Heat at center diff lever, difference in milaege

[txbarkingspider]

Greetings all, I have a large amount of heat coming up from my center differential lever, its almost too hot to touch the lever. It is alot more noticable on the freeway. Is this common on a 96 with 185,000 miles, or can there be something going on I need to take care of?
Also, I recently installed BFG AT 285 75 16s to replace my 275 70 16s. I was told by a couple of sources this wouldnt effect milaege, if anything it may improve it. I am now getting 30 to 40 miles less a tank. It could be that I run my AC more? Still seems a bitt much though.
Thanks

 

[dgangle]

...I have a large amount of heat coming up from my center differential lever, its almost too hot to touch the lever. It is alot more noticable on the freeway. Is this common on a 96 with 185,000 miles, or can there be something going on I need to take care of?...

is this a new issue or did you just notice it? transmissions get hot, manual or auto

...I recently installed BFG AT 285 75 16s to replace my 275 70 16s. I was told by a couple of sources this wouldnt effect milaege, if anything it may improve it. I am now getting 30 to 40 miles less a tank. It could be that I run my AC more? Still seems a bitt much though.
Thanks

The 285 is a larger, wider, heavier tire as compaired to the 275. While its larger size/circumference does offer some 'rubber overdrive', the increased unsprung weight and higher rolling resistance very well may increase fuel comsumption. 30-40 miles less on how many miles? 300? if so then this is only a 10-13% decrease. This could be due to may factors beyond that of the tires: same inflation, did you drive exactly the same city/highway combination, no extra increase idling, same AC usage, towing, same exact driving habits, ??????......I can change the fuel economy in any vehicle from tank to tank by 40-50% just by how it's driven/used.

 

[NaterGator]

Have you baselined your fluids? Are you getting any vibrations, grrrs, etc?

I'd check your transmission fluid, transfercase oil, and I hate to state the obvious but you aren't running a single driveshaft are you? If so you could be burning your viscous coupler up Another thing to check may be your cats. If your pass footwell is super hot as well you could have a plugged cat and maybe a missing heat shield?


There is absolutely no excuse for a high/low selector that's too hot to touch. Mine may be slightly warmer than the cabin, but it is in no way hot.

 

[txbarkingspider]

Thanks

This is a new issue, it happens to be after I have been testing my 4 wheel drive system more often. I will be checking my fluids in a few hours after I take my son on a hike. will check back.
Thanks!!