Painting Differential Covers

[Go Go]

I noticed a bunch of people paint their diff covers. I'm changing the fluid this weekend and thought I might paint mine black instead of rust. Do they get hot enough that I need special paint? If so, I'll probably leave them as is, can't really see them anyway, until I get a lift.

[RKBA]

Wal-Mart gloss black - .96 per can

[Planetcat]

Rustoleum heat paint, 500* rated, flat black, $3.99 a can.

[Jeepin Jason]

Rustoleum gloss black. For whatever reason, dirt doesn't seem to stick to the glossy paint very well. The rest of the axle housing is dirty, but the cover stays pretty clean on its own. I need to paint the whole housing with the glossy stuff...

[Go Go]

I have some rustoleum gloss black with Hammered finish I think I'm going to use it. I used it to paint over the scrapes on my rock rails and it matched up well with their textured finish. Thanks for the inputs. I don't like the look of chrome and I figured while I had the thing off I might try to make it look new again by painting it black. I was mostly worried about the heat as the silicone for the seal is rated to like 600 degrees. I figured if I needed special paint I'd wait until I have to repaint my barbecue grill.

[5-90]

Rust-Oleum Pro Royal Blue. Does a nice job of showing up leaks, and cleans well. Takes about 1/2 hour to dry enough to handle.

5-90

[bj-666]

paint it red it helps you get over rocks :) :)

[Ramsey]

Rust-Oleum Pro Royal Blue. Does a nice job of showing up leaks, and cleans well. Takes about 1/2 hour to dry enough to handle.

5-90
mine could use a little color. 1/2 hour to handle, would there be a problem in just painting it on there

[5-90]

Nah - that's how I did it. Clean thoroly with a good solvent, scuff up the existing paint with about a 180 grit paper, and clean again using a "no residue" cleaner (for this, I usually use denatured alcohol) to get the dust off. Give it a nice even coat and go have a sandwich and coffee.

While I was at it, I replaced the bolts with 5/16"x1" UNC brass pan head screws (nice look) and used brass flat washers to protect the paint. It actually looks rather nice that way. Since you don't need a lot of torque on those bolts to seal, there's nothing wrong with using a screwdriver.

You could also use socket head capscrews if you want - either way, install washers - they not only keep the paint from getting chewed up when you tighten the bolt, they also spread the "clamp load" from the bolts (and make for a slightly different look without being "blingy")

5-90

[Drunk tank]

I say paint it some really light color... so then it'll help you see leaks around the edges and such

[shimmy]

i painted my crane cover rustoleum gloss "canary yellow"... the favorite color of psychos, lol

brandon

[Kittrell]

Rust-Oleum Pro Royal Blue. Does a nice job of showing up leaks, and cleans well. Takes about 1/2 hour to dry enough to handle.

5-90

Sounds interesting, have a pic by chance?

[redyouch]

i dont think you need hightemp paint.

[MaXJohnson]

I have some rustoleum gloss black with Hammered finish I think I'm going to use it.
I'm giving up on the Hammerite. It looks cool, but gets too brittle and chips easily. I grabbed a can of black epoxy paint(I think Rustoleum) and shot my front axle and diff cover well over a year ago and it still looks good. (good is a relative thing) IMO, it's doubtful that a heat rated paint is necessary.

[Drunk tank]

diff never gets hot enough to require special paint for high temp.... drive it all day then get out and touch it.... itll probably be nothing more than warm (surrounding temp)

[BlackOut98]

I used flat black spray paint on the entire axel f and r. It wokrs fine and no heat problems at all.

[engsapper]

I went blue also
http://www.coolphotohost.com/uploads/0dbd5c296e.jpg (http://www.coolphotohost.com)

[MAXJ]

I was planning on painting my whole front and rear axles including diff cover in POR-15 black. It dries rock hard, doesnt chip, you can paint over the surface rust on the axle, and protects from future rust. It's fairly pricey for paint but i hear a little goes a long way.

[MaXJohnson]

diff never gets hot enough to require special paint for high temp.... drive it all day then get out and touch it.... itll probably be nothing more than warm (surrounding temp)

park that black Jeep out in the hot summer sun all day, then get out and touch it.... it'll probaby be nothing more than warm (surrounding temp)

You painting your hood with high temp paint?

[5-90]

I went blue also
http://www.coolphotohost.com/uploads/0dbd5c296e.jpg (http://www.coolphotohost.com)

The blue I used came out a little lighter than that - but it looks nice with the brass hardware, I think.

5-90

[small pederson]

diff never gets hot enough to require special paint for high temp.... drive it all day then get out and touch it.... itll probably be nothing more than warm (surrounding temp)

ya just run out there and grab a hold of it and dont let go for a good 20 mins



why paint it? so you can get it covered in dirt again?

[diabloxj]

i want to paint mine red and put a devil face on it

[Drunk tank]

park that black Jeep out in the hot summer sun all day, then get out and touch it.... it'll probaby be nothing more than warm (surrounding temp)

You painting your hood with high temp paint?


hahaha! I HATE touching my jeep when its been in the sun all day... hot bastid for sure!

[bigredjeep]

speakin of paint, if u have a d35 u can right in big letters TIME BOMB on it, it makes for a hell of a conversation starter. ;)

[MontanaXJ]

I just got my Crane diff covers and was wondering if I should paint the inside too or will that mix with, and foul up the gear oil.

Greg

[Ludakris]

I painted a big red "S" on my D35... now its a SUPER 35!!

Need to do the front next.

[xtremewlr]

Chevrolet Orange engine enamel :D My valve cover is painted with the same stuff too.

http://xj.rockmongers.com/albums/rearaxle/IMG_0008_001.sized.jpg

http://xj.rockmongers.com/albums/radiator/IMG_0050_002.sized.jpg

[XJ_ranger]

I just got my Crane diff covers and was wondering if I should paint the inside too or will that mix with, and foul up the gear oil.

Greg
if you look at paint as a necesity - to protect the metal than it isnt needed on the inside - oil is there...
no one will see the inside - so i dont see a purpose to paint it...

[boise49ers]

Rustoleum Gloss black. Cleans up good and doesn't spray off easially with hi-pressure car wash hoses. Get the heavy stuff off at home or work first. Those car wash guys get pissed if you fill their bays with Mud. I don't do it , but I have watched them chew people out for it. During the Summer I irrigate the school I work at so I just go down there and rinse off the mud.
I have painted the whole front suspension and axles in the gloss black. Looks great and is real easy to touch up. Rustoleum takes for ever to dry. The longer the stronger I have noticed with paint. This link has some shots of my front axle.
Scott's Cherokee Page (http://myweb.cableone.net/cherokeexj/)

[96country]

Engine enamel.

http://pictures.jeeponly.com/Jeep%20Pics/diffcover%20009.jpg

[90KrawlerXJ]

Never paint the inside, but paint the outside with whatever you like. If you are actually using your XJ the color won't last too long and you can always change it to a prettier color.

[jeepbme]

Any special weight or brand---syn or conv dif oil?

[XJ_ranger]

I have to reccomend aginst the gloss black/POR-15 route because then you cant tell if your seal is leaking, or if the paint is just glossy. Just a factor that i am considering...

[Atl-Atl]

As far as temps are concerned, I painted my wheels(crappy steelies), to body match. I just found the closest color of cheapo rattle can at wally world, like 93 cents and primered it beforehand. It holds up perfectly fine, and I would say a wheel gets WAY hotter than a diff cover does.

[boise49ers]

Good point unless your underneath your rig as much as me. I know where every little drip is coming from. I have a tranny hose I need to fix, my oil filter adapter again, that's it for now. Next week who knows :)

[karstic]

I went the POR15 route. Bought the starter kit, did the backing plates and diff cover, have plenty left over to do rest of axle-when I get to it.

[Rand McNally]

These look kind of cool.

http://www.quadratec.com/cgi-bin/sgin0101.exe?T1=12011+402&UREQA=1&UREQB=2&UREQC=3&UREQD=4&FNM=13&UID=2005022416493702

Not sure how strong they are, but for us DD that see little trail use it would look cool. Too bad they are only for Dana 44's. And I don't see a fill hole...I wonder how that fluid got in there?

[hjeepxj]

These look kind of cool.

http://www.quadratec.com/cgi-bin/sgin0101.exe?T1=12011+402&UREQA=1&UREQB=2&UREQC=3&UREQD=4&FNM=13&UID=2005022416493702

Not sure how strong they are, but for us DD that see little trail use it would look cool. Too bad they are only for Dana 44's. And I don't see a fill hole...I wonder how that fluid got in there?


I saw a test on them somewhere, some mag. Theyre actually real strong.

[jeepguy97]

These look kind of cool.

http://www.quadratec.com/cgi-bin/sgin0101.exe?T1=12011+402&UREQA=1&UREQB=2&UREQC=3&UREQD=4&FNM=13&UID=2005022416493702

Not sure how strong they are, but for us DD that see little trail use it would look cool. Too bad they are only for Dana 44's. And I don't see a fill hole...I wonder how that fluid got in there?

$140.00......for what???????? So you can see your gears? Jeep provides you with a perfectly good cover so why not use it. You can buy front and back diff guards for that price and they will last much longer with a rock encounter.