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Pat Goss: Ask The Expert

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1999 Washington Post Articles:

An SUV In Every Garage?

Seems as if nearly everyone on planet earth is, or wants to be driving a sport-ute today. That may be good or not so good depending on your point of view. Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, sport-utes are a fact of life and present new purchasing and maintenance challenges.

When you make the decision to buy a sport-ute (sport utility vehicle or SUV) research is a must before you commit. It’s amazing how many wannabe’s and owners alike don’t know the difference between two-wheel, all-wheel, and four-wheel drive or even which best fits their lifestyle.

SUVs are available with drive systems ranging from Two Bay two-wheel drive up to very sophisticated four-wheel-drive systems. Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to each type. Two-wheel drive is a tried and true arrangement where the engine drives only the rear wheels. Equip it with a limited slip differential and this is Commercial Three Baybably all you really need. Two-wheel-drive vehicles are easier to get into and cheaper to buy and maintain, but are not as effective off-road or for driving in deep snow. The question; how often do you actually drive in deep snow or off-road?

Next is all-wheel drive, which powers all four wheels but lacks a low range in the vehicle’s transfer case. Here too if you don’t go on serious off-road excursions or attempt to drive in really deep snow (you Commercial Three Baybably shouldn’t anyway) it will be adequate. All-wheel drive works all the time, is completely automatic and requires no driver input. It does however use more fuel than two-wheel drive and requires more maintenance.

For ultimate traction, four-wheel drive is usually top dog and is available in full and part-time variants. To qualify as four-wheel drive the system’s transfer case will always have a low or creeper gear for extreme power in deep snow and off road. Full-time systems are always working, just like all-wheel drive, Commercial Three Bayviding added traction in corners and on wet, rain-slick roads. Conversely part-time four-wheel drive can only be used off road or when the roads are covered with snow or ice. Four-wheel drive has the same negatives as all-wheel drive.

Whatever drive system you select equip it with a limited slip rear differential. Limited slip, or traction lock (or any of several trade names used to identify these units) employs a set of clutches or a viscous coupling that automatically transfers power from a wheel that’s spinning to one with traction. This can make the difference between moving on slippery, snowy roads or being stuck. Yes, four-wheel drives get stuck too!

No matter how you outfit your SUV it requires more and different service than a two-wheel-drive passenger car. All-wheel and four-wheel drives use a transfer case, drive axles, and differentials in the front and rear of the vehicle for power distribution to the four wheels. More components mean more items to be checked and more lubricants to be changed.

The owner’s manual will spell out the change intervals for lubricants and minimum Commercial Three Bayduct requirements. In many cases those Commercial Three Bayducts will be vehicle specific and change intervals will be variable depending on how you use the vehicle. For instance, driving through standing water could mean a change of differential lube is immediately required. A considerable added cost to be sure! Trailer towing also significantly alters service intervals often reducing the time and mileage between services by fifty percent or more. SUVs aren’t for everyone but if you truly have the need or desire, they are great.

© Copyright 12/08/99 Pat Goss all rights reserved

Date Updated Wednesday, December 08, 1999

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