Gizmokid2005
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2019
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- gizmokid2005.com
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- 2019 Ford Ranger XLT 4X4 SCrew
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- SQL Developer
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Is he going to hurt anything running in 4Lo at 40mph? With regular maintenance almost certainly not. At a certain point the truck will just stop going faster and he'll be bouncing off the rev limiter due to the gear reduction, but it's not going to actually hurt anything by going that speed.
Is it smart to sit in 4Lo while just cruising down some dirt roads? Probably not "smart" - but not really stupid aside from using some extra fuel and running the revs higher.
Are the benefits to running 4Lo even when not needed? Yes. For instance out here in the SoCal/desert areas, running in 4Lo when you'd normally use/want 4wd instead of 4Hi can help keep the engine revs higher without needing to manually shift which will help with coolant circulation and help keep both engine and transmission temps lower when at/near/above 100°F temps.
You cannot switch in/out of 4Lo while in motion on purpose, as others have mentioned, due to the different gears being activated inside the transfer case, this is by design. Even if the ability was there to switch in/out on the fly, matching gearing to speed and engine RPMs could be catastrophic and a huge lift from the drive-train.
I almost never use 4Lo personally, only when on a steep enough grade that I want to be able to go slower than I can comfortably do in 1st gear in high-range or when going down a grade and I don't want to ride my brakes.
Ultimately if you want to run 4Lo on "low" traction surfaces (read not pavement/cement) - go for it, you're not really going to hurt anything other than your mileage and subsequently wallet. I know a lot of people who just put it in 4Lo as soon as we hit trails and run that way. I run 2wd until I need 4wd, it's how I keep my skills sharp and know what my truck is capable of and how to manage it in "non-standard" situations.
Is it smart to sit in 4Lo while just cruising down some dirt roads? Probably not "smart" - but not really stupid aside from using some extra fuel and running the revs higher.
Are the benefits to running 4Lo even when not needed? Yes. For instance out here in the SoCal/desert areas, running in 4Lo when you'd normally use/want 4wd instead of 4Hi can help keep the engine revs higher without needing to manually shift which will help with coolant circulation and help keep both engine and transmission temps lower when at/near/above 100°F temps.
You cannot switch in/out of 4Lo while in motion on purpose, as others have mentioned, due to the different gears being activated inside the transfer case, this is by design. Even if the ability was there to switch in/out on the fly, matching gearing to speed and engine RPMs could be catastrophic and a huge lift from the drive-train.
I almost never use 4Lo personally, only when on a steep enough grade that I want to be able to go slower than I can comfortably do in 1st gear in high-range or when going down a grade and I don't want to ride my brakes.
Ultimately if you want to run 4Lo on "low" traction surfaces (read not pavement/cement) - go for it, you're not really going to hurt anything other than your mileage and subsequently wallet. I know a lot of people who just put it in 4Lo as soon as we hit trails and run that way. I run 2wd until I need 4wd, it's how I keep my skills sharp and know what my truck is capable of and how to manage it in "non-standard" situations.
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