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The All-New Patented Banks Ram-Air Differential Cover Wipes out the Competition!. When it comes to product development, we only make products that increase performance and beat the competition.
So when we tested the popular Diff Covers on the market, we were shocked to find out that they actually hurt performance. This lead to the development of something so New and Incredible that our performance design has a United States Patent.
Look, when we set out to build a product for your vehicle, we only engineer the best. What else would you expect from a company with a winning legacy that spans decades! We are here to win, and we just did (Again) in a huge way.
US Patent 10,443,705
18 months of Extensive Testing. What began with a simple question, resulted in millions of video views, innovation and another patented Banks product.
More than a year ago Gale questioned the benefits of aftermarket diff covers asking, Are they just bling or are they really doing something? The answer wasn't as easy to uncover as he'd hoped.
Out of dozens of manufacturers, only one claimed to reduce fluid temps, yet no data could be found to back up those numbers. All other manufacturers, and there are many, simply copied the originator's design. Manufacturers still parrot the same phrase today, More oil means cooler temps.
Although there's some truth to it, what Gale and the Banks Engineering Team uncovered were two underlying problems with aftermarket covers; poor air flow and flawed fluid dynamics. The Banks Ram-Air differential cover solves both issues.
After testing covers with flat-backs and those with larger fluid capacities, it was apparent that these covers do not cool as well as advertised and suffer from poor fluid dynamics. As a result, they reduce fuel economy.
With its computer-aided and road-tested design, the Banks Ram-Air differential cover retains fuel economy and extends lubrication life!
Many have asked, Why did testing take so long? Well, there was no precedent for testing rear differential covers, nor was any data available for rear differential lubricants as tested in vehicles.
There are just too many variables,said the lubricant companies. Creating the proper test procedures was incredibly time-consuming. We started from scratch several times. We even burned up our chassis dyno and destroyed several sets of tires. It was a humbling process.
In all studies, the stock stamped steel AAM (American Axle Manufacturing) was used as a baseline. Competitive covers tested included Mag-Hytec, AFE, ATS, BD, PPE and others, with Mag-Hytec and AFE representing the flat-backdesign category.
Anemometer: Air Velocity. After affixing anemometers fore and aft of the rear differential, a dead zone was discovered. Like the wing of plane, the rear differential splits the air. At a road speed of 70 mph, air speed was measured at 32 MPH in front of the differential and 11 MPH 20behind the differential. This indicated an area of dead air.
This low velocity dead zone extends as far out as 36 from the back face of the cover. No matter how deep the cooling fins are, they're unable to adequately reject heat due to inadequate airflow over the surface of the fins.
This discovery resulted in the Ram-Air scoop concept. As the truck moves through the air, cool static air is forced into the Ram-Air scoops and directed 90 Degree up and through the long? thin heat radiation fins.
Road Test: Heat Rejection Grapevine Trailer Test. Road tests were performed on a stretch of California's infamous Grapevine (Interstate 5) on the same truck, with the same driver and the same load, at the same time of day and at same temperature. Starting with a nominal 78 Degree ambient temperature, the operator pulled an 11,650 lb weight trailer. Gross combined weight was 19,750 lbs. The rear differential was heated by maintaining a constant speed of 55 mph up a 6 percent grade for 5 miles, ascending over 1,600'.
At the top of the 550 second hill climb, running the 3.9 quart stock differential cover, the lubricant temp was 205 Degree. Filled with 7.5 quarts, the Mag-Hytec recorded 199 Degree while the Banks filled with 4 quarts recorded 192.5 Degree. Even with less lubricant, the Ram-Air cover controlled heat 2X better than the flat-back during the high horsepower hill climb!
From the crest to the end of the test, running 55 mph for 700 second at relatively constant elevation, the stock cover cooled from 205 Degree to 195 Degree. The Mag-Hytec cooled to 192.5 Degree and 178.5 Degree for Banks, a 5X improvement over the Mag-Hytec and by extension all other flat-back copies
Chassis Dyno Testing: Heat Rejection Sustained Power Test. This test was used to determine high load, steady state thermal management. Gale had originally requested a 90 minute, 250 hp test. Gale soon regretted that request. At 90 minutes the lubrication measured 316 Degree and was still climbing. The test was revised to 60 minutes at 200 hp.
Testing was started after a 100 Degree nominal temperature was achieved. The truck was brought to 60 mph and loaded to 200 hp, typical of pulling a heavily loaded trailer up a 6 percent grade. Lubrication was changed between every test.
The equivalent of 60 MPH road speed air was directed under the truck's belly using the Banks Wind Machine, aided by additional shop fans. Air damns were constructed to contain the airflow under the truck toward the rear differential.
At the end of the 60 minutes test, the lubrication temp was 289 Degree, AFE was 261 Degree or 28 Degree cooler than stock. Banks was 228 Degree or 61 Degree less than stock. Banks outcooled AFE by 118 percent and by extension, all flatback covers.
Ground Clearance. Our patented Ram-Air scoops are designed to increase airflow over the rear differential without sacrificing ground clearance. In fact, our differential cover retains the same lowpoint as factory and competitors.
Banks Recommends AMSOIL Lubricant. We searched for information on every popular brand of gear oil. The only company with in-depth knowledge and the willingness to share it was AMSOIL. In objective testing they outscored their competition in every way. They are every bit as thorough in their development as we are. The more info we discovered, the more we liked how AMSOIL designs and test their products. .
We decided to stick with the manufacturer's suggested 75w140 viscosity and we chose AMSOIL Severe Gear Synthetic Extreme Pressure Gear Lube.
A gear lube is only as good as it's weakest link. With more horsepower, more towing capacity, higher hauling limits, and changes in vehicle, more stress is being placed on differential gears and bearings. Our suggestion is to install AMSOIL right out of the box. That's why we teamed up with them.
Fuel Economy Testing Simulated City Driving. Fuel Economy was tested on the Mustang dyno using the OBD-II fuel flow rate and vehicle speed data, as well as the Banks emissions analyzer to measure fuel economy calculated from tailpipe emissions.
The dyno was calibrated to simulate a 7,500 lb vehicle with an engine output of 30 HP required to maintain a 50 mph steady state speed. The truck was warmed to operating temperature then held at a constant 50 mph for a fixed length of time to procure an accurate average fuel consumption.
The test was repeated for all covers as per their respective manufacturer's fill level specifications.
Features and Benefits
Fluid Dynamics
Oil service
Technical Specs
