Some questions about 4x4 Vs. AWD, first winter driving my XLT.

[kdoggy]

I picked up a 2002 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 over the summer. We are about to get some snow storms here and this will be my FIRST time not trying an all time all wheel drive car. Previous to this, I had an AWD Mitsubishi Eclipse Turbo.

I remember having a Ford Ranger years back and rear wheel drive SUCKED on ice.

What do I need to know about driving this XLT in the winter?

I have the following modes:

4x4 Auto
4x4 Hi
4x4 Lo


Can someone explain Auto to me? If that like AWD or no?

Can I drive with say 4x4 hi on without damaging the transfer case or transmission if I'm worried about hitting an icy patch on the road?

Any info on how I'm suppose to drive this in the winter would be GREAT!

 

[JohnnyO]

The 4-Auto position is really 2wd until the computer detects the rear wheel(s) spinning, then the front axle kicks in.

Posted elsewhere:
(Disclaimer: I am a better bad weather driver than 99% of the population. The below is partly why.)

Yes, only lock in in 4-Hi if you are off-road in dirt or driving on-road in a whole lot of snow. Frankly I don't care for the way 4-Auto and the Stability Control jerks me around in snow. If there's a lot of white stuff I just lock it in 4-Hi, turn off the Stability Control, and drive it myself unless I'm on a snow-covered highway going 45 or so.

IF this is your first 4x4 and you are not familiar with driving one in snow, keep these things in mind:
1. When you are turning on a snow covered road, it will want to go straighter than what you have the steering wheel turned for. The front tires, because they are turned, will break traction long before the rear tires will. This will cause the vehicle to "push", as the NASCAR drivers say. Go easy on the gas in turns.
2. 4x4's GO better in snow than regular cars but they do not necessarily STOP or TURN any better. It is easy to become overconfident and this is why you will sometimes see more 4x4's in the ditch than regular cars. 4wd works by letting you power your way out of problems, however if you are already going too fast, it won't help and now you've got more problems...like guardrails, utility poles, trees, oncoming traffic, or parked cars.
3. Tires matter. Dedicated snow tires are best, and all-terrains are better than all-seasons or mud-terrains. The all-season tires that came on my Sport Trac new were utterly awful and downright dangerous in snow. After the first winter with the ABS working overtime, I got all-terrains before the second winter. Much better. I run Blizzaks on my wife's Taurus in the winter and it goes as well in snow as my truck and turns and stops better.
4. Ice. Not much you can do except brace yourself for impact. Dedicated snow and ice tires help a little bit.

Don't worry about using 4-Low unless you're pulling out someone who is stuck. That said, it is good to lock it in 4-Hi and 4-Low once every few months and drive it straight ahead for 20 feet or so just to exercise the shift motor and transfer case. Since you got a used one, I advise changing the lube in the transfer case, it takes regular Mercon ATF, and get the transmission flushed too.

Can I drive with say 4x4 hi on without damaging the transfer case or transmission if I'm worried about hitting an icy patch on the road?

No, in that case leave it in 4-Auto. Only lock it in 4-Hi if the whole road is covered in snow.

 

[kdoggy]

Well what makes an AWD Mountaineer AWD over say a Ford Explorer XLT being AUTO 4x4?

Can you swap out the parts? I'd much rather have a AWD then a rear wheel drive that kicks in when I'm already sliding into a ditch or a utility pole!

 

[albi1cnobi1]

The difference is a different transfer case. The V8's came with AWD (Borg Warner 4404), which is full time front /rear power split. The V6's came with A4WD (Borg Warner 4405) which is actually pretty fast to detect the wheel spin. I had it on my 99 Mountaineer and it was very stable and responsive in the ice and snow. Never had any loss of control with the A4WD. And to answer your question, no you can't swap them. The transfer cases have different bolt patterns as a result of the V6's and V8's being mated to different trannies.