question about 4x2 and 4x4

[cbes]

autos.com quotes an 09 XL 4x2 as 21/26 MPG and a 4x4 of the same as 15/19. ive asked this question to a few people and ive heard conflicting answers, so ill ask here. if im driving a 4x4 vehicle in 4x2, does that mean im going to get 4x2 mileage?

 

[93Ranger4x4]

i'm going to say no, if i'm remembering correctly, your front end is locked all the time meaning that your axles are turning all the time. So you are pushing the front end around, a 4x2 doesnt have anything to push but the wind.

 

[Toms01PSD]

Nope. I'm assuming that the 4x2 had a 4 cyl and the 4x4 had a 6 cyl. Also, the live axle setup has shown that you only lose gas mileage by like .1 mpg. There was a thread about it around here somewhere. Either way you're not going to get 2wd fuel mileage in a 4x4 truck.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yeah, the 2x4 mileage looks like a 4 cylinder... But comparing the same engines in a 4x4 and 2x4 chassis... the 2x4 will probably get around 2-4mpg's better then the 4x4. The live axle setup probably doesn't do much seeing as it is ment to spin with the least resistance possible. Where you lose the mileage in a 4x4 comes from 2 major things.

1. The Parts : unlike a 2wd a 4x4 has a t case, front drive shaft, and front diff/axle shafts. (also probably larger heavier tires), Beefed up other parts as well. thats alot more weight!

2. Height : a 2wd sits lower to the ground thus less air resistance, a 4x4 sit way up high to fit all the extra components creating more drag, also all the extra components sit lower that the frame in most cases (acting like major drag creators?)


Both of those combine to make a heavier and more wind resistant vehicle which gets lower mpg... I'm sure there is probably more to it too.