SF34 EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE DIFFERENTIAL TEMPS BETWEEN ENGINES. DIRECTED TO RETURN TO DEP STATION FOR MAINT.

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ENRTE TO APN AT 17000 FT A TREND CHK WAS COMPLETED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A 50 DEG SHIFT. THE POM AND QRH WAS CONSULTED; AS WELL AS MAINT. DISPATCH BECAME INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION AND ABOUT 30 MILES S OF APN THEY ASKED US TO RETURN TO DTW. I CONVEYED MY CONCERNS AND THEY GAVE US THE FUEL BURNS AND STATED THAT IT WOULD WORK WITH THE STRONG WINDS ALOFT. CAPT AGREED AND WE TURNED THE ACFT TO DTW. WE WERE KEPT LOW LONGER THAN WE ANTICIPATED DUE TO A MOA; BUT CLBED TO 12000 FT AND AVOIDED THE NG RANGES SPECIFIED IN THE POM. THE WINDS ALOFT WERE NOT AS STRONG AS WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE; AND WE CONTACTED DISPATCH OVER FNT WITH OUR CONCERNS. BY THE TIME THEY RESPONDED AFTER BEING GIVEN THE INFO; WE WERE 30 MILES N OF DTW; AND LANDED WITH 900 LBS OF FUEL. IT WAS CLR TO ME THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN ONE THING -- GETTING THE ACFT TO DTW; AND NOT THE SAFEST DECISION; LNDG IN APN. THE INFO WE WERE GIVEN LED US TO BELIEVE THAT WE COULD REACH DTW WITH OUR RESERVE (950 LBS) WITH THE WINDS ALOFT.