2008 v8 = awd?

[Crashnrondo]

I have a 3rd gen right now and was looking at getting a newer 4runner and I came across a 2008 limited with a V8, the online sales guy swears it is a regular 4wd just like my 2001 meaning 2wd unless I turn the dial to multi mode then press a button to lock the diff. So does a V8 mean AWD or could you get them both ways?

Thanks,
Ron

 

[CXS]

V8 is AWD, no options to get it any other way. BTW, 4th Gen V8's are great trucks!

 

[Dominic]

Only the V6 has the ability to go into 2wd from 4wd, the V8 is high 4 and low 4

 

[viggen337]

Well, technically it is not AWD, but it is full-time 4WD. AWD works a little differently and lacks a transfer case, so it has no low range ability.

Either way, you won't have a 2WD ability, but you will be glad that it's not AWD if you ever need that low-range.

I've had plenty of Subarus (AWD), but my V8 4th-gen is a completely different animal underneath.

Trust me, I'm an engineer!

 

[Snesley Wipes]

He's wrong...

 

[Crashnrondo]

Thanks guys that's what I figured. So does the V8 act just like mine when I put mine in 4wd but leave the center diff unlocked? It is a beautiful truck, almost too pretty to take off road.:laugh:

 

[Gecko123]

Well, technically it is not AWD, but it is full-time 4WD. AWD works a little differently and lacks a transfer case, so it has no low range ability.

Either way, you won't have a 2WD ability, but you will be glad that it's not AWD if you ever need that low-range.

I've had plenty of Subarus (AWD), but my V8 4th-gen is a completely different animal underneath.

Trust me, I'm an engineer!

True. Some AWD the 4 wheels are not constantly in motion and only when it detects a slip the rear wheels kick in. I believe the Honda Pilot is set up this way.

 

[Gecko123]

All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vs. Four-Wheel Drive (4WD)


This contradicts my last post but is Subaru correct in these statements. Kinda bias.

 

[CXS]

Yes, my mistake. It's Full-Time 4WD, not AWD.

 

[JB.]

Thanks guys that's what I figured. So does the V8 act just like mine when I put mine in 4wd but leave the center diff unlocked? It is a beautiful truck, almost too pretty to take off road.:laugh:

Yes and no.

It has a Torsen T3 limited slip center differential which splits torque towards the rear 60-40 which gives it a little more of a rear wheel drive feel on dry roads and it's capable of stretching those numbers between 71-29 to handle slippery roads.

 

[ChaosStarter]

You guys take this way too seriously. :madgrin:

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Wait... how can it be AWD without a transfer case! :O

I think you mean, it doesn't have a selectable set of gears for the transfer case. The transfer cases purpose at its basic is to split the output of a transmission/transaxle to front and rear differentials. The difference between the AWD and 4WD transfer cases is that in a 4WD vehicle you are provided the option to select lower gear ratios to further increase torque output to the differentials.

V8 4Runners are All-Time 4WD, meaning that all 4 wheels provide power to the pavement (much like AWD,) but unlike AWD the driver has the option to select a lower gear ratio (H4 & L4 respectively,) while most modern AWD vehicles can only attempt to mimic to a degree through ABS/VSC systems (Similar to how Toyota uses their TRAC system to create a para-LSD)

 

[Martinjmpr]

Wait... how can it be AWD without a transfer case! :O

AFAIK most AWD cars don't have separate t-cases like trucks do. I believe they use a viscous coupling that comes off the transmission to send power to the rear wheels.

I believe most AWD vehicles are FWD with a transaxle that sits behind a transverse mounted engine. There are some exceptions to this, obviously, many "luxury" SUVs are RWD with inline-mounted engines (like on our 4runners) but I don't think they have actual T-cases, again, I think they just have a viscous coupling or similar arrangement to "Tap" power to the wheels that are not normally driven to give AWD.

Of course, it may be we're saying the same thing - obviously there has to be some way to get the power to the wheels that aren't normally driven, so in that sense that they have a "transfer case" but it's not a separate piece like it is on a conventional 4wd vehicle. Probably some engineers or techs can explain it better than me.

I know my AWD Subaru did not have a "transfer case." It had a transmission and front and rear driven axles. Reason I know this is there were separate dipsticks for the tranny (auto) and the front axle.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

[No message]

 

[viggen337]

[No message]