AWD means no 4Lo. Think Subaru, Audi, etc. AWD uses a center differential with a viscous coupling to control which axle/wheel is getting power. They have no transfer case like our trucks do.

I know Chevy puts AWD in high end Sub's and Yukon's. Didn't know it was in the pickups though.

 

I think the only Chevy pickup that had AWD was the 2003-2005 SS.

 

Well, yes and no. One of my brothers buddies got a concept truck basically. It was a regular cab short bed Silverado SS AWD. This truck has the auto 4x4 option, and it was built right, just check the site. I still kick myself for not deciding to check ebay. He got it 1 week after I got my truck. His is so nice, and worth so much money.

 

Auto 4wd and AWD are not the same thing. Auto 4wd is a part time 4wd system that is the same as a regular 4wd system, just with a setting that switches between 2wd and 4wd automatically. The auto setting is normally 2wd, and only turns on the 4wd when the rear tires lose traction, and switches back to 2wd when the rear tires regain traction. AWD is permanently engaged with a central diff and no transfer case. AWD is computer controlled, and it transfers power from front to rear and side to side, although there are AWD systems that have a lock setting that sends the power 50/50 front and rear, like 4wd.

 

So then how could his truck run better in auto? He has a little time shaved off his track times when he puts it in there.

 

Well if it’s in auto, as soon as he floors the gas, the tires will slip and it will turn on the 4wd, and he will get instant grip. I just don’t know how good that is for the transfer case, I’m sure it’s not made to handle drag launches.

 

Transfer case is fine, his rear-end is the only thing that's blown up so far, but that's because it wasn't built at all. When he launches, with his LSD, he doesn't spin, unless he tries to. And that's the reason for an LSD is to keep from spinning so you hook up right away.

 

you dont know that his transfer case is ok, 06 ram 5.7 is right his t case prolly gets a beating from that type of abuse, quite and expensive fix from what i hear. we have a honda crv with real time 4wd which is auto 4x4, that thing is awsome in the snow, unless you are paying attention you dont know when it switches to and from auto 4x4. awd and auto 4x4 are completely different, end of story.

 

AWD and 4wd are different. Auto 4 is just a setting that engages 4wd once the computer senses the rear wheels slipping...interesting though since they are all different types of systems, i once drove a dakota that had the settings: AWD, 4hi and 4lo. After reading all these posts, i wonder how that drivetrain was set up. Just a special type of T-Case maybe???

 

Auto 4WD is for soccer moms in SUVs who have no idea how to use 4WD so they just leave it set to auto so it does all the brain work for them.