.

BEFORE:

AFTER:
Gunship_Guy
Explorer
Apr 25, 2014
I've put Mag-Hytec covers on previous Rams and really liked them. They have a little larger fluid capacity over stock.

My new Ram has the Max Tow Package so it came from the factory with a machined aluminum diff cover. Very nice. I won't be changing it.
donn0128
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2014
Take a wire brush to it, and then paint it with black paint. Rustoleum makes a high heat paint that works wonders.
powderman426
Explorer
Apr 25, 2014
Or you could take it to your local powder coating shop and have an epoxy coating on it. :B
ib516
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2014
BBQ paint might work too. It's flat black and withstands heat well.
Ram4Sam
Explorer
Apr 25, 2014
Go for the bling:C I had one on my 2001. Nice cover, fits well, just about doubles the oil capacity which is a good thing. Nice feature is it has a dipstick and a drain plug, which are both magnetic to catch the wear metals.

Sam
larry_barnhart
Explorer
Apr 25, 2014
Poor black paint was the reason for chev's a few years ago. I never had it happen on 5 of our GM trucks.

chevman
the_e-man
Explorer
Apr 25, 2014
Thanks all. I appreciate the input.

the e-man
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Apr 25, 2014
One day I was lookie-louing thru a local swap meet in some little town we were near and I spied a Mag-Hytec cover for sale. It was for my '07 RAM 3500. Brand new/complete and I snagged it for $125----SCORE!

Higher fluid capacity, cooling fins, drain plug w/magnet!!! a real dip stick and a port for a temp probe.