Awd vs 4 hi vs 4 lo

[Bananatank]

So ik there are numerous threads on the internet and ive read just about all i can find and I'm still arguing with one of my jeep buddies about this. Okay so i think i finally get how the awd works it sees which tires need more torque and auto adjust it to that tire its more of an automatic thing unlike 4hi n 4 lo is that correct? When I'm in 4 hi are all four wheels going to be turning or say one that would be in the air spinning would auto brake then send more torque to a different tire with actual traction, one thats not slipping? In 4 lo are all four turning or just three wheels turning? Is my 06 h3 lux a true 4 wd is what I'm asking. (im sorry for all you hummer experts out there who have read this question one too many times) thanks guys try not to be too hard on my stupid question lol just trying to clarify

 

[derian06]

So ik there are numerous threads on the internet and ive read just about all i can find and I'm still arguing with one of my jeep buddies about this. Okay so i think i finally get how the awd works it sees which tires need more torque and auto adjust it to that tire its more of an automatic thing unlike 4hi n 4 lo is that correct? When I'm in 4 hi are all four wheels going to be turning or say one that would be in the air spinning would auto brake then send more torque to a different tire with actual traction, one thats not slipping? In 4 lo are all four turning or just three wheels turning? Is my 06 h3 lux a true 4 wd is what I'm asking. (im sorry for all you hummer experts out there who have read this question one too many times) thanks guys try not to be too hard on my stupid question lol just trying to clarify

I may be wrong, but we have full time 4wd not AWD we have 60% power in the back and 40% in the front. 4hi changes it to 50/50 then 4lo just lowers the gearing so you have more power for things like climbing. Traction control is what lessens power to certain wheels to stop sliding/slipping.

But I may be wrong. Some other, smarter forum member will probably chime in.

 

[Ghostbuster]

You guys are funny.
AWD means all four wheels have power all the time. Guess what... you can't put you h3 in two wheel drive can you?

H3s have power going to all four wheels.. all the time. It is an AWD vehicle.

To back this up...

there is a yellow sticker under your hood that says "Caution ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE: Do not test this vehicle on a 2-wheel drive dynamometer."

Derian,

I'm pretty sure 4hi is not 50/50... 4low is probably 50/50.

We drive around everyday in 4hi.

EDIT:

 

[amrg]

I'm pretty sure 4hi is not 50/50... 4low is probably 50/50.

We drive around everyday in 4hi.

4HI is 50/50 split, some ppl refer to it as JEEP mode. 4 street mode can varry the power up to 0/100 - 100/0 power split, you can have ALL power go to the tire with least grip (thats why in 4HI aka JEEP mode, you LOCK the transfer case so that only 50% of the power is lost if one of the tires is freely spinning - although you have 50% power on each front and rear axle, the diffs will still route power on that axle to the free spinning tire hence the need for lockers to lock the axle to get both wheels on that axle spinning together)

4LO lets the transfer case put you into lower gearing. Adv models have a 4:1 while non adv models are less.

 

[Ghostbuster]

4hi is 40/60 (daily driving)

4hi lock is 50/50

 

[Steve #1]

I may be wrong, but we have full time 4wd not AWD we have 60% power in the back and 40% in the front. 4hi changes it to 50/50 then 4lo just lowers the gearing so you have more power for things like climbing. Traction control is what lessens power to certain wheels to stop sliding/slipping.

But I may be wrong. Some other, smarter forum member will probably chime in.

For the most part this is correct with the addition that in Full time 4WD the center differential can change the power ratio going to the front or rear up to (don't quote me on the %) 20/80 or 80/20.

You guys are funny.
AWD means all four wheels have power all the time. Guess what... you can't put you h3 in two wheel drive can you?

H3s have power going to all four wheels.. all the time. It is an AWD vehicle.

To back this up...

there is a yellow sticker under your hood that says "Caution ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE: Do not test this vehicle on a 2-wheel drive dynamometer."

Derian,

I'm pretty sure 4hi is not 50/50... 4low is probably 50/50.

We drive around everyday in 4hi.

According to the Society of Automotive Engineers, the H3 is Full time 4WD. An AWD vehicle typically does not send power to all wheels unless the system determines it is necessary. AWD vehicles do not have low range transfer cases.

These are the basic rules. These days there are technological changes that continually blur the lines, but the H3 is about as pure of a full time 4WD as you can get.

 

[Steve #1]

So ik there are numerous threads on the internet and ive read just about all i can find and I'm still arguing with one of my jeep buddies about this. Okay so i think i finally get how the awd works it sees which tires need more torque and auto adjust it to that tire its more of an automatic thing unlike 4hi n 4 lo is that correct? When I'm in 4 hi are all four wheels going to be turning or say one that would be in the air spinning would auto brake then send more torque to a different tire with actual traction, one thats not slipping? In 4 lo are all four turning or just three wheels turning? Is my 06 h3 lux a true 4 wd is what I'm asking. (im sorry for all you hummer experts out there who have read this question one too many times) thanks guys try not to be too hard on my stupid question lol just trying to clarify

Don't think in terms of wheels, think front and rear. In 4HI unlocked the center differential (in the transfer case) is unlocked. In normal conditions 60% of the power goes to the rear and 40% to the front. In 4HI Locked the center differential is locked and the power is split 50/50 regardless of driving conditions. Power will be sent to the front wheel with the most traction and the rear wheel with the most traction. This is the point that traction control comes in. If one wheel front or rear is turning faster than the other wheel on that axle the system will brake the wheel that is turning faster which will transfer power to the wheel turning slower. 4LO is working in the same way one front wheel and one rear wheel getting power. This is assuming you don't have a locking differential in the front or rear.

Your H3 is a true 4WD as much as any basic 4WD Jeep is a true 4WD. The H3 is more of a true 4WD if you consider that most Jeeps are only part time 4WD. I also don't believe Jeep has ever offered a locking front differential which was available in the H3 which with locking front and rear is about as true 4WD as you can get.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

awd - there's a differential between the front and rear that allows power to split up to 40% front.
4hi - locks the front and rear driveshafts to spin the same speed all the time 50/50 split
4lo - reduces the number of times the driveshaft turns, thus effectively giving you more power to climb rocks

How it works in real life.
AWD, allows you do to do great power slides on snow and ice.
4hi gives you stability in snow and ice
4lo gives you the ability to crawl over rocks and such - and minimize breakage.

forget about the braking stuff, that's an entirely different system that is on or off depending on the switch on your dash or if you're in 4lo.

 

[SedonaBound]

... I also don't believe Jeep has ever offered a locking front differential which was available in the H3 which with locking front and rear is about as true 4WD as you can get.

The Wrangler Rubicon has locking F&R diffs, which I think began on the JK model in 07; before that the Rubi had only a rear locker. Otherwise, I agree with your description. Wranglers are actually 2WD with a manual 4WD ability that drives badly on dry pavement and is also likely to break something expensive.

 

[poweraidon]

Do you guys just put it in D or put in 1st gear when climbing or mudding?

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Do you guys just put it in D or put in 1st gear when climbing or mudding?

it depends.... about the only thing I do most every time is shut the stability control off so I don't cook the brakes

 

[Best4x4]

It's an AWD vehicle with a transfer case with a Low Range. Rover's and Jeep Grand Cherokee's (with Quadratrac) are the same way. A Subaru is an AWD vehicle also except it doesn't have a 2 speed transfer case so it's basically 4Hi all the time. Jeep Wrangler, Cherokee, or Liberty's are a Part Time systems.

 

[poweraidon]

With just trailing would I get more power from 4h and 1st gear? Or just put in 4h and D

 

[derian06]

With just trailing would I get more power from 4h and 1st gear? Or just put in 4h and D

4hi and 1st but you'll go really slow. If nothing is difficult I would just keep it in D, that way you can go up in speed without your rpm's going up to like 5000

 

[Bananatank]

Thanks guys i think i got everything now. I've never really done it, but is there like a button to press to turn off trac control? I've never done it or thought about doing it so i figured id ask. And in mud i should go 4 hi locked in 1st? Thats what you usually do power aid and derian?

 

[poweraidon]

Thanks guys i think i got everything now. I've never really done it, but is there like a button to press to turn off trac control? I've never done it or thought about doing it so i figured id ask. And in mud i should go 4 hi locked in 1st? Thats what you usually do power aid and derian?

For serious mud I put it in 4l locked and I just put in D but might start putting it in 1st now... But most of the time I don't even take it out of the regular driving mode

 

[derian06]

To turn off traction control you hold down

The button all the way on the right

 

[Steve #1]

Thanks guys i think i got everything now. I've never really done it, but is there like a button to press to turn off trac control? I've never done it or thought about doing it so i figured id ask. And in mud i should go 4 hi locked in 1st? Thats what you usually do power aid and derian?

Pressing the break pedal turns off traction control. There is not a button to turn it off even if you owners manual says otherwise. If it does, it's wrong. Done! End of story!

 

[Steve #1]

To turn off traction control you hold down
The button all the way on the right

Guess I wasn't quick enough. That button all the way to the right is Stability Control not Traction Control but you do want to turn off Stability Control in mud.

 

[Peep]

A lot of good info here. Good read

 

[derian06]

Guess I wasn't quick enough. That button all the way to the right is Stability Control not Traction Control but you do want to turn off Stability Control in mud.

I must of mixed those two up. Thanks for the clarification.