4 wheel drive "Auto" setting

[15 Z71]

I don't know why you would leave it in auto if roads are not slick. I have never put mine in auto because it's raining. 

[TTech631]

On 12/29/2015 at 3:03 PM, bertiman said:

Hi Folks!

Besides reduced gas milage, are there any issues with keeping my 2015 5.3l Silverado in the 4 wheel drive "auto" setting full time (well, at least for the winter). The manual warns against 4h & 4l in dry conditions but does not make such a warning for the auto setting. I've searched the forums and there doesn't seem to be clear consensus in the threads I've read..... so I figured I'd ask. I don't want to damage anything or cause stuff to prematurely wear.

 

Thanks!

 

 

I have not read any other replies or posts In this thread but I have read on GMs site a warning that said to not do this unless slick conditions are expected. The reasoning was that when left in 4x4 auto it left certain parts engaged that while might not be actually working at the time. The fact that they are engaged sets them up for unnecessary wear and tear.. I can't really explain it any more technical than that. But like I said it was directly off the GM website. 

[Tyy1907]

20 hours ago, swathdiver said:

Whether the front axle is engaged or not has no bearing on tire wear.  The AUTO setting is a safety feature, the front axle is engaged but nearly all power is to the rear axle unless the computers sense the need for some to be transferred up front.  My manual has no warnings about not using it for extended periods but common sense says the more one uses something, the more quickly it will wear out.  Having said that, what is the expected lifespan of a front differential engaged and not engaged?

 

I sometimes miss the simplicity of the manual levers!  

I also prefer the floor shift lever for engaging 4wd.  Way faster and you know it's in.  

 

My salesman told me straight that according to gm tech's, the auto mechanism does "wear out" over time but he said it generally takes years for that to happen.

[KARNUT]

Just like anything else things wear out. I had a couple of Z71s in my working career. Last one for 180K Miles. Any time the roads got wet I hit the button. When I was on the job site I use auto 4WD most of the time. Worked just fine.


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[Mike111]

I drove my 2012 Yukon in auto and it wore out my front differential in just 500 miles and my dealer said I should drive it in auto and had to repair under warranty. Now with only 65000 mile I must have hit it and moved it over and after 60 miles it started to roar and when I returned to a different dealer it is going to cost me 2800 dollars. And they can't tell me when I should use auto mode.