AWD v. 4wd
Question:
What is the difference between AWD and 4wd? Ken
Response:
> What is the difference between AWD and 4wd?
An AWD vehicle is in 4WD mode all the time. A 4WD vehicle can go back and forth between 4WD and 2WD, usually with a switch inside, or by getting out and locking the hubs. Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.
Response:
Ken, I’m not an expert, but I can tell you what my dealer told me, and maybe that will help. The salesman said that "it is just on all the time". (typical salesman) But the Manager of the dealership said he had just come back from a seminar on it, and his comment was: On the 4wd (including the new Auto-4wd) when they are in 4wd, it is 50% power to front, 50% power to the rear. On the AWD, it is always a mixture of 70% / 30%. Normally , it is 70% rear / 30% front, but will vary with wheel spin and power torque. He said under hard acceleration, that 70% power will transfer to the front wheels. He claims that AWD will corner flatter than the 4wd in 2wd mode due to power being applied to all wheels. I repeat, I’m not an expert and that was his answer, I will tend to somewhat believe him however, because the Mountaineer that I have is AWD, and it corners much flatter than my old GMC Jimmy w/ reg. 4wd. One other thing he did warn, AWD does not have a "low" gear, and is not meant for any serious off-road adventures – he really suggested I take that into consideration before buying- as if it were a big deal. Maybe someone else has read up on it, and knows different or more… I’ll be very interested to learn more also, and will follow this post… Just a thought.. Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >What is the difference between AWD and 4wd?
Response:
The biggest difference in the ‘98 explorer systems have to do with the transfer case. True, the AWD is in 4×4 constantly; however, torque is divided according to torque needed at either end. The Command Trac is also in 4×4 constantly (the auto position), but you have the option of "locking" the transfer case in 4×4 to provide constant levels of torque to the front and rear. I have the command trac and would not trade it for the AWD. In sand, etc (really loose stuff) the locking transfer case is superior. The command trac also allows for a low range, which is great for pulling boats out of the water or similar excercises. The biggest caveat of the Command trac is you shouldn’t run dry, high traction surfaces with the transfer case in any position other than Auto. Excessive noise, tire scrub, and un-necessary wear will be the result of this action, and in low range, damage to driveline components is quite possible. — to confuse spammers…. "cogito ergo zoom…"
Response:
The Control-trac in 4WD AUTO is not exactly in 4X4 constantly. When the rear wheels begins to slip, the power transfers from the rear to the front. When the traction returns to normal, the front no longer spins and returns the power to the rear. So, essentially a 2WD in normal conditions, but it is ready to engage 4X4 without driver input. AWD is not always 50/50 split like you can with 4WD High. It can do it if needed. The system requires no driver input, but it does lack low range. Explorers are not made for off-roading. It would need quite a bit of mods like lifts, aggressive-thread tires, etc. before taking it out on a rough trail. I heard that AWD performs well in sand and the reports that I’ve read, none of the testers got stuck. Both systems are capable as they can be. So, there is no winners and losers in this one. Shane Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.
Response:
>The Control-trac in 4WD AUTO is not exactly in 4X4 constantly. When the rear >wheels begins to slip, the power transfers from the rear to the front.
The control trac system has a setting (4wd high) that "locks" it in 4 wheel drive. I know some of the earlier models have a choice of 2wd 4wdauto or 4wlow. But the newer ones have the choice of 4×4auto 4×4high and 4×4low.
Response:
>The Control-trac in 4WD AUTO is not exactly in 4X4 constantly. When the rear >wheels begins to slip, the power transfers from the rear to the front. When >the traction returns to normal, the front no longer spins and returns the >power to the rear. So, essentially a 2WD in normal conditions, but it is >ready to engage 4X4 without driver input.
The problem with that is I have a friend with a ‘98 2 door, the past winter she was on I-75 and hit a patch of black Ice and spun out and hit the center wall (She was fine and the Explorer only had about $4,500 in damages). Because slippage must occur for the front axle to engage, the split sec. it takes to engage is to late when you are driving. Now there is no way of knowing if she had AWD or was in 4×4 high if the accident would have happened, but when your driving and you experience any slippage you might lose control. So I would say go with the AWD. I love our AWD Mountaineer, it handled all of the snow we had here in Detroit this past winter, I never got stuck or even close to stuck and that was going down unplowed streets with drifts that were up to the top of the bumper. Also our V8 AWD gets the same gas mileage as my friend with the OHC V6 4×4 2 door. At about 70-75 it gets between 18-20mpg. (In the city it is more like 14-16).
Response:
… >The problem with that is I have a friend with a ‘98 2 door, the past winter >she >was on I-75 and hit a patch of black Ice and spun out and hit the center wall >(She was fine and the Explorer only had about $4,500 in damages). Because >slippage must occur for the front axle to engage, the split sec. it takes to >engage is to late when you are driving.
… Even 4X4 doesn’t help on black ice; there’s no traction to be had. 2X or 4X, it’s all the same at speed. Bill Funk "When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." – Henny Youngman
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->The Control-trac in 4WD AUTO is not exactly in 4X4 constantly. When the rear >wheels begins to slip, the power transfers from the rear to the front. When >the traction returns to normal, the front no longer spins and returns the >power to the rear. So, essentially a 2WD in normal conditions, but it is >ready to engage 4X4 without driver input. > The problem with that is I have a friend with a ‘98 2 door, the past winter she > was on I-75 and hit a patch of black Ice and spun out and hit the center wall > (She was fine and the Explorer only had about $4,500 in damages). Because > slippage must occur for the front axle to engage, the split sec. it takes to > engage is to late when you are driving. > Now there is no way of knowing if she had AWD or was in 4×4 high if the > accident would have happened, but when your driving and you experience any > slippage you might lose control. So I would say go with the AWD. I love our AWD > Mountaineer, it handled all of the snow we had here in Detroit this past > winter, I never got stuck or even close to stuck and that was going down > unplowed streets with drifts that were up to the top of the bumper. Also our V8 > AWD gets the same gas mileage as my friend with the OHC V6 4×4 2 door. At about > 70-75 it gets between 18-20mpg. (In the city it is more like 14-16).
The slippage required to make the front wheels turn shouldn’t be enough to cause her Explorer to spin out of control on black ice. I did an experiment once when I had my Explorer up on jack stands. My rear tires would turn less than 1/6 of a revolution before I felt a "clunk" and my front tires started turning. This was at slow speed so I can’t say for sure how quick it reacts at highway speed. I do know that my first winter with my Control-Trac in Toledo, Oh I had no problems on the highway or around town. I even tried to purposely break the backend loose when taking off in the snow while in Auto mode. As soon as the rear showed any signs of wanting to go sideways, it would immediately start pulling straight. Black ice can make any vehicle spin out of control, regardless of AWD, 4×4, or 2×4. Robert Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.
Response:
I don’t know about the free-wheelin of either system, but consider this… if you dump the throttle on a front wheel ( and a 4×4 if the front doesn’t freewheel)drive car suddenly, while on slick stuff, it is tantamount to stepping on the "front Brakes…" The sudden drag of the engine, trying to slow down the vehicle can cause the front wheels to skid and send the vehicle careening out of control. Conventional wisdom from the old 4×4 days was to dis-engage 4×4 when descending a slick grade to prevent this, and step on the clutch to allow the vehicle to coast across slippery spots… Never Brake or suddenly let off throttle… — to confuse spammers…. "cogito ergo zoom…"
Response:
One thing most people don’t realize, 4WD/AWD doesn’t make a difference on ice. If there’s ice under the wheels it does not make any difference how many wheels have power, there’s no traction! A lot of people think that because they have 4WD they can go anywhere. That’s true on ice, I guess. You’ll go anywhere the vehicle wants to go. You will have a slight advantage over 2WD if you crawl ove the ice. If your cruisin’ along and come upon ice the best thing to do is ease off of the throttle, don’t hit the brake, and steer lightly while trying to ride it through. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I don’t know about the free-wheelin of either system, but consider this… > if you dump the throttle on a front wheel ( and a 4×4 if the front doesn’t > freewheel)drive car suddenly, while on slick stuff, it is tantamount to > stepping on the "front Brakes…" The sudden drag of the engine, trying to > slow down the vehicle can cause the front wheels to skid and send the > vehicle careening out of control. Conventional wisdom from the old 4×4 days > was to dis-engage 4×4 when descending a slick grade to prevent this, and > step on the clutch to allow the vehicle to coast across slippery spots… > Never Brake or suddenly let off throttle… > — > to confuse spammers…. > "cogito ergo zoom…"
– Terry Neafie Account Support Engineer Milwaukee WI sgi Inc. PHONE: 414.827.4661 www.sgi.com FAX: 414.827.4662
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> One thing most people don’t realize, 4WD/AWD doesn’t make a difference > on ice. If there’s ice under the wheels it does not make any difference > how many wheels have power, there’s no traction! A lot of people think > that because they have 4WD they can go anywhere. That’s true on ice, I > guess. You’ll go anywhere the vehicle wants to go. > You will have a slight advantage over 2WD if you crawl ove the ice. If > your cruisin’ along and come upon ice the best thing to do is ease off > of the throttle, don’t hit the brake, and steer lightly while trying to > ride it through.
Speaking of I-75 and ice it reminded me of my first real experience with ice. I was heading south from Toledo, OH when I came upon several Troopers on the sholder assisting about 6 or 7 cars that were in the ditch and median because of a bad snow storm that morning. I tapped my brakes to disengage my cruise control so I didn’t go by the Troopers at 70 MPH. My back started sliding slightly. I immediately got off the brakes and coasted down to 20 MPH to recollect my thoughts. As I tried to gradually increase my speed to get up to 45 or so, my front tires would spin as soon as I touched my gas pedal. I couldn’t speed up from the 20 MPH that I slowed down to for a couple of miles. That was when I learned what black ice meant and came to the realization that regardless of what you are driving you need to use extremem caution on ice. Robert Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.
Response:
> The problem with that is I have a friend with a ‘98 2 door, the past winter she > was on I-75 and hit a patch of black Ice and spun out and hit the center wall > (She was fine and the Explorer only had about $4,500 in damages). Because > slippage must occur for the front axle to engage, the split sec. it takes to > engage is to late when you are driving.
The problem and misinformation is, that in 4WD mode, you won’t lose it on ice… I don’t know what moron started this rumor, but if the ice patch is longer than your wheel base, whether you are in 4wd or 2wd makes no difference… if you start to slip, you start to slip. 4WD may actually be more dangerous, as the wheels may all spin making you lose traction on ice sooner than 2wd where the non powered wheels may still have some traction allowing you some control. — David Cooley N5XMT Internet: Sponges grow in the ocean… Wonder how deep it would be if they didn’t?!
