I have a 2009 2500 Suburban. The transfer case has 2wd, auto, 4 hi, 4 low, neutral. Reading the manual it says:
This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are
variable. When driving your vehicle in AUTO, the front
axle is engaged, but the vehicle’s power is primarily
sent to the rear wheels. When the vehicle’s software
determines a need for more traction, the system will
transfer more power to the front wheels. Driving in
this mode results in slightly lower fuel economy than
Two-Wheel Drive High.
My question is, will it ever give a true 50/50 power split like 4 hi and if so, how often? Or, will it just give "some" power to the front axle briefly under certain conditions. Mainly, if I have it in auto because there is a bit of snow here and there and the snow cover increases to a completely covered road would their be an advantage of switching to 4 hi or is auto going to give me basically the same thing? I've had plenty of 4wd vehicles before but never one with an auto setting. I just put it in 4 hi when I'm on snow and 2 wd when I'm not. My wife might drive this instead of her car. I'd like to just tell her to leave it in auto for simplicity but I'm thinking that might not be as good as 4 hi.
This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are
variable. When driving your vehicle in AUTO, the front
axle is engaged, but the vehicle’s power is primarily
sent to the rear wheels. When the vehicle’s software
determines a need for more traction, the system will
transfer more power to the front wheels. Driving in
this mode results in slightly lower fuel economy than
Two-Wheel Drive High.
My question is, will it ever give a true 50/50 power split like 4 hi and if so, how often? Or, will it just give "some" power to the front axle briefly under certain conditions. Mainly, if I have it in auto because there is a bit of snow here and there and the snow cover increases to a completely covered road would their be an advantage of switching to 4 hi or is auto going to give me basically the same thing? I've had plenty of 4wd vehicles before but never one with an auto setting. I just put it in 4 hi when I'm on snow and 2 wd when I'm not. My wife might drive this instead of her car. I'd like to just tell her to leave it in auto for simplicity but I'm thinking that might not be as good as 4 hi.