Assuming you are talking about 4wd lock and 4wd low, here is the difference. 4wd lock is a four-wheel drive that is locked in and cannot be disengaged. 4wd low is a four-wheel drive that can be disengaged and is used for low-speed situations such as off-roading.
When to use 4WD High vs. low?
Where can I Drive in 4WD?
- Rocky, uneven surfaces
- Deep snow tracks
- Deep mud
- Thick loose sand
- Steep, uneven declines
- Steep, uneven inclines
Is 4WD Lock the same as 4wd high?
when you engage 4WD LOCK, it engages the front axle, and locks the speed of the rear axle to the speed of the front axle. When you spin it to 4WD LOW, it keeps the front and rear axle locked together, but engages a 2.72:1 gear reduction, putting more torque to the ground.
What is the difference between 2WD and AWD?
What AWD does, however, is reduce the tractive effort at each wheel for any given throttle input. In other words - AWD makes it more likely you’ll be able to maintain traction in slippery conditions where equivalent 2WD system would be spinning their tits off like a pole dancer on crack.
How fast can you Drive in 4WD High?
The facts about 4-High: 4-High allows your vehicle to drive at fast speeds (manufacturers often recommend no faster than 55mph) while power is sent to all four wheels providing your car with better traction than 2-wheel drive. Depending on the application, most drivers will use 4-High more regularly than 4-Low. Click to see full answer.
Should I use 4WD Lock or low?
Without an Auto setting, 4WD High is what you'd use in any situation that's low-traction but relatively high-speed—a dirt road or snowy paved road. 4WD Low is strictly for slow off-roading or places where torque multiplication would really help you out (like deep sand).16-Nov-2021
Is it bad to drive in 4WD lock?
Vehicles can go up to highway speeds in 4WD lock, but this may be unnecessary or dangerous given the road conditions. Due to the unfavorable terrain and conditions, it is better to go in between 25 to 40 mph in 4WD to arrive safely at the desired destination.17-May-2021
What is 4 wheel lock used for?
Locking Differentials Four-wheel drive locks the speed of the front and rear axles together but cannot lock the speed of the wheels on that axle together. So, since torque follows the path of least resistance, it causes the wheels with the least traction on both axles to spin.19-Jun-2018
What's the difference between 4WD Auto and 4WD Lock?
4 Hi is your locked 4 wd. Used in constant slippery conditions, never on dry pavement, off road at higher speeds or at highway speeds during snow, etc. 4 Auto can be ran in any condition, but is never really locked in 4wd. Use this anytime, even on dry pavement.07-Aug-2019
Is 4WD Low good for snow?
Car and Driver notes that 4WD is not meant to be used all the time. It's only for certain road types, including rugged terrain and off-roading, as well as slippery conditions, like snow or mud. Otherwise, 4WD vehicles should be driven in two-wheel drive, according to Car and Driver.
How fast can you drive in 4x4 low?
So how fast can you drive in 4×4 low? Driving speed in 4×4 low should never exceed 10mph since the surface conditions are usually low traction, rocky, steep, and uneven surfaces that require low-speed control. 10mph is the maximum recommended speed to drive in low range on technical off-road tracks.
What 4WD setting for snow?
Most automakers suggest keeping the speed at 55 MPH or less. With 4H, you gain more traction on icy, snowy, muddy, and rocky roads. For instance, you might want to shift into 4H if you're driving on a snow-covered road that leads to a ski resort. Typically, you'll switch to 4H mode more often than 4L mode.14-Jan-2019
Should I use AWD lock in snow?
AWD Lock. ... Instead of waiting for wheelspin or some other trigger to engage maximum grip, using the Lock mode tells the AWD system that maximum grip is required, right away. Use it when driving through deep snow, slippery mud, or when climbing a steep and slippery hill.26-Mar-2018
How fast can u drive in 4x4 high?
So, how fast can you drive in 4×4 high? 55 MPH is the fastest you should drive in when using 4×4 high. 55 miles per hour is the “speed limit”. Driving beyond this speed could damage your 4×4 system.03-Feb-2022
What Does 4WD lock mean Jeep Compass?
Part-time 4x4 systems lock the front and rear axles together so the front and rear wheels turn at the same speed. ... 4x4 part-time systems don't use a center differential, so the front and rear wheel axles are locked together.
What Does 4WD lock mean Mitsubishi Outlander?
For driving in particularly challenging conditions, such as snow, the driver can select “4WD Lock” mode. In Lock mode, the system still apportions front and rear torque automatically, but enables greater power transfer to the rear wheels. In dry conditions, 4WD Lock mode places priority on performance.
What is high lock?
High security locks are designed to provide a greater level of protection against the primary methods of attack that are employed by criminals, saboteurs, and spies – both outside of a protected area and from within by employees, service personnel, or those who may have or gain access to one or more locks.
What gear should I use when crossing an obstacle?
Generally, if you cannot engage 4-Hi 2nd or 3rd gear to cross an obstacle or if you feel the obstacle will place too much mechanical stress on your vehicle then you are better off engaging 4-lo and rather take it slow and steady. “As slow as possible, as fast as necessary”.
What is a 4Lo?
Low-range or 4-Lo is a very powerful function of a 4WD and allows you to accomplish feats no 2WD ever could. You engage low-range to get you through soft sand, over tall sand dunes, up steep hills and down difficult mountain tracks.
When to use 4 lo?
As mentioned earlier, 4-Lo is used only when you require optimum traction and absolute maximum power. This is only to be engaged when the terrain is really difficult and driving conditions forces you to lower your speed and gear selection down to 1st or 2nd gear.
How fast can you go in low range?
Low range is generally for slow-going so do not use it for high-speed driving on any surface. In fact, do not use low range at speeds faster than 40 mph as a general rule. With that being said, you will not even be able to travel fast enough to keep up with the slowest highway traffic.
Why is lower gearing better for 4x4?
The lower gearing also improves your 4×4’s capabilities because it uses the vehicles engine braking, which helps to control your progress and speed going downhill. This allows for more controlled handling without placing all the stress on the brakes alone.
How many mpg can you get on a 4x4?
If the driving conditions allow you to drive faster without risking damage to your 4×4 and you can safely go over 15 mpg, you can then confidently switch back to 4-High without any risk. Always ensure you stop first before engaging 4-Lo and slow down before reverting back to 4-Hi.
What is 3rd gear?
3rd Gear. Apart from the above mentioned, your risk of causing major damage to the transfer case, gearbox, drive-train or engine is substantially increased. That is because most vehicles are designed to drive 4-Lo for short periods through difficult terrain or obstacles. Not for overly-extended periods at high revs.
What is 4WD low?
If 4WD High is for higher speeds, think of 4WD Low for your low-speed traction needs. From deep snow, dry sand, fording streams to rock crawling or mudding, or pulling a boat out of the water, 4 Low should get you out of it. The “low” is serious, as you need to keep it below 15 miles per hour. Also, this isn’t the mode for ice. The slippery surface, plus huge torque to the wheels, means you’ll be going nowhere.
How do differentials work in cars?
Differentials make the left and right wheels spin equally when accelerating in a straight line, but also let the wheels rotate at slightly different speeds when needed, such as during a corner.
Why does a truck keep moving?
The basic idea is that if one or more wheels spin due to slipping or leaving the ground, the truck keeps moving because the other wheels have power. Modern work trucks and off-road-ready SUVs have 4WD to conquer the washed-out trails and massive craters at job sites.
What is 4WD in trucking?
In its simplest definition, four-wheel drive (4WD) is what it sounds like: a vehicle delivering power to all four wheels. With twice as many wheels getting power compared to two-wheel drive, the tires all divide the task of traction so your truck can tackle hazardous conditions, like deep snow or sand.
What is a limited slip differential?
This is called a “limited-slip” differential, as it limits the speed difference between the left and right sides. A locking differential forces both wheels to rotate equally. This has the advantage of sending all torque to whichever tire has grip, but causes excessive tire wear if permanently locked.
What is four wheel drive?
However, true four-wheel drive is a mechanical linkage between the transmission and the axles.
When to use 2WD or 4WD?
Use 2WD in most daily driving, nice weather, and good road conditions. Switch to 4WD Auto when it rains, or on gravel roads, or if a bunch of marbles spilled on the ground, sitcom-style. If your vehicle starts with the 4WD Auto setting, use it as your everyday setting.

What Is Four Wheel Drive?
4WD High vs. Low: What Do They Mean?
- We’ve been conditioned from video games, microwaves and hair dryers that “high” equals more power, so “4 High” should mean awesome off-roading capability, right? By that logic, you might use 4 Low in benign conditions, and 4 High for a deep muddy road. That’s actually the oppositeof what truck manufacturers want you to do. The difference between 4 high and 4 low depends on …
What About 4WD Auto?
- A relatively new feature, the 4WD Auto setting uses the vehicle’s sensors and traction-control system to best determine when to use 4WD. This setting offers more traction than 2WD, but isn’t as rigorous as 4WD High or 4WD Low. In the 2WD setting, the truck transmits power only to the rear wheels. This saves you gas money by not spinning all that ex...
AWD vs. 4WD
- Most vehicles have four wheels, so all-wheel drive (AWD) is the same thing as four-wheel drive, right? Not quite. AWD is usually a full-time system where you don’t need to make selections for different modes or speeds. AWD uses wheel speed sensors to detect when a wheel has lost grip, and complex viscous coupling or clutch systems to send torque to the wheels with traction. A c…