Alan Lloys
Member
- Joined
- October 12, 2010
- Messages
- 37
- Reaction score
- 2
- City, State
- Wisconsin
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2008 Mountaineer V8
Sorry to bring this up again.
I have read the all old threads and I feel pretty confident about my knowledge of the difference between an automatic 4x4 system (as used in the explorers) and an AWD system (often using a viscous coupling system as in gen 3 Mountaineers).
I had the gen 3 Mountaineer and know how the system worked. It was said to have about 35% torque on fronts and 65 % on rears in normal. When the rears slip and heat the viscous coupling they would lock and give 50%/50%.
I also understand the explorer automatic 4x4 system is giving approx. 5% front and 95% rears via an electric clutch. If rears slip, the clutch will engage in increments up to a full lock which gives 50%/50% torque spread. I even read through the patents on this.
Where my confusion comes up is that I believe the gen 4 Explorer and the Mountaineer is using the same system (minus the low range on Mountaineer). However Explorers are labeled as 4x4 while the Mountaineers are sold as AWD.
I know that the Mountaineer is no longer using a viscous coupling as I do not see a transfer case and I also have the option of locking 4x4 via the info center. This to me tells me that it is the electric version.
So I guess I have two possible explanations.
1) Ford is using the AWD description incorrectly on the Mountaineer as it is really automatic 4x4 (unless you call 5%/95% spread AWD) or
2) the Mountaineer is programmed differently to have a higher percentage of torque on the fronts before wheel slip is detected. (in ex. 35%/65%).
Anybody out there knows which it is (or if it is something completely different) ?
Again sorry for the long post. I just wanted to summarize everything I found out reading the old posts. However I did not find anything about how the same mechanical components can both be 4x4 and AWD dependent on which badge is on the vehicle.
I have read the all old threads and I feel pretty confident about my knowledge of the difference between an automatic 4x4 system (as used in the explorers) and an AWD system (often using a viscous coupling system as in gen 3 Mountaineers).
I had the gen 3 Mountaineer and know how the system worked. It was said to have about 35% torque on fronts and 65 % on rears in normal. When the rears slip and heat the viscous coupling they would lock and give 50%/50%.
I also understand the explorer automatic 4x4 system is giving approx. 5% front and 95% rears via an electric clutch. If rears slip, the clutch will engage in increments up to a full lock which gives 50%/50% torque spread. I even read through the patents on this.
Where my confusion comes up is that I believe the gen 4 Explorer and the Mountaineer is using the same system (minus the low range on Mountaineer). However Explorers are labeled as 4x4 while the Mountaineers are sold as AWD.
I know that the Mountaineer is no longer using a viscous coupling as I do not see a transfer case and I also have the option of locking 4x4 via the info center. This to me tells me that it is the electric version.
So I guess I have two possible explanations.
1) Ford is using the AWD description incorrectly on the Mountaineer as it is really automatic 4x4 (unless you call 5%/95% spread AWD) or
2) the Mountaineer is programmed differently to have a higher percentage of torque on the fronts before wheel slip is detected. (in ex. 35%/65%).
Anybody out there knows which it is (or if it is something completely different) ?
Again sorry for the long post. I just wanted to summarize everything I found out reading the old posts. However I did not find anything about how the same mechanical components can both be 4x4 and AWD dependent on which badge is on the vehicle.