Differential heater

[Dion Hildebrandt]

I was curious as to how other fellow racers have installed a heater in the differentials.
Of course an obvious option is on the exterior of the housing...but does the heat actually penetrate the thick iron of the center section?
Is putting the pad inside the center section a good option with all the moving parts inside?
or would a block heater type element be the way to go?

The differential for my application is a 12 bolt chevy with a LPW cover if that matters at all

[Tom Nolan]

I just slide a 500w light under the rear diff. About 30 min and she is about as hot as I dare get it. I only do this for class eliminations. What's it worth? Not as much as you hope!

[Bill Edgeworth]

I use a immersion cartridge heater screwed into the drain plug

http://www.mcmaster.com/#cartridge-heaters/=qofs8g

[Dion Hildebrandt]

Originally Posted by Tom Nolan

I just slide a 500w light under the rear diff. About 30 min and she is about as hot as I dare get it. I only do this for class eliminations. What's it worth? Not as much as you hope!

Yeah I realize that, just dreaming out loud as I was servicing my differential. Had a discussion about lubrications the other day and just got the brain matter flowing is all. At any rate something is better than nothing...right?

[Alex Denysenko]

have heated the gear oil several times never saw a thing out of it
so we just use the good gear oil and that does the trick

[Ed Wright]

My friend's recently sold Pro Stocker had an oil tank/pan heater screwed into a welded-in bung in the back of the rear end housing. The cord was zip-tied to the left wheelie bar so it was easy to plug in to warm up the gear lube before each round. I thought about adding one to mine. Easy to weld the bung to the rear cover of my 12 bolt. Just use it for tough heads ups, class, etc.

Heard of guys running Dexron ATF for gear lube (One guy said "all the time"). Not sure about that deal. I'm too old to weld up the gears in the lights and go for a ride. LOL

[Bob Bender]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

My friend's recently sold Pro Stocker had an oil tank/pan heater screwed into a welded-in bung in the back of the rear end housing. The cord was zip-tied to the left wheelie bar so it was easy to plug in to warm up the gear lube before each round. I thought about adding one to mine. Easy to weld the bung to the rear cover of my 12 bolt. Just use it for tough heads ups, class, etc.

Heard of guys running Dexron ATF for gear lube (One guy said "all the time"). Not sure about that deal. I'm too old to weld up the gears in the lights and go for a ride. LOL

Ed' I have used atf a lot in slow cars and never hurt the gears.

[Mile High]

Use a light weight synthetic rear gear lube.

Jeff

[Dion Hildebrandt]

Originally Posted by Ed Wright

My friend's recently sold Pro Stocker had an oil tank/pan heater screwed into a welded-in bung in the back of the rear end housing. The cord was zip-tied to the left wheelie bar so it was easy to plug in to warm up the gear lube before each round. I thought about adding one to mine. Easy to weld the bung to the rear cover of my 12 bolt. Just use it for tough heads ups, class, etc.

Heard of guys running Dexron ATF for gear lube (One guy said "all the time"). Not sure about that deal. I'm too old to weld up the gears in the lights and go for a ride. LOL

This is the stuff that I was envisioning, "outside of the box" keep it coming

[Tim Kish]

Originally Posted by Bob Bender

Ed' I have used atf a lot in slow cars and never hurt the gears.

Good reference point - FWD cars use ATF to lube the differential......