Auto 4 Wheel Drive. When to use?

[mike94silverado]

I always wanted manual cases for simplicity but I admit I live the auto 4 now that I have it

 

 

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[crushNchowda]

When I get an initial winter storm and all backroads are covered w/ snowpack and ice, I use 4WD hi, and that's for around town when most other people w/o 4WD and snow tires shouldn't be driving (I run snows which I feel is more important than 4WD for winter but that's another story), and mostly I have to be honest its because I like to just go out and mess around/get to work when others can't and give the 4WD some exercise.

All other times when its intermittent patches of snow, clear pavement, then snow, or it "could" snow and/or I'm driving higher than 45 on snow covered roads like traveling on the highway then off the highway when I'm not sure if I'll need 4WD or not I leave it in 4WD auto just in case, because it won't hurt the front end or steering rack and it only engages when needed and you can go like 75mph w/ it on. I would also use it in torrential downpours, back country dirt roads, light mud.

Heavy mud, driving in brushy fields or muddy fields or snow packed fields I would use 4WD hi for the most part, unless it is fairly easy going then switch to 4WD auto after testing it out. Only time I would put it in low (and I haven't had to yet) is if I was driving offroad or in extremely deep packed snow situation where I started to get worried I may get stuck, but you really should need it only very rarely - one situation would be if you were driving on the beach and started to sink you may want to try it then.

 

Honestly most of the time in winter I run 2WD and let the snow tires do the work w/ the stability and traction control, drifting baby!

[soltys]

 

Honestly most of the time in winter I run 2WD and let the snow tires do the work w/ the stability and traction control, drifting baby!

 

You're drifting WITH stability and traction control? How? Whenever I want to have some fun in the snow, I have to make sure I turn the nannies off.

[crushNchowda]

You're drifting WITH stability and traction control? How? Whenever I want to have some fun in the snow, I have to make sure I turn the nannies off.

I meant to say w/ tc off lol

[thewhitestallion]

4wd low shouldnt be needed if driving in mud or sand. 4wd low is to give you better low speed power i.e. climbing up steep hills or trying to pull a heavy object like a decent size tree down (not recomending just an example). you should not use 4wd low for a long period of time and definitlly NOT at high speeds.

[scz71864]

just so everyone knows you get worse MPGs in 4auto.

[SG 2013 Suburban]

I was just told by the dealer that I should not leave my 2013 Suburban in Auto four wheel drive at anytime, even after roads are cleared of snow. I brought in my Suburban because of grinding on turns, and grinding on slowing. I thought Auto only kicked in when the computer sensed slipping? The Service Writer at dealership told me that leaving it in Auto can cause "binding" and problems with the differential. In my 'old' Yukon we left it in auto all the time, sold it at 88,000 miles, no problems. I am very disappointed in the company line, only 32,000 on the 2013 and can clearly see a difference in the quality.

[fondupot]

I was just told by the dealer that I should not leave my 2013 Suburban in Auto four wheel drive at anytime, even after roads are cleared of snow. I brought in my Suburban because of grinding on turns, and grinding on slowing. I thought Auto only kicked in when the computer sensed slipping? The Service Writer at dealership told me that leaving it in Auto can cause "binding" and problems with the differential. In my 'old' Yukon we left it in auto all the time, sold it at 88,000 miles, no problems. I am very disappointed in the company line, only 32,000 on the 2013 and can clearly see a difference in the quality.

 

Plain and simple Auto is not meant to be used all the time. Only when the situation calls for it. You got lucky with the "old" Yukon, or it had a different transfer case that was ok to leave in auto (news to me). But as far as I've known GM trucks with the autotrac selectable transfercase (2hi, auto, 4hi, 4Lo) were never meant to be run in Auto year round, every day, dry or wet.

[MikeNH]

4wd low shouldnt be needed if driving in mud or sand. 4wd low is to give you better low speed power i.e. climbing up steep hills or trying to pull a heavy object like a decent size tree down (not recomending just an example). you should not use 4wd low for a long period of time and definitlly NOT at high speeds.

4 low works awesome hitting like 60 on the sand dunes for short stretches. Launches like a beast.

[Dirtbiker]

Just so you know, the auto system has a clutch like system in it I was told. And it does wear out. When it does, it isn't cheap to repair. I was told by a GM mechanic friend to either use 4x4 or 2x4 avoid the auto. I have used it rarely like when my fiancé is driving in town during winter but not very often.

[redwngr]

OM says this about Auto mode:

 

UTO (Automatic Four-Wheel

Drive): This setting is ideal for use

when road surface traction

conditions are variable. When

driving the vehicle in AUTO, the

front axle is engaged, and the

vehicle's power is sent to the front

and rear wheels automatically

based on driving conditions. Driving

in this mode results in slightly lower

fuel economy than Two-Wheel

Drive High.

Do not use AUTO mode to park on

a steep grade with poor traction

such as ice, snow, mud or gravel. In

AUTO mode only the rear wheels

will hold the vehicle from sliding

when parked. If parking on a steep

grade, use 4 m to keep all four

wheels engaged.