At Avondale Nissan, we routinely are asked questions about every vehicle on our lot. LEAF fans might ask, what’s the deal with regenerative braking? Those who drive the Altima or Rogue, for their part, are probably curious about the finer points of the NASA-inspired Zero Gravity seats or the Xtronic CVT. However, when it comes to our many four-wheel drive vehicles, one question probably supercedes all of the others: what is the difference between 4×4 high vs low? And when is the best time to employ one over the other?
Before we even wade into the deeper waters of 4×4 (pun intended!), we should get a better idea of what 4×4 even is. Many drivers mistakenly believe that every time they hitch a trailer to their vehicle, they need to put four-wheel drive on. This isn’t the case, however. Four-wheel drive is intended to give your vehicle more traction in situations where your tires might struggle to get optimal traction with just two tires receiving power. Icy surfaces, steep inclines, unpaved or uneven roads…all places where four-wheel drive might come in handy.
Now, to the good stuff. Most four-wheel drive systems have both a “high” and a “low” setting, and usually have an “auto” setting that exists as a default setting for two-wheel drive or, in some platforms, as a responsive four-wheel drive system with traction control. But when should you use “high” and “low”?
You will want to use “4-High” when you’re driving faster than about 15 mph. If you’re trying to get more traction or are using the four-wheel drive as more of a precautionary measure, this is the setting you want. If you’re driving on a snowy highway, rocky roads, or a muddy terrain, but can still manage a fair amount of speed, use 4-high. It should be noted, however,that you shouldn’t go over about 55-60 mph which four-wheel drive engaged, since this is bad for your transfer case.
You will want to use “4-Low” when you need to use more torque than usual, or if you’re in a more tricky driving situation. In 4-Low, you won’t want to go over 15 mph, and this setting is best used in extremely slippery situations, during steep climbs, or if your portaging through thick mud or water. If you think you can go over 15 mph, as a general rule, you should probably be using 4-High.
We hope that this helps you during your next journey into the Arizona wilderness, and if you have any questions, feel free to let us know at Avondale Nissan!
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It's good to know when it's appropriate to use a 4-high or a 4-low. I'd hate to end up leaving the machine on 4-low and be driving too fast. I think it's important to know what limitations your 4x4 has so that you won't misuse it. I appreciate you explaining the 4x4 high/low settings.