Drive in 2WD or 4WD on highway

[Gecko123]

On the V6, its switchable from 2WD to 4WD. If I'm driving on the highway on a nice summer day and the roads are dry, is it any better to drive on 4WD or it's better to drive on 2WD? Does it make a difference when you are going at that speed whether it's 2WD or 4WD? Which mode handles better, I assume the 4WD mode but just want your thoughts?

Also, does it make a difference in gas consumption.

I read somewhere that basically at that speed the physics is about the same whether you use 2WD or 4WD.

 

[Belovian]

you should avoid driving in 4wd on the highway. this is 4wd not awd. it is not the same system as the full time system on the v8 models. One way to tell if it's bad is to while moving very slowly turn the wheels to full lock and move forward if you get any "crow hopping" it's bad. Read your owner's manual! I have been an auto tech for almost fifteen years and am probably one of the few who actually does?

Jesse

 

[crackiswack]

you should avoid driving in 4wd on the highway. this is 4wd not awd. it is not the same system as the full time system on the v8 models. One way to tell if it's bad is to while moving very slowly turn the wheels to full lock and move forward if you get any "crow hopping" it's bad. Read your owner's manual! I have been an auto tech for almost fifteen years and am probably one of the few who actually does?

Jesse

If you read the manual you would know the v6 "4wd" system functions exactly like the all time 4wd system of the v8 when in 4-HI mode with the center differential unlocked. It is perfectly fine to drive in this mode in all conditions, the only thing that will suffer is gas mileage

 

[NJshadow93]

you should avoid driving in 4wd on the highway. this is 4wd not awd. it is not the same system as the full time system on the v8 models. One way to tell if it's bad is to while moving very slowly turn the wheels to full lock and move forward if you get any "crow hopping" it's bad. Read your owner's manual! I have been an auto tech for almost fifteen years and am probably one of the few who actually does?

Jesse

The only thing that would cause the crow hopping is locking the center differential when in 4WD. But just 4WD alone does not do any harm.

 

[Gecko123]

you should avoid driving in 4wd on the highway. this is 4wd not awd. it is not the same system as the full time system on the v8 models. One way to tell if it's bad is to while moving very slowly turn the wheels to full lock and move forward if you get any "crow hopping" it's bad. Read your owner's manual! I have been an auto tech for almost fifteen years and am probably one of the few who actually does?

Jesse

Hey Jesse

Yes, please read your manual and I guess you have not been reading them for the last 15 years.

Any ways back to my original question. Does it handle better on 4wd mode then 2wd mode on the highway on dry pavement.

 

[NJshadow93]

IMO, 4WD handles better than RWD. But on dry pavement the difference probably wouldn't be noticeable and the little gas you would save not having 4HI engaged would still be more than the difference in handling on dry pavement.

 

[crackiswack]

Hey Jesse

Yes, please read your manual and I guess you have not been reading them for the last 15 years.

Any ways back to my original question. Does it handle better on 4wd mode then 2wd mode on the highway on dry pavement.

I feel the 4runner understeers slighty more in 4wd than 2wd FWIW

 

[TRDCal]

Any ways back to my original question. Does it handle better on 4wd mode then 2wd mode on the highway on dry pavement.

Don't take this the wrong way but thats a bit of a silly question. Your basically asking does 2wd or 4wd handle better in a straight line at a set speed on a perfect driving surface. In those conditions you could have a 1wd or 8wd its going to handle the same your just burning more gas with the more wheels your powering. I'm not trying to be an ass but thats the way I see it, maybe theres more to your question that i'm not seeing.

 

[zstampe]

you should avoid driving in 4wd on the highway. this is 4wd not awd. it is not the same system as the full time system on the v8 models. One way to tell if it's bad is to while moving very slowly turn the wheels to full lock and move forward if you get any "crow hopping" it's bad. Read your owner's manual! I have been an auto tech for almost fifteen years and am probably one of the few who actually does?

Jesse

You're one of the few that actually reads the manual???? Noted!

Please quote what the manual says about this. If the center diff is unlocked you can drive it as you would in 2wd.

 

[MikeInNH]

There should be no difference in how a 4runner handles in 2wd or 4wd on dry pavement. If there is then I suspect something wrong with the system.

I see no advantage in driving in 4wd while on dry pavement...EXCEPT every once in a while to keep things lubed.

 

[zstampe]

There should be no difference in how a 4runner handles in 2wd or 4wd on dry pavement. If there is then I suspect something wrong with the system.

I see no advantage in driving in 4wd while on dry pavement...EXCEPT every once in a while to keep things lubed.

This.

My steering is heavier in 4wd though.

 

[JB.]

On the V6, its switchable from 2WD to 4WD. If I'm driving on the highway on a nice summer day and the roads are dry, is it any better to drive on 4WD or it's better to drive on 2WD? Does it make a difference when you are going at that speed whether it's 2WD or 4WD?

The beauty of the V6 is you can experiment all you want and answer the question for yourself.

Mine is FT4WD, so I can't say, but I suspect you'll find that it tracks straighter on the freeway in 4WD. The steering will feel a little heavier and as was already said, it should move a bit towards understeer in corners. There will be less rear end squat when taking off quickly and it should feel a little more planted to the road, in general.

A thorough report on this subject is long overdue and I'd do it in a heartbeat if I could. Go do some testing and report back. I'd love to hear the results.

 

[Runner27]

ever since I bought the 4runner, I always drive it in 4Hi. It feels more stable that way.

 

[JB.]

ever since I bought the 4runner, I always drive it in 4Hi. It feels more stable that way.

Very interesting. I've heard of guys leaving it in 4WD throughout the winter but never all the time.

I've always said that I think I would run it that way, too, if I had the multi-mode, but had to admit to myself that the evidence before me (the fact that seemingly no one does) was probably an indicator that I wouldn't do it either.

Thanks for posting.

 

[MICA4R]

:flamethrwoer2: crow hopping

x2 feels more stable
x2 more fun gassing around curves with some understeer
minimal mpg change
torsen diff is expensive, that's why the SR5's in 5th gen don't have 'em.:boxer:

 

[scottm]

I've had over a dozen AWD cars and trucks, I like the stability and rarely drive mine in 2WD. I've had it in 2WD for the past week, really haven't noticed any difference, but I'll notice if it gets wet out. Most cars these days are front-wheel-drive, and have more torque-steer and steering heaviness than AWD.

My 80-series Land Cruisers were AWD, one time I pulled the front driveshaft for a while as I put new U-joints in it. I thought the steering felt slightly lighter, maybe, but not enough to really notice. Some guys did that to save gas, and didn't ever post any significant savings. I noticed no difference on a 400-mile vacation run without the front driveshaft.

One thing I have noticed is very even tire wear. I rotate my tires rarely if ever, and I watch them carefully. Of course I don't drive my trucks like sports cars, but I don't waste time either. I just put new tires on both trucks, will probably rotate these just to be careful.

 

[mrpanic7]

Hey Jesse

Yes, please read your manual and I guess you have not been reading them for the last 15 years.

Any ways back to my original question. Does it handle better on 4wd mode then 2wd mode on the highway on dry pavement.

One thing that's weird since i drive in 4 hi constantly, is that my alignment gets kinda funky between 60-70 i get a shimmy. in 2 wheel i don't get this nearly as bad, if at all. Thoughts?

 

[jshill]

It depends on which model and transmission you have, not just which engine. I have the "Sport Edition", which had full-time AWD option as well as differential-locking 4WD. In the former, I can drive on the street all I want. However, if I lock the differential (off-road), I get the 4WD "hop".

In winter conditions, I sometimes leave it in AWD a lot. It makes little difference in gas, as you're hauling the metal around anyway. Steering is a bit "heavier".

Be sure to look into precisely which transmission you have on yours.

Cheers!

 

[scottm]

It's surprising how much tire slip you get on dry pavement on the highway. Many years ago I did some experiments with magnets and sensors on driveshafts, comparing that to miles travelled, for early trip computers. I had to put in significantly more correction on RWD than AWD.

 

[zstampe]

It depends on which model and transmission you have, not just which engine. I have the "Sport Edition", which had full-time AWD option as well as differential-locking 4WD. In the former, I can drive on the street all I want. However, if I lock the differential (off-road), I get the 4WD "hop".

In winter conditions, I sometimes leave it in AWD a lot. It makes little difference in gas, as you're hauling the metal around anyway. Steering is a bit "heavier".

Be sure to look into precisely which transmission you have on yours.

Cheers!

All 4th gens have the same transmission my friend (save for the 4 speed and 5 speed ones). The transmission has ZERO to do with the 4wd system. The TRANSFER CASE has to do with the 4wd. And every model can be driven at all times in 4wd until the center diff is locked.

Not sure why people keep giving such bad info in this thread.