Same thing happened to me on evey 4x4 I have had. Normal, dont sweat it, just save 4wd for surfaces that need it (will let the tries give and slide a little).

 

Why are so many people using 4wd in high traction situations anyway? Backing out of your paved driveway?

Check this article. Use 2wd until you get stuck. Then use 4wd to get unstuck.

 

Yes. I don't even use 4WD on dirt roads that are passable by normal cars let alone paved roads. Wait for snow, mud, or 4WD roads to use 4HI or 4LO.

-Brad

 

Brad, Thanks for your technical assistance, now if you will go back to how this all started you might understand a little better. But just for my own sake, does high levels of standing water count for using 4wd. All this talk about dry pavement can be soooo confusing, and your post was soooo helpful.

 

Only if you get stuck. Like I said, use 2WD until (if) you get stuck, then use 4WD is you need to. Your 4WD and front transfer cases will thank you.

 

I use 4WD with standing water (>1" or so) all the time and my transfer case never complained once. On my Tahoe it really helped to reduce hydroplaning--in 2WD the Tahoe suspension was such that a small puddle would almost put it in the ditch.

Grim

 

Grayflare you are absolutely 100 percent wrong.. While obviously the front and rear are the same gear. They (the front and rear axle) are TRYING to go different speeds. The front trying to go faster than the rear because it's going around a larger circle... But they can't go differnt speeds because they are locked together hence the bind you guys are talking about.

Easy way to see this is, put her in 4 wheel and back up in a tight circle on a loose surface and you will see the inside rear slip alot.

And this will not hurt your drive train one bit! The drivetrain is plenty strong enough to slip a tire.... on dry pavement...

 

If you are driving in an area where you are likely to get stuck, then I would suggest engaging 4HI to prevent getting stuck in the first place.

Think about it this way. If it is an area where a Honda Accord could drive through, then you probably don't need 4WD. I don't think a little standing water on a parking deck constitutes a need for 4WD.

 

Thanks again for the insight, to clarify this one more time before another lecture on 4hi...I was not driving in 4hi for fun, it was not for driving in a parking lot and it was not standing water in a parking deck (since I park indoors). I was simply engaging the drive before the exit before hitting 6-8 inches of standing water and hail (for those who are in the DC area it was the storm from last friday and I got hit pretty good). So no a civic could not go through without close to flooding the doors. I also simply saw a good opportunity to engage the system. But again this has nothing to do with what I originally asked in this post, but thanks anyways for your 4hi insight.

 

Sorry I didn't know the situation you were in, the quote above is why I ASSumed that you were in a parking garage. I hope that I did not offend you EddyG88.

My post was not aimed directly at one person, but more at the people who read this forum and may be able to get something from this post. I am sure many of the other posters are doing so for the same reason.

 

I have seen cars drive through water. Just because the water is deep enough to hit the door seals, does not mean the vehicle does not have enough traction to move forward. A lot of people underestimate what good tires and a limited slip differential will get you.

Regardless, next time engage 4wd while you enter the low traction situation instead of on the dry pavement before it, especially when there is a turn on the dry pavement. We all have shift on the fly.

Grim, did your Tahoe have a full time 4wd (Autotrac) or part time? If the system was in automatic 4wd, that is different than F-150's part time locking 4wd.

 

Part time 4WD w/ old fashioned manual shift transfer case, 2 Door sport model. With the limited slip rear end, my Tahoe was actually fairly capable on slick surfaces, expecially sheet ice. It was to heavy for any serious off-roading though! I probably only used 4 Low half a dozen times while I owned the vehicle.

Grim

 

Actually my dealership recommended driving it in 4WHi to keep the transfer case lubed every three months. Since I would never drive it at speed on asphalt it shoudln't be a problem. Usually when I enter my neighborhood I throw it into 4WHi to go around the block. (my neighborhood speed limit is 30mph)

Just good info to know that you don't want to make any tight turns on hard surfaces.