New to 4WD, any info and advice appreciated

[Sean Michael]

I just picked up a 2024 RST with 6.2L and 4wd. This is actually my 3rd Tahoe, I've exclusively owned Tahoes for 17 years now, so I've had one from each of the last three generations. I absolutely love these vehicles. This is my first 4wd vehicle though, my prior were all 2wd and I know very little about 4wd or when to use it. I live in Texas, so the one day a year it snows barely an inch I just WFH, and I don't off-road or anything. This is also my first 6.2L, my previous Tahoes were 5.3L. This 6.2L is a beast, I didn't realize how quickly these things can move with the 6.2L, feels like I've been missing out before now.

Anyways, as simple or naive as this question might seem to people who've been driving 4wd for decades, I honestly don't know much about it. Should I keep it in 2Hi most of the time, or is it OK to keep it in Auto? Should I occasionally engage 4wd a few times a year to make sure the switches and parts get some movement and don't seize up? Is it OK to put it in Auto when I'm feeling naughty and want to enjoy full traction when playing with the 6.2L, like WOT pulls and whatnot? Any other maintenance, use, or anecdotal advice?

 

[Stbentoak]

Mine is in the sun 90% of the time. Been in 2Hi for 3 years. I flip it in auto when we are in blinding rainstorms on interstates and when I pull my boat out of slippery ramps.
No ill effects or wear. Unless you need it... leave it in 2Hi.
You'll get tons of opinions about leaving it in Auto, but personally don't and wouldn't. I've never had a slip on mine in 2wd except in rain with the crappy stock tires that I got rid of.

 

[randeez]

you switching back and forth on the fly to auto (from/to 2wd)?

 

[Marky Dissod]

I mostly agree with @Stbentoak, especially about bad weather (Auto), except
once every 2 months I drive up on something very loose, like sand or dirt or the lawn of someone I hate,
put it in 4Hi, and drive around for a few min just to use it instead of losing it.

 

[gatorintx]

Mine is in the sun 90% of the time. Been in 2Hi for 3 years. I flip it in auto when we are in blinding rainstorms on interstates and when I pull my boat out of slippery ramps.
No ill effects or wear. Unless you need it... leave it in 2Hi.
You'll get tons of opinions about leaving it in Auto, but personally don't and wouldn't. I've never had a slip on mine in 2wd except in rain with the crappy stock tires that I got rid of.

I do the same. 2Hi all the time except for when there's decent rain, then I put it in Auto. Gives me some peace of mind to have the extra traction available in a rainstorm. I imagine if we have an ice storm and I need to drive for some reason, I'd put it in 4wd, but haven't had to deal with that yet.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

What everyone else said, and the owners manual.
Run it in 2Hi unless conditions worsen, then Auto.
If you are on lose gravel, sand, dirt, mud, 4Hi or 4Low as appropriate.

Only other thing I would say is Change the Transfer Case Fluid every 40-45k miles...there is only about 1.5 quarts in there...and the transfer case is a key link in your driveline.

 

[Doubeleive]

I just picked up a 2024 RST with 6.2L and 4wd. This is actually my 3rd Tahoe, I've exclusively owned Tahoes for 17 years now, so I've had one from each of the last three generations. I absolutely love these vehicles. This is my first 4wd vehicle though, my prior were all 2wd and I know very little about 4wd or when to use it. I live in Texas, so the one day a year it snows barely an inch I just WFH, and I don't off-road or anything. This is also my first 6.2L, my previous Tahoes were 5.3L. This 6.2L is a beast, I didn't realize how quickly these things can move with the 6.2L, feels like I've been missing out before now.

Anyways, as simple or naive as this question might seem to people who've been driving 4wd for decades, I honestly don't know much about it. Should I keep it in 2Hi most of the time, or is it OK to keep it in Auto? Should I occasionally engage 4wd a few times a year to make sure the switches and parts get some movement and don't seize up? Is it OK to put it in Auto when I'm feeling naughty and want to enjoy full traction when playing with the 6.2L, like WOT pulls and whatnot? Any other maintenance, use, or anecdotal advice?

I drive in auto 24/7 otherwise I am just doing burn outs, prefer the traction to tread loss
people will say "auto" puts more wear on it, ya well I haven't experienced that, what I have experienced is not breaking the rear differential and I can take off quick without spinning for a couple seconds first.
to each there own.....

 

[martinajm]

I have a similar use case. I am in 2H +90% of the time, but do try to "exercise" the 4WD options - Hi and LO - every couple of months to keep things moving. I personally don't really think that Auto is going to help in a rain storm unless you are driving irresponsibly for the conditions . 4WD doesn't help you slow down or stop sliding...

 

[Bigburb3500]

My truck staying 2wd unless, as others have said, it’s crazy weather then switch to Auto for a level of comfort.
I do recommend going into 4low every so often just to keep things working properly. Just make SURE it’s in the grass or just roll the truck forward/backwards keeping the wheel straight to not get drivetrain bind.

It’s good to just exercise everything a bit but just be careful with 4lo on pavement. You will break something in 4lo on pavement if not careful.

Enjoy the new truck!

 

[homesick]

I drive in auto 24/7 otherwise I am just doing burn outs, prefer the traction to tread loss
people will say "auto" puts more wear on it, ya well I haven't experienced that, what I have experienced is not breaking the rear differential and I can take off quick without spinning for a couple seconds first.
to each there own.....

I was never shy with 'auto' either, and that ol' Tahoe [2001] is still doing fine.

It occurs to me that maybe the full time AWD in my '07 Escalade is basically the same set-up as 'auto'. I don't see why there'd need to be much, if any, difference.

I'd be interested in knowledgeable input on that idea.

joe

 

[Doubeleive]

I was never shy with 'auto' either, and that ol' Tahoe [2001] is still doing fine.

It occurs to me that maybe the full time AWD in my '07 Escalade is basically the same set-up as 'auto'. I don't see why there'd need to be much, if any, difference.

I'd be interested in knowledgeable input on that idea.

joe

they are very similar, but there is a small difference which is technical and I can't think of what it is other than the power split is not 24/7 and the awd doesn't have a front actuator
my denali is awd, the silverado in auto behaves the same way, the wifes burb is 2wd I am doing burnouts in that to if I am not chill on take off's
my old 03 silverado was 2wd and 3.73 she was a touchy bish, bump the pedal and burn-out lol not even on purpose

 

[adventurenali92]

I was never shy with 'auto' either, and that ol' Tahoe [2001] is still doing fine.

It occurs to me that maybe the full time AWD in my '07 Escalade is basically the same set-up as 'auto'. I don't see why there'd need to be much, if any, difference.

I'd be interested in knowledgeable input on that idea.

joe

In theory yes but in application no. In auto mode on the 4WD transfer cases you’re still only getting power to 2 wheels at a time until the wheel speed sensors detect traction loss and will apply power to another wheel. The AWD transfer cases in the older setups, like mine, are exactly that. All 4 wheels under power at all times with a constant power distribution until the wheel speed sensors detect traction loss and send power to a different wheel.

 

[Stbentoak]

I have a similar use case. I am in 2H +90% of the time, but do try to "exercise" the 4WD options - Hi and LO - every couple of months to keep things moving. I personally don't really think that Auto is going to help in a rain storm unless you are driving irresponsibly for the conditions . 4WD doesn't help you slow down or stop sliding...

You really don't know what it's doing for you. It could help you multiple times in a slippery stretch and you don't even know it. If you ever drove on the stock tires in a rainstorm and you felt it slip or hydroplane, you'd understand why auto makes sense. We have.....

 

[Sean Michael]

I appreciate the feedback from everyone. It appears there is not a consensus on running auto full time being OK or not, but I'm looking forward to the first time it rains since picking this truck up so I actually get to feel auto4wd doing it's thing.

I have a few other tangential questions I don't think are worth starting a new thread over:

My prior two Tahoes had a button on the dash or overhead console that would turn on all interior lights, but I can't find a similar button on my '24. Is there no way to turn on all interior lights from the driver seat?

From what I understand, 2024 Tahoes with 6.2L are supposed to come with active exhaust. My new '24 definitely sounds much louder at cold startup than my previous 5.3 Tahoes, but from what little I've played around with the sport mode while driving, I can't really tell much difference in exhaust note between being in sport mode or normal, unless it's subtle and I haven't had enough time to notice the difference yet. Should my 6.2 RST have active exhaust? Does anyone else have a '24 6.2 and notice a difference in sound in sport mode?

Speaking of sport mode, does it also adjust the magnaride suspension? What exactly does sport mode do besides programming to hold gear longer?

This Tahoe is new-new, only had 5 miles when I test drove it last week practically straight off the transport truck. I had to wait for PDI to be wrapped up and I'm the only customer who's ever sat in it. I live in DFW so the Arlington plant where these are assembled is only <45 minutes from the dealership, so I would like to think it went from assembly line to my garage in a particularly short time. It's interesting when I occasionally drive by the plant where these are made. I digress, but having watched some videos about break-in I made sure to fluctuate rpm/speed and no WOT or hard starts the first 250 miles, I still haven't floored it yet and avoid hard starts, but after 250 miles I have began enjoying more go-pedal where appropriate. This 6.2 seems to beg for it. My question is when the first oil change should happen. Some people say 1K miles, dealership says I'm fine with the first change being at 5K. Any opinions on when to do the first oil change? Any other Tahoe specific break-in advice?

Oh, final question. I put Michelin Defenders on my prior Tahoe that came with those awful Continental tires, made a noticeable difference. This RST came with Bridgestone Alenza tires, what's the opinion on those?

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Interior Lights...Hold down the map light for about 2 seconds, all lights turn on, do the same to turn it off...in the owners manual!

The Stock Bridgstones are not good either, except perhaps their low rolling resistance helping your MPG's slightly.

 

[Stbentoak]

Alenzas are life threatening.... Remove ASAP!

 

[S33k3r]

I have a similar use case. I am in 2H +90% of the time, but do try to "exercise" the 4WD options - Hi and LO - every couple of months to keep things moving. I personally don't really think that Auto is going to help in a rain storm unless you are driving irresponsibly for the conditions . 4WD doesn't help you slow down or stop sliding...

I beg to differ. Mind you, I have used "Auto" and don't really like the results. So I used 4HI in inclement weather. And on at least 2 occasions, 4HI has maintained traction on at least 2 wheels, allowing me to safely slow or maintain control at a minimum.

I will admit it was a weird sensation to have the rear wheels break loose and the front ones still driving and controlling the vehicle. Scary, too, but maintaining control is good for building some courage.

 

[adventurenali92]

I appreciate the feedback from everyone. It appears there is not a consensus on running auto full time being OK or not, but I'm looking forward to the first time it rains since picking this truck up so I actually get to feel auto4wd doing it's thing.

I have a few other tangential questions I don't think are worth starting a new thread over:

My prior two Tahoes had a button on the dash or overhead console that would turn on all interior lights, but I can't find a similar button on my '24. Is there no way to turn on all interior lights from the driver seat?

From what I understand, 2024 Tahoes with 6.2L are supposed to come with active exhaust. My new '24 definitely sounds much louder at cold startup than my previous 5.3 Tahoes, but from what little I've played around with the sport mode while driving, I can't really tell much difference in exhaust note between being in sport mode or normal, unless it's subtle and I haven't had enough time to notice the difference yet. Should my 6.2 RST have active exhaust? Does anyone else have a '24 6.2 and notice a difference in sound in sport mode?

Speaking of sport mode, does it also adjust the magnaride suspension? What exactly does sport mode do besides programming to hold gear longer?

This Tahoe is new-new, only had 5 miles when I test drove it last week practically straight off the transport truck. I had to wait for PDI to be wrapped up and I'm the only customer who's ever sat in it. I live in DFW so the Arlington plant where these are assembled is only <45 minutes from the dealership, so I would like to think it went from assembly line to my garage in a particularly short time. It's interesting when I occasionally drive by the plant where these are made. I digress, but having watched some videos about break-in I made sure to fluctuate rpm/speed and no WOT or hard starts the first 250 miles, I still haven't floored it yet and avoid hard starts, but after 250 miles I have began enjoying more go-pedal where appropriate. This 6.2 seems to beg for it. My question is when the first oil change should happen. Some people say 1K miles, dealership says I'm fine with the first change being at 5K. Any opinions on when to do the first oil change? Any other Tahoe specific break-in advice?

Oh, final question. I put Michelin Defenders on my prior Tahoe that came with those awful Continental tires, made a noticeable difference. This RST came with Bridgestone Alenza tires, what's the opinion on those?

Ditch the Bridgestones as soon as you can and go for the Michelins. My 2006 had brand new Bridgestones on it when I picked it up in late February of 2015. They were hands down the worst tires I’ve ever had. No traction in even the slightest bit of rain which in my opinion is just pathetic. The Michelin defenders will out perform OEM Bridgestones in every way. Currently on my second set of defenders and won’t run anything else for my Denali.

 

[Tahoe14]

If you don’t have a hard copy of the owners manual you can get one on line and much more user friendly than the hard copy. You will find things in the manual that you don’t even know about.

 

[Bigkevschopshop]

Im old skool in my ways of keeping 4wd working good. The main issues that I have found, solenoids and other things get sticky if sitting in one position too long.

So I do things in this order.

Flip to 4Lo, Drive around the block, around 1/4 mile etc. This gets the fluid, gears moving.
Flip to 4Hi, do the same drive.

About once a quarter.

This keeps T cases happy and gears/bearings lubed and clean.