Why is V8 Full Time AWD?

M1911 said:
There is no problem with tight turning, because of the Torsen center differential.

In a part-time 4WD system, when you put it in 4WD the front and rear driveshafts turn at the same speed. When you go around a corner, the rear wheels cut inside the path of the front wheels, so the rear wheels travel a shorter distance. As a result, the rear driveshaft needs to turn fewer revolutions than the front driveshaft. Since the front and rear driveshafts must turn at the same speed in a part-time 4WD system, it is hard to turn tightly on dry pavement (and potentially damaging to the drivetrain).

But the 4th gen 4Runners are not part-time 4WD. They are full-time 4WD. The center differential allows the front and rear driveshafts to turn at different speeds. Think about what a rear differential does -- it has an input shaft, two output shafts, and allows the two output shafts to turn at different speeds. The center diff does the same thing.

As a result of that center diff, there is no scrubbing when making a tight turn in a 4th Gen 4Runner, as long as the center diff is unlocked. If you lock the center diff, then the front and rear driveshafts turn at the same speed so it behaves like a part-time system.

As for "all the moving parts all the time," what moving parts are you worried about? So the front driveshaft, half-shafts, and front diff are turning. So what? Those aren't exactly parts that tend to wear out quickly. And if you need to accelerate quickly in the rain, like entering a fast road from a parking lot, the truck just goes -- you don't have to worry about spinning your rear wheels as you might in RWD. You never have to ask yourself "should I put it in 4WD or not" -- it already is in 4WD.
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Exactly, once you go AWD you never go back.
 
DaveK22 said:
I basically was wondering how people feel about not being to switch from RWD to 4WD. About all the moving parts, all the time, tight turning, etc.
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My V8 has a tighter turning radius than my '95 Pathfinder which is a MUCH smaller truck.

It drives better, is more solid, and feels much more planted.

If you get a V8 Sport or Limited, they also have the tow package which includes bigger brakes. Even if you arent going to tow, that means more stopping power. The V8 is also a 5 speed transmission, whereas the V6 is only a 4 speed.

So many upsides to the V8s, imo, when you compare the downsides.


Keep up with your engine and driveline maintenance, and you'll be fine.
 
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haute said:
my v8 has a tighter turning radius than my '95 pathfinder which is a much smaller truck.

It drives better, is more solid, and feels much more planted.

If you get a v8 sport or limited, they also have the tow package which includes bigger brakes. Even if you arent going to tow, that means more stopping power. The v8 is also a 5 speed transmission, whereas the v6 is only a 4 speed.

so many upsides to the v8s, imo, when you compare the downsides.


Keep up with your engine and driveline maintenance, and you'll be fine.
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what?!?!
 
MikeInNH said:
Having that maturity problem again...I don't NEED a V8 to know I'm a man. When you become one let me know.
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Let's see which engine has a longer track record? Which engine is offered with the better transmission in all model years? Which engine has more torque? Which engine comes standard with better hitch? Which engine has a higher towing capacity? Which engine has better resale value? Which engine has more real world usable power?
 
Casper421 said:
What's your confusion?
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The V6 also has a 5 speed tranny.

Why is this thread still going? The V8 makes 25 more HP and 30 more ft-lbs. Sure, it makes the torque at 600 less RPM than the V6, but those power increases in HP and ft-lbs are negligible. Precisely why the V6 and V8 get similar MPG. We aren't talking about a small V6 versus a beast of a V8. They are nearly the same. End of story.
 
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xxaarraa said:
The V6 also has a 5 speed tranny.

Why is this thread still going? The V8 makes 25 more HP and 30 more ft-lbs. Sure, it makes the torque at 600 less RPM than the V6, but those power increases in HP and ft-lbs are negligible. Precisely why the V6 and V8 get similar MPG. We aren't talking about a small V6 versus a beast of a V8. They are nearly the same. End of story.
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Real world driving it makes a huge difference in power delivery. That's why so many Chevy guys had a hard time letting their Gen II small blocks go in favor of the LSx Gen III/IV because while the newer engines made more power, the power delivery made using the engine more difficult.

You see the EXACT same scenario in the 5th gen forums where the new v6 makes more power but feels sluggish when accelerating and towing. All the responses are "learn to drive this engine" or "they're happier when revved".

It seems obvious to me tht many 4Runner owners have never relied on their vehicles to do hard work.
 
rebelbowtie said:
Real world driving it makes a huge difference in power delivery. That's why so many Chevy guys had a hard time letting their Gen II small blocks go in favor of the LSx Gen III/IV because while the newer engines made more power, the power delivery made using the engine more difficult.

You see the EXACT same scenario in the 5th gen forums where the new v6 makes more power but feels sluggish when accelerating and towing. All the responses are "learn to drive this engine" or "they're happier when revved".

It seems obvious to me tht many 4Runner owners have never relied on their vehicles to do hard work.
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Dude. Numbers are numbers. The V8 makes peak HP at same RPM as the V6. It makes 30 ft-lbs more torque at 600 less RPM. Real world or imaginary world, 600 RPM is not world's apart. 25 HP and 30 ft-lbs, while nice, are not going to win you any races or make a "huge difference in power delivery" in a 4000lb vehicle.

There is a reason the 4.7 was discontinued. It's staring you in the face. Good night.
 
xxaarraa said:
Dude. Numbers are numbers. The V8 makes peak HP at same RPM as the V6. It makes 30 ft-lbs more torque at 600 less RPM. Real world or imaginary world, 600 RPM is not world's apart. 25 HP and 30 ft-lbs, while nice, are not going to win you any races or make a "huge difference in power delivery" in a 4000lb vehicle.

There is a reason the 4.7 was discontinued. It's staring you in the face. Good night.
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Its obvious you haven't driven a V8 4th gen. Enough said!
 
Again you aren't looking at the torque curve, it's way flatter on the v8. Even in Toyota's own PDF it shows 270 torques on tap right off idle. I'm sorry you bought the vehicle with the wrong engine and regret it but wake up and smell the facts.

You know why the 4Runner isn't offered with a v8 anymore? Because of trending fuel prices and the need to compete with CUV's. People don't buy SUV's for work anymore and the market has no place for a body on frame v8 SUV.

I guess IFS must be better in every way since SFA has gone pretty much the way of the dodo
 
xxaarraa said:
Dude. Numbers are numbers. The V8 makes peak HP at same RPM as the V6. It makes 30 ft-lbs more torque at 600 less RPM. Real world or imaginary world, 600 RPM is not world's apart. 25 HP and 30 ft-lbs, while nice, are not going to win you any races or make a "huge difference in power delivery" in a 4000lb vehicle.

There is a reason the 4.7 was discontinued. It's staring you in the face. Good night.
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38 ft-lbs more.

Engine & Performance

Base engine size: 4.7 L
Cam type: Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Cylinders: V8
Valves: 32
Valve timing: Variable
Torque: 320 ft-lbs. @ 3400 rpm
Horsepower: 270 hp @ 5400 rpm
Turning circle: 37.4 ft.

Base engine type: gas


Engine & Performance

Base engine size: 4.0 L
Cam type: Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Cylinders: V6
Valves: 24
Valve timing: Variable
Torque: 282 ft-lbs. @ 3800 rpm
Horsepower: 245 hp @ 5200 rpm
Turning circle: 37.4 ft.

Base engine type: gas

400 RPM in this case is apples to oranges - the difference in two more cylinders.

I dont know the gearing involved, but yes, 40 ft-lbs measured at the engine can translate to a significant amount more torque at the wheel.
 
rebelbowtie said:
Sounds to me you experienced lift off oversteer, you should have not let off the accelerator.
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I was starting to slide and thought maybe scrubbing off a bit of speed would help, so I started to decelerate. Did it probably have the effect of accelerating the slide?
 
Flyer said:
I was starting to slide and thought maybe scrubbing off a bit of speed would help, so I started to decelerate. Did it probably have the effect of accelerating the slide?
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It's possible, this effects many FWD biased cars. Lifting off unloads the rear suspension and you slide.
 
I think you are right. If I had kept on it, I may have fishtailed mildly. As it stood, I was practically doing opposing 180s...and it started badly the moment I let off the gas.
 
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