AWD questions

[Delta Dog]

Obviously I am a newb with this AWD stuff but I am contemplating a 2007 Mountaineer with the AWD.

Can you shut off the AWD?
Does it kill the mileage with a 4.6L engine when it is in AWD?
And.......do you think it adds any value to have AWD in the south (Alabama Gulf Coast) if it is just gonna be the wifes daily driver......all on road? We do have the 2nd highest annual rain fall of any city in the US.

Any other issues, concerns or opinion on this AWD stuff is certainly welcome!!

Thanks!!!!!!!

 

[michael loibl]

Cant shut off the AWD.
Very little mileage difference relative to the exlorer automatic 4wd system, but maybe 1 - 2 MPG worse than same truck with 2WD.

I personally wouldnt get the AWD if similarly equipt 2WD models were availible in your area for 1000- 2000 dollars cheaper. Doesnt help much without snow or off roading in your future.

 

[aaronajb1981]

I agree with ^^ because of where you live.

if not i dont thinkg its "all" wheel drive and its actually "an "auto" so it switches into 4wd when the rears are slipping. This is how it was on my 06 ex. It may be different for the mounty though

 

[my pos mounty]

Can you shut off the AWD?
Does it kill the mileage with a 4.6L engine when it is in AWD?

A true AWD system is always on, it can not be controlled by the onboard computer or driver in any way. The transfercase in the AWD system is very different from an "auto" 4 WD. 4WD uses an electric clutch to automatically engage the front differential, the AWD system has no clutch and is always sending power to the front.
It will lower your mileage if it really is an AWD system, but not by leaps and bounds..perhaps a mile or 2 per gallon.
I agree with the other posters, an AWD system is certainly overkill for the Gulfcoast region where snow is not a regular event. I suggest going with the 2WD truck if it is going to be a daily driver for the wife, unless you need to drive through swamps and mud.

 

[Delta Dog]

Well........I committed to buying the AWD Mountaineer. I guess I will just have to take it out in the woods/swamp and try that AWD out.

According to the MFG stickers the mpg for the 4.6L 2WD is 15/21 and the AWD is 14/20........not too much of a loss with the AWD.

Thanks to all for the information and opinions but this was just too good a deal to pass up...........besides, 2WD are hard to come by..........only about 2 out of every 10 on the internet are 2WD...........and they were 1-3K more expensive compared to similarly outfited AWD's.........seriously!!!! That seems backwards........but true for most all the ones I found on AutoTrader and E-bay!!!

 

[Jon04CTSV]

AWD system has no clutch and is always sending power to the front.

I've got a '08 V8 AWD. I can actually hear something kick in up front and feel more vibration during slippery conditions... So if it's always sending power to all 4 wheels, what am I experiencing?

 

[Full Force]

I've got a '08 V8 AWD. I can actually hear something kick in up front and feel more vibration during slippery conditions... So if it's always sending power to all 4 wheels, what am I experiencing?

traction control....

As stated The AWD is always engaged.

 

[my pos mounty]

I've got a '08 V8 AWD. I can actually hear something kick in up front and feel more vibration during slippery conditions... So if it's always sending power to all 4 wheels, what am I experiencing?

What I actually said was a TRUE AWD system has no clutch, and that is correct. The AWD transfercase is quite different from what you have, Jon04CTSV. You have electronic controls, electronic clutch, driver input. True AWD systems have none of this. It is Always on, not electronically controlled and has 0 driver input capabilities.
However it seems that Ford is mis-labeling their newest version of "traction control" or Auto 4WD as an AWD. It know that there is a dash light that lights up as "AWD", but it isn't true. I suspect when that light is indicating AWD, its actually in 4HI.

 

[stuartr]

My 08 mounty is "AWD" it is a 4.0 and I think the 4.6 the AWD works different. I believe the 4.6 does kick in and out. If I understand correctly. But I am not sure about the 4.0 it doesn't have a AWD light but it does have the trac control system though. My 02 mount doesn't have trac control so does it run all the time? I thought the awd kicked out at 35mph but after some reading on here I have been told that it runs all the time. That is completely diff. than what I was thinking, is that correct? Or is the AWD more of a auto
4WD system than a true awd?

STU

 

[my pos mounty]

My 08 mounty is "AWD" it is a 4.0 and I think the 4.6 the AWD works different. I believe the 4.6 does kick in and out. If I understand correctly. But I am not sure about the 4.0 it doesn't have a AWD light but it does have the trac control system though. My 02 mount doesn't have trac control so does it run all the time? I thought the awd kicked out at 35mph but after some reading on here I have been told that it runs all the time. That is completely diff. than what I was thinking, is that correct? Or is the AWD more of a auto
4WD system than a true awd?

STU

If it has a traction control system, it definately is not an AWD truck. All Wheel Drive transfercases have 0 electronics, none whatsoever. It can not be controlled, or shut off. Its all mechanical and fluid dynamics at work. Picture an input shaft (from transmission) mated to a viscous coupling with a chain around the outside of the viscous coupling driving the front output shaft. The rear output shaft is on the opposite end of the viscous coupling from the input shaft. When you need to have "slippage" due to cornering the viscous coupling will slip a little to make that possible. Just as the differential allows diiferent speeds at both axles, the transfercase has to do it as well, just not on that scale.
So, if you have ANY type of control over the transfercase function via a switch, you do not have AWD. If you look at your transfercase and see a wiring harness, (and it is not for a speed sensor) you do not have AWD.

 

[DavidEBSmith]

My 08 mounty is "AWD" it is a 4.0 and I think the 4.6 the AWD works different.

If you believe this 2006 article from Ford, yes.

 

[Jon04CTSV]

traction control....

As stated The AWD is always engaged.

It's not the traction control... I know what that feels like.

From Ford's media site: http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=24795

The third type is the on-demand system. An on-demand system is always driving one axle and then drives the other axle as conditions demand. In the case of the Ford Fusion or Ford Edge, the front axle is the primary drive axle. For the Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer, the rear axle is the primary drive axle.

My interpretation of this is that it's usually RWD until it needs to send power to the front, which would explain why I can feel and hear something when I push it in the snow.

 

[my pos mounty]

Its your "Ford Hybrid AWD/auto 4wd" system that you feel/hear kicking in. I say its a hybrid with the auto4WD system (or tourqe on demand). Its the same thing with bells and whistles and a computer added to it. Either way its just a "high tech" traction control system.

 

[stuartr]

Is that just in the V8? The 6 runs all the time right?

STU