What is the difference of fuel consumption between 4wd and 2wd?

M

Mike

Guest

• Feb 5, 2004

• #1

I now have driven my "new" 92 Frontera (2.4i) for few days now. (love it!)
Actually i have driven most of a tank (80l) of gasoline (maybe some 30l
left) and got some 570 + km on the trip.

There were some 2wd driving on main roads and quite lot of driving 4wd on
city. Allso when i was driving the car home after i bought it (150 km) in a
blizzard, i used a 4wd.

I know that 4wd will take more juice that 2wd, but question is, how mutch?

I never have had this kin of car so i have no idea how mutch 4wd incerases
fuel consumption....

Really would appreciate comments!!
Cheers!

Mike

 

H

Huw

Guest

• Feb 5, 2004

• #2

"Mike" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I now have driven my "new" 92 Frontera (2.4i) for few days now.
(love it!)
> Actually i have driven most of a tank (80l) of gasoline (maybe some
30l
> left) and got some 570 + km on the trip.
>
> There were some 2wd driving on main roads and quite lot of driving
4wd on
> city. Allso when i was driving the car home after i bought it (150
km) in a
> blizzard, i used a 4wd.
>
> I know that 4wd will take more juice that 2wd, but question is, how
mutch?
>
> I never have had this kin of car so i have no idea how mutch 4wd
incerases
> fuel consumption....
>
> Really would appreciate comments!!
> Cheers!
>
> Mike
>
>

Fuel consumption will be the least of your costs if you continue
driving with the front axle engaged. It is only meant to be used in
four wheel drive mode when the conditions are slippery. As in
'slippery and got stuck' type of slippery.
I travelled extensively in the flooded Swansea valley area yesterday,
yet never encountered a condition that warranted the use of four wheel
drive. The height of my vehicle prevented both the engine and myself
from being drowned though.

This type of vehicle will suffer expensive driveline wear and
component failure if you continue to use it in the way you describe.
You have been warned ;-)

Huw


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S

Scott W.

Guest

• Feb 6, 2004

• #3

> This type of vehicle will suffer expensive driveline wear and
> component failure if you continue to use it in the way you describe.
> You have been warned ;-)
>
> Huw
>
Just to elaborate, when you put it in 4WD there is no diff between the
front and rear sets of wheels.

If you drive on Tarmac there will be a slight difference in the distance
travelled by the front and rear wheels, however because they are 'locked'
together there is nothing to take up this difference in wheel rotation. For
example, if you turn a corner the rear wheels follow a shorther path then
the front. Therefore they rotate less times than the front, the drive shaft
has to turn less times than the front driveshaft, BUT the two drive shafts
are locked together in 4WD. Therefore the wheels slip to release the
transmission wind-up tension if you're driving in slippery conditions. This
doesn't happen on tarmac because it isn't slippery enough, so the driveshaft
eventually breaks, or the 4WD connection breaks.

 

T

TMC

Guest

• Feb 6, 2004

• #4

"Mike" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I now have driven my "new" 92 Frontera (2.4i) for few days now. (love it!)
> Actually i have driven most of a tank (80l) of gasoline (maybe some 30l
> left) and got some 570 + km on the trip.
>
> There were some 2wd driving on main roads and quite lot of driving 4wd on
> city. Allso when i was driving the car home after i bought it (150 km) in
a
> blizzard, i used a 4wd.
>

Please be aware also that some 4 x 4s are designed for 4 wheel drive on
ordinary roads but most are not. So if some one tells you that he does it
with no problems he may be correct, but not if it is a Frontera

Tony

 

P

Pw

Guest

• Feb 7, 2004

• #5

> Please be aware also that some 4 x 4s are designed for 4 wheel drive on
> ordinary roads but most are not. So if some one tells you that he does it
> with no problems he may be correct, but not if it is a Frontera
>
> Tony

As the manual clearly states!

Pw

 

M

Mike

Guest

• Feb 7, 2004

• #6

Hi!

Thanks for your comments guys.

It is so that the winter in here (finland) is wery snowy and icey for 1/3 of
a year and there for most of the roads_Are_Really_Slippery and every place
is full of snow most time of the winter. This is why i used the 4wd so
often. (You should come here and test drive it... It is wonderful! It´s like
Alaska (= )

I do know about the windup (on a dry surface, tarmac or gravel) and that it
(Fronty or many other 4x4) is not ment to drive 4wd full time... I have done
some reading and studying about 4wd´s, obviously got lot to learn yet but
i´m getting there... I am not trying to brake technics... Trying to avoid
it...

But the question was the affect on fuel economy (?) while driving 2wd vs.
4wd. Now i guess that if you (like me) get a 4wd it is not huge issue. If
was, i´d bought a nifty Nissan Micra. But not...

So if you have any guess or knowlege, please share your wisdom (=

Your comments do give me some idea how to use my 4x4 in the future thow...
Thanks!

Mike

riving
"Scott W." <[email protected]> kirjoitti viestissä
news:%[email protected]...
>
> > This type of vehicle will suffer expensive driveline wear and
> > component failure if you continue to use it in the way you describe.
> > You have been warned ;-)
> >
> > Huw
> >
> Just to elaborate, when you put it in 4WD there is no diff between the
> front and rear sets of wheels.
>
> If you drive on Tarmac there will be a slight difference in the distance
> travelled by the front and rear wheels, however because they are 'locked'
> together there is nothing to take up this difference in wheel rotation.
For
> example, if you turn a corner the rear wheels follow a shorther path then
> the front. Therefore they rotate less times than the front, the drive
shaft
> has to turn less times than the front driveshaft, BUT the two drive shafts
> are locked together in 4WD. Therefore the wheels slip to release the
> transmission wind-up tension if you're driving in slippery conditions.
This
> doesn't happen on tarmac because it isn't slippery enough, so the
driveshaft
> eventually breaks, or the 4WD connection breaks.
>
>

 

M

Mike

Guest

• Feb 7, 2004

• #7

Hi!

Like i answered above, i do know that i cannot drive 4wd all the time on
tarmac or tight pack gravel. It does read on the manual. But the
circumstances in here (finland again) at winter are quite harsh. Why do you
think all the european car manufacturers test their cars in finnish
lappland...

Actually it has been wonderful to feel the 4wd on snow and ice... Shame i
haven´t yet get to my summer cottage to try out some deeper snow (Or
not... I propably will need a tractor to get out from there)

Mike

...The question remains thow...


"Pw" <[email protected]> kirjoitti viestissä
news:[email protected]...
>
> > Please be aware also that some 4 x 4s are designed for 4 wheel drive on
> > ordinary roads but most are not. So if some one tells you that he does
it
> > with no problems he may be correct, but not if it is a Frontera
> >
> > Tony
>
> As the manual clearly states!
>
> Pw
>
>
>

 

M

Mike

Guest

• Feb 7, 2004

• #8

Here´s a good webcam link to take a peek on current weather on finnland...
If it is dark, its dark... If it has light you can see some
real_time_driving_weather. Just poke the place icon and watch the weather on
the road.

http://www.tieh.fi/alk/frames/kelikamerat-frame.html

Mike


"Scott W." <[email protected]> kirjoitti viestissä
news:%[email protected]...
>
> > This type of vehicle will suffer expensive driveline wear and
> > component failure if you continue to use it in the way you describe.
> > You have been warned ;-)
> >
> > Huw
> >
> Just to elaborate, when you put it in 4WD there is no diff between the
> front and rear sets of wheels.
>
> If you drive on Tarmac there will be a slight difference in the distance
> travelled by the front and rear wheels, however because they are 'locked'
> together there is nothing to take up this difference in wheel rotation.
For
> example, if you turn a corner the rear wheels follow a shorther path then
> the front. Therefore they rotate less times than the front, the drive
shaft
> has to turn less times than the front driveshaft, BUT the two drive shafts
> are locked together in 4WD. Therefore the wheels slip to release the
> transmission wind-up tension if you're driving in slippery conditions.
This
> doesn't happen on tarmac because it isn't slippery enough, so the
driveshaft
> eventually breaks, or the 4WD connection breaks.
>
>

 

P

Paul - xxx

Guest

• Feb 7, 2004

• #9

Mike posted ...

> I now have driven my "new" 92 Frontera (2.4i) for few days now. (love
> it!) Actually i have driven most of a tank (80l) of gasoline (maybe
> some 30l left) and got some 570 + km on the trip.
>
> There were some 2wd driving on main roads and quite lot of driving
> 4wd on city. Allso when i was driving the car home after i bought it
> (150 km) in a blizzard, i used a 4wd.
>
> I know that 4wd will take more juice that 2wd, but question is, how
> mutch?
>
> I never have had this kin of car so i have no idea how mutch 4wd
> incerases fuel consumption....
>
> Really would appreciate comments!!
> Cheers!
>
> Mike

Very little difference I think, maybe a mile a gallon I guess, though I've
never measured it accurately as I don't use 4wd (diff-lock on Discovery) on
tarmac. There's only a little extra drag on the system when using 4wd, you
still turn or push all the wheels along when in 2wd after all ..


--
Paul

 

H

Huw

Guest

• Feb 7, 2004

• #10

"Mike" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi!
>
> Thanks for your comments guys.
>
> It is so that the winter in here (finland) is wery snowy and icey
for 1/3 of
> a year and there for most of the roads_Are_Really_Slippery and every
place
> is full of snow most time of the winter. This is why i used the 4wd
so
> often. (You should come here and test drive it... It is wonderful!
It´s like
> Alaska (= )
>
> I do know about the windup (on a dry surface, tarmac or gravel) and
that it
> (Fronty or many other 4x4) is not ment to drive 4wd full time... I
have done
> some reading and studying about 4wd´s, obviously got lot to learn
yet but
> i´m getting there... I am not trying to brake technics... Trying to
avoid
> it...
>
> But the question was the affect on fuel economy (?) while driving
2wd vs.
> 4wd. Now i guess that if you (like me) get a 4wd it is not huge
issue. If
> was, i´d bought a nifty Nissan Micra. But not...
>
> So if you have any guess or knowlege, please share your wisdom (=
>
> Your comments do give me some idea how to use my 4x4 in the future
thow...
> Thanks!
>
> Mike

In the conditions described above it is likely that the actual
conditions and the low road speed will have much more effect than
whether the car is in two or four wheel drive mode.
In other words, there is likely to be no discernable difference other
than due to low gearing if used in low range.

Huw


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S

Simon Barr

Guest

• Feb 9, 2004

• #11

In article <[email protected]>, Paul - xxx wrote:
> Mike posted ...
>
>> I now have driven my "new" 92 Frontera (2.4i) for few days now. (love
>> it!) Actually i have driven most of a tank (80l) of gasoline (maybe
>> some 30l left) and got some 570 + km on the trip.
>>
>> There were some 2wd driving on main roads and quite lot of driving
>> 4wd on city. Allso when i was driving the car home after i bought it
>> (150 km) in a blizzard, i used a 4wd.
>>
>> I know that 4wd will take more juice that 2wd, but question is, how
>> mutch?
>>
>> I never have had this kin of car so i have no idea how mutch 4wd
>> incerases fuel consumption....
>>
>> Really would appreciate comments!!
>> Cheers!
>>
>> Mike
>
> Very little difference I think, maybe a mile a gallon I guess, though I've
> never measured it accurately as I don't use 4wd (diff-lock on Discovery) on
> tarmac. There's only a little extra drag on the system when using 4wd, you
> still turn or push all the wheels along when in 2wd after all ..
>
>

Am I right in thinking that you are under the impression your Disco is 2
wheel drive unless you engage the difflock? The Disco is a permanent 4x4,
with a centre difflock. Never engage the difflock on tarmac or you will
break something, it is meant for use on slippy mud, grass etc.

Or am I reading what you said wrong?


--
simon at sbarr dot demon dot co dot uk
Simon Barr.
'97 110 300Tdi.

 

P

Paul - xxx

Guest

• Feb 9, 2004

• #12

Simon Barr posted ...

> In article <[email protected]>, Paul - xxx
> wrote:
>> Mike posted ...
>>
>>> I now have driven my "new" 92 Frontera (2.4i) for few days now.
>>> (love it!) Actually i have driven most of a tank (80l) of gasoline
>>> (maybe
>>> some 30l left) and got some 570 + km on the trip.
>>>
>>> There were some 2wd driving on main roads and quite lot of driving
>>> 4wd on city. Allso when i was driving the car home after i bought it
>>> (150 km) in a blizzard, i used a 4wd.
>>>
>>> I know that 4wd will take more juice that 2wd, but question is, how
>>> mutch?
>>>
>>> I never have had this kin of car so i have no idea how mutch 4wd
>>> incerases fuel consumption....
>>>
>>> Really would appreciate comments!!
>>> Cheers!
>>>
>>> Mike
>>
>> Very little difference I think, maybe a mile a gallon I guess,
>> though I've never measured it accurately as I don't use 4wd
>> (diff-lock on Discovery) on tarmac. There's only a little extra
>> drag on the system when using 4wd, you still turn or push all the
>> wheels along when in 2wd after all ..
>>
>>
>
> Am I right in thinking that you are under the impression your Disco
> is 2 wheel drive unless you engage the difflock? The Disco is a
> permanent 4x4, with a centre difflock. Never engage the difflock on
> tarmac or you will break something, it is meant for use on slippy
> mud, grass etc.
>
> Or am I reading what you said wrong?

Heheheh, bit of both .. I probably expressed myself wrongly.

My experience of 2wd fuel consumption comes from other Landrover 4x4's as
well, some of which do use 2wd and 4wd and difflocks etc ..

Actually reading back I seem to have missed a sentence in my first post
saying just that .. The essence still stands though .. you're pushing
the same weight and moving the same things in 2 or 4 wheel drive, it's only
extra drive shafts that get turned when swapping from 2 to 4 on a suitably
equipped vehicle.

--
Paul