Any reason not to drive with auto 4wd on full time?
- Thread starter oldpaddy
- Start date
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I've been driving in AWD (99% of the miles) since 1998, on my 3rd Expy. Have heard less MPG but not sure its the case.
I do put it in 2WD , 4HI, and 4LO occasionally to make sure its remembers how to do that. No issues.
I do put it in 2WD , 4HI, and 4LO occasionally to make sure its remembers how to do that. No issues.
Muddy Bean
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Slight MPG hit maybe...plus truck just drives better in my opinion in 2wd. Like a rwd should. Punch it in 4A and you might feel a little torque steer.
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If you like to feel the clunk when it engages nope.
Auto 4x4 is a pretty archaic setup. My 2002 Explorer had no option to not be in Auto 4x4 from the factory.the brown wire mod allowed for full time 2wd by stopping the signal of the 4x4 solenoid to the front axle.
Auto 4x4 is nowhere near as smooth as an AWD system but you also loose capability.
Auto 4x4 is a pretty archaic setup. My 2002 Explorer had no option to not be in Auto 4x4 from the factory.the brown wire mod allowed for full time 2wd by stopping the signal of the 4x4 solenoid to the front axle.
Auto 4x4 is nowhere near as smooth as an AWD system but you also loose capability.
ExplorerTom
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My 2000 only has a setting for a4wd, 4hi and 4lo. And it seemed like it was always engaged. The driveline would bind when turning sharp.
Did the brown wire mod and no longer have that binding.
I never liked it anyway- even when it was functioning normally (on my Explorer- never functioned properly on my Expedition)
Did the brown wire mod and no longer have that binding.
I never liked it anyway- even when it was functioning normally (on my Explorer- never functioned properly on my Expedition)
powerboatr
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owners book states you can leave in in 4 auto all the time. its controlled by viscous clutches and programming. ours in in 4A 100% of the time.
Muddy Bean
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I must be in an early midlife crisis. I like to chirp my rubber every so often.... 2wd works for me.
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Dorzak
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I drive to work early in the morning so almost no traffic. Did one of the trip calculator things resetting each day and it is typically about 20.9-22.4 mpg. On a few rainy days I did 4A and that was 20.3. Could just been a little heavier on the gas pedal or could be difference in drive train. The sample is too small. Also with 4A if you select the option to show power distribution once it is at speed all power is on rear wheels.
I don't even leave the headlights in auto. LOL Although I do leave the automatic transmission in auto.
I put in 4wd hi when it rains just to engage the system once in awhile. I like to know it's slippery before using it. Growing up in Northern NYS near Canada, I saw too many 4x4s in the ditch during the winter from over confidence and not being aware how icy the roads really were.
I haven't looked for this in the owner's manual. If the Expedition is in 4wd auto will there be an indication when it engages 4wd to let you know there was traction loss?
I put in 4wd hi when it rains just to engage the system once in awhile. I like to know it's slippery before using it. Growing up in Northern NYS near Canada, I saw too many 4x4s in the ditch during the winter from over confidence and not being aware how icy the roads really were.
I haven't looked for this in the owner's manual. If the Expedition is in 4wd auto will there be an indication when it engages 4wd to let you know there was traction loss?
I respect everybody's opinion (most people anyway) and right to operate your vehicle the way you want. Personally, I like AWD for increased traction & safety but agree its not something that should make you overconfident. However, to NOT use it for the reason you state seems like purposely handicapping the capability of your vehicle.
I would advise you to read the Owners Manual. I don't think 4HI is appropriate for wet roads, the way I read it. I suspect its unsafe and may damage the vehicle and/or tires.
from 2014 Owners Manual:
4H (4X4) provides electronically locked four-wheel drive power to front and rear wheels. The message center will display 4X4 when this mode is selected. This mode is not recommended for use on dry pavement. This mode is only intended for severe winter or off-road conditions, such as deep snow, ice or shallow sand.
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Thanks for the warning on 4H. I only do it for a short distance like my driveway to the 1st stop sign and always in a straight line but I will use 4A instead.
It looks like leaving it in 4A all the time is fine. From the 2017 owner's manual
4A provides electronic control four-wheel drive with power delivered to all four wheels, as required, for increased traction. The information display will display 4A when this mode is selected. This mode is appropriate for all on-road driving conditions, such as dry road surfaces, wet pavement, snow, or gravel.
Still wondering if we get an indication of slippage with 4A on.
It looks like leaving it in 4A all the time is fine. From the 2017 owner's manual
4A provides electronic control four-wheel drive with power delivered to all four wheels, as required, for increased traction. The information display will display 4A when this mode is selected. This mode is appropriate for all on-road driving conditions, such as dry road surfaces, wet pavement, snow, or gravel.
Still wondering if we get an indication of slippage with 4A on.
Big Brian
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If I break a tire loose mine will blink a symbol on the dash that looks like skidding tires as long as the tire is spinning
pretty sure it does it in any driving mode
Mine is a 2008
pretty sure it does it in any driving mode
Mine is a 2008
Thats the Traction Control System indicator. IIRC, it also indicates activation of the Roll/Stability Control (RSC) system.
Big Brian
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whatever it is it flashes when my wheels go spinny
deweysmith
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If both wheels in the back are slipping about equally it won’t flash. It’s only when it’s balancing side to side that it lights up. If it’s balancing forward and backward there is no indication, at least in my experience.
Ford says there’s about a 9% fuel economy hit, but your mileage may quite literally vary.
If I'm not mistaken there were no AWD Expeditions.
4Auto is 2WD unless slippage is experienced in the rear axle. If slippage, the transfer case engages the front axle.
4Hi is locked into 4WD for sand, snow mud etc.
4Lo is for high ration pulling, getting out of a sand pit etc.
If you leave it in 4Auto it's in 2wd unless the system encounters a condition to engage the front axle. On a dry road without nailing the throttle, you'd never engage 4wd in 4auto.
4Auto is 2WD unless slippage is experienced in the rear axle. If slippage, the transfer case engages the front axle.
4Hi is locked into 4WD for sand, snow mud etc.
4Lo is for high ration pulling, getting out of a sand pit etc.
If you leave it in 4Auto it's in 2wd unless the system encounters a condition to engage the front axle. On a dry road without nailing the throttle, you'd never engage 4wd in 4auto.
I know enough to be dangerous, no expert ... barely head above water on this and many other topics.
BUT there is a WIKI page on this ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ControlTrac#The_Modes
and this quote from the WIKI says the opposite
of what you typed about 4Auto above?
So I disagree. if I'm wrong , forgive me ...
Auto mode was featured on both Explorer and Expedition and allows for all-weather, full-time four-wheel drive capability on pavement as needed. In Auto mode, the engine’s torque is normally routed to the rear drive wheels. A misconception about the system is that it continuously shifts into and out of four-wheel drive as needed. This is not true, for when Auto mode is selected, the front axle hubs are permanently engaged, locking them to the front axle shafts, front differential, and front drive shaft. This is so the front drive shaft always rotates (turns) when the vehicle is being driven at speed. The computer control system needs the front drive shaft to turn, so that it can monitor and compare the rotational speed of both the front and rear drive shafts. If the rear drive shaft starts to turn faster than the front, the system interprets that (along with input from other sensors) as traction loss. When traction loss is detected, torque is sent forward to the front differential in 10 percent increments, via the center multi-disc clutch. As it does so, intelligent control software allows the center multi-disc clutch to behave like a geared center differential, such that "driveline binding" and "torque windup" do not occur. The transfer of torque is done in secrecy, virtually undetectable by the occupants of the vehicle.
In the early 2000s, ControlTrac was updated and introduced in 2002 with more advanced software programming, building on the system’s artificial intelligence.[8] The four-wheel drive system's updated artificial intelligence allowed the system to predict traction loss before it happened, so that torque can be transferred before it was needed.[7][8] This improvement meant the system could operate more like other "always-on" full-time four-wheel drive systems as it no longer had to "wait" for traction loss to take action.[8] Another improvement was front-to-rear "torque biasing" capability in Auto mode. ControlTrac's intelligent multi-disc differential could now send all 100 percent of the engine’s torque forward, biasing it to the front differential if severe traction loss was anticipated, predicted, or detected.[8]
I bought my first Expedition in 1998 after reading an Engineering article (I think it was Design News) about the Borg Warner system. At the time I think it was revolutionary that you could just turn a knob on the dash to change modes. Seems like "back then" you had to get out and lock the hubs manually on, for example, a JEEP. In 2003 the IRS came out and made the Expy even better so I bought one of those. I always appreciated the space inside with fold down seats. The 5.4L engine always had enough poop for me but I'm sure the EcoBoost is the future even if you do need to run premium gas and lose sleep over what type of oil to use (humor).
I truly "love" the Expedition!!
I truly "love" the Expedition!!
And even with the hubs locked, you still had to stop to engage the transfer case. I remember the first time I shifted into 4WD while rolling.....I fully expected the front end to disintegrate. But it didn't.
Old dogs, new tricks.
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