4wd Vs Awd

[androgelrx]

With all the snow we are getting this year, which setting are you using with your trucks? I had the pleasure of driving over 2-hrs in the snow 2 weeks ago. At that time, the snow had not been plowed so 4x4 all the way for me. However, when the roads are half plowed, is it better to drive the truck in auto instead? Another question would be, when 4wd is engaged in the auto mode, how long does it stay in 4wd?

[Stevens03]

I run auto all the time when the road conditions call for it. Never had an issue. Simple as that. Plus if you leave it in auto by mistake, your not going to hurt anything.

[csheatz]

10" of freash snow this morning! left it in 2 wheel for a while, had some good fun! then went into auto for the rest of the drive.

[drdoublej]

I use auto for half plowed roads or going from plowed to unplowed frequently. I may be wrong but I thought that auto was 4WD that let your tires spin at diffrent speeds when turning

[RyanbabZ71]

I thought the topic was 4wd vs AWD (all wheel drive). Auto 4wd is not AWD

[androgelrx]

Isn't auto 4wd on the silverado basically the same as awd? It freely spins until it engages into 4wd like awd, correct?

[2009SierraZ71]

Auto engages the 4x4 but it doesn't send any power to the front wheels unless it is needed. I typically use Auto but this morning I got stuck in a lane that wasn't plowed and 4x4 high was awesome. First time I ever really needed it. Typically when the roads change from wet to snow to kind of plowed I leave it in Auto.

 

Now the salt has done it's job and the fun has all melted. It's been a lousy winter by way of snow for SE Michigan. First year I have my truck and this winter is a dud by way of snow.

[Matt_]

Isn't auto 4wd on the silverado basically the same as awd? It freely spins until it engages into 4wd like awd, correct?

 

Nope. Auto 4wd is 2wd and then turns into 4wd when needed. AWD provides power to all 4 wheels all the time and is a completely different transfercase than 4wd.

[csheatz]

Auto engages the 4x4 but it doesn't send any power to the front wheels unless it is needed. I typically use Auto but this morning I got stuck in a lane that wasn't plowed and 4x4 high was awesome. First time I ever really needed it. Typically when the roads change from wet to snow to kind of plowed I leave it in Auto.

 

Now the salt has done it's job and the fun has all melted. It's been a lousy winter by way of snow for SE Michigan. First year I have my truck and this winter is a dud by way of snow.

 

 

+1

[Nick The Great]

4WD (Hi) is different from AWD which is different from Auto 4WD.

 

I use Auto 4WD probably 95% of the time between December and February. I'll put it in 4Hi if the situation warrants it.

[jro909]

auto is your friend, if you don't feel comfortable in 2hi and are iffy about 4x4 hi then kick it in auto, it won't engage unless the trucks deems it as a need...not trying to thread jack but why don't the HDs come with auto??

[BrockwayMT]

The transfer case clutch doesn't have the torque capacity for HD.

 

In 4AUTO the front axle is engaged all of the time. The transfer case is in "adapt ready" position where the clutch is close to sending torque to the front axle. It is a preemptive system as opposed to slip based system. Thus it doesn't wait for slip to put some torque to the front. If you floor it on dry pavement it will send torque to the front. There is a lot of logic in the control of it based on steering angle, throttle position, wheel speeds, etc. Basically the transfer case is never IN or OUT when in auto. It constantly varies the torque to front between near zero torque to the front and full torque to front. In 4H or 4L the clutch is fully engaged, in 2H it's fully released and the front axle it disconnected.