4 wheel drive "Auto" setting

[Vic15]

I had a 4 wheel F-150 with some pretty worn original Wrangler all terrain tires. I jumped on Highway 6 in College Station in a deluge. The overpass had standing water & I immediately spun 1.5 times (talk about an ars pucker) luckily I didn't hit anything. Flipped to 4 wheel high all the way back to Houston!

[Brian S.]

I know the following about auto:

 

I leave it in auto a lot in the winter, and have on my last five GM pickups. It's the best feature of GM trucks IMHO.

 

My dad puts it in auto at the beginning of winter, and takes it out at end. (no problems)

 

My buddy leaves it on year round. (no problems)

 

I read an interview of some Chevy guys where they said they assume people just leave it on.

[ajdata]

Auto is made to be ran the life of the truck, there are some that put it in auto and never touch it and that's perfectly fine, others like myself are anal and must run 2wd. You will loose slight mileage running auto but having the front somewhat engaged is no problem.

I had this discussion with my dealership, they said only put it in auto when you are on wet/sandy roads (places to likely need 4wd). It was a while ago but I might have read that in the manual as well.

 

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[smrr1]

Just my opinion but 4 auto is for partially or intermittent slippery conditions that you would not be able to reach up and switch to 4wd in time to save your butt. If you know that there will be slippage, boat ramp etc, use 4wd. If no chances of slippage use 2wd.

 

If it is raining and there is a chance of hydro planing or spinning my tires around a corner I SLOW THE F DOWN! Just an idea for the rest of you. 4 auto is not a miracle worker or god. Please do not risk my life or my families life because you are in a hurry.

 

Sorry if i sound like the grumpy old guy down the road.

[Kerrslight]

I knew I would get flack for saying I turn it on in the rain. To be clear, I don't turn it on every time it rains. I have only used the AUTO 4x4 twice in the year and a half I've had the truck. Both of which were torrential down pours where there was a good amount of water on the road. The highway by my house has grooves that have a tenancy of collecting water. I have used it there to HELP, not necessarily prevent, but help from losing traction should I hit a pocket of water I don't see. The other time was when I was driving to Houston from Baton Rouge and there was a good amount of water on the road the whole way. Out of an abundance of caution, I used it then. I am by no means saying it will keep me from hydroplaning, losing control, crashing. As I've said before its better to have 4 wheels moving in the same direction under power as opposed to 2 if something were to happen. It is a new feature to me as this is my first 4wd, and being that I live in Houston, I will probably never need it. To make the grumpy old guy down the road feel better my last truck, 2wd, I never had a problem of slippage driving in the rain either. I just didn't drive as fast.

[smrr1]

Much better explanation

[diyer2]

2 wheel unless I feel I need more wheels for safety or traction.

[Rawyzf]

I only flip to AWD if I don't feel comfortable in RWD. This comfort zone is different for everyone and really depends on climate.

 

Here in MN, for me, its with fresh snow on unplowed roads. Otherwise im always in 2wd.

 

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[mike5511]

That automatic crap can suck you right or left on icy roads when it kicks in or out. I'm either in 2WD or 4WD. I'm not really understanding how 4WD will help in the rain just driving down the highway. If you're hydroplaning it's not going to make any difference. After 31 years of working accidents on snowy/icy/slick roads, it's easy to see why most of the vehicles were 4WD that wrecked.

[SMiller]

I have to say,I have never heard of anyone putting their truck in auto 4wd because it's raining.

Try merging onto a busy highway, 2wd will be sideways spinning, auto=floor it!

[SMiller]

I had a old boss that flat didn't care, his truck worked for him, he didn't work for it. He pretty much put the truck into 4x4 in fall and took it out in the spring, dry clear roads didn't matter it was in 4wd, never a single problem, never changed the fluid.

 

I would have zero worries running auto the life of the truck.

[fpdsniper]

The auto setting is great for times when you might have dry roads until you get to intersections or parking lot's with ice/snow. Especially when it's a 4 way stop or light controlled intersection. Eliminates the need to shift into 4wd to get you going without having to switch it over, and wait for the engagement. It's also great for my wife when she is real sure when she should use 4wd. There is no harm to leaving it in the auto position for the winter. Yes, there will be more "wear" on some components, but I doubt you'd ever cause enough wear that it would be an issue.

[Brad10281]

I have to say,I have never heard of anyone putting their truck in auto 4wd because it's raining.

If you have piss poor tires like I did when I bought the truck (used) you would. Got new tires and I barely ever put it in auto anymore. I'll occasionally throw it in auto if I'm trying to pull out in heavy traffic on a rainy day still.

 

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[Aubie_01]

He pretty much put the truck into 4x4 in fall and took it out in the spring, dry clear roads didn't matter it was in 4wd, never a single problem, never changed the fluid.

 

 

 

That would be a poor driving experience to be using 4WD while making turns on dry paved roads.

[fondupot]

The transfer case is meant to be shifted on the fly. You can shift from 2hi to Auto at pretty much any speed. Going straight on a road there is not need for four wheel drive. No water what the weather condition.

 

Leaving it in auto year round is a waste of gas and outs more wear on the tcase.

 

For me personally I use the following conditions:

 

2Hi- dry, normal driving

Auto- rain, light snow. Shifted on the fly when needed.

 

4hi- off-road and heavy snow (only up to about 40mph)

 

4lo- off-road; heavy snow, steep inclines (slow speed only)

 

I only use auto when needed in rain and light snow. Usually when making turns. Or starting from stopped. After I am straight or up to speed I go back to 2hi

 

 

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