4Hi vs. 4Lo: What's the Difference and When Should You Use Each? | Capital One Auto Navigator (2024)

FAQs

4Hi vs. 4Lo: What's the Difference and When Should You Use Each? | Capital One Auto Navigator? ›

When conditions are slippery – say deeper snow or mud – but you're driving at typical road speeds, use 4Hi. Need maximum traction and driving at low speeds? Go to 4Lo.

4Hi, or 4 High, is for optimizing traction at the cost of power. Unlike 4Lo, 4 Hi should be used when you're dealing with slippery conditions on otherwise good roads, such as ice or rain. 4Hi should never be used below 15 mph. As a result, you should not use 4Hi to try to get unstuck.

4H is the way to go for snowy, icy, muddy, or rocky surfaces, providing better traction and stability. It is also great for moderate off-road conditions with some obstacles or inclines. On the other hand, 4L is intended for extreme off-road conditions such as steep inclines, coarse terrain, and deep mud.

Please note that you shouldn't use 4-low for high-speed driving, especially at speeds of more than 35 mph. Doing so could result in damage to your vehicle and costly transmission replacements. Note also that not all SUVs feature a 4-low option.

4-Low is used to provide your truck or SUV with more torque. This setting is ideal for heavy snow or slippery surfaces.

To do that, first slow down to less than 62 miles per hour, then turn the knob to 4H. If it's colder than 5 degrees Fahrenheit outside, you'll have to slow to less than 43 miles per hour to make the change. In any case, you'll see the 4HI indicator appear in the instrument display.

If you're on a snow-covered freeway or a gravel road in farm country, 4Hi will help you maintain control of the vehicle by sending engine torque to all four wheels. This setting is for when you need all four wheels pulling, but not to pull yourself out of a sticky situation.

4H or 4L modes are only intended for consistently slippery or loose surfaces. Drive slower in strong crosswinds which can affect the normal steering characteristics of your vehicle. When driving your vehicle on surfaces made slippery by loose sand, water, gravel, snow or ice proceed with care.

You'll likely want to reserve using 4 High in situations where you're going more than 15 MPH but slower than 55 MPH. This mode is meant to apply more traction on snowy or icy roads. You can also use it for off-roading, but it's not meant to be used in normal, dry driving conditions on a road.

How do I switch between 2H and 4H? ›

Before shifting to “4H” while driving, take your foot off the gas. Not accelerating as you're shifting helps the transfer case shifter switch to 4-wheel drive quicker. If your Jeep has a manual transition, press on the clutch pedal as you shift from “2H” to “4H.”

The 4H and 4L positions are intended for loose, slippery road surfaces only and not intended for normal driving. Driving the 4H and 4L positions on hard-surfaced roads will cause increased tire wear and damage the driveline components. You should not go faster than road conditions permit.

You'll likely want to reserve using 4 High in situations where you're going more than 15 MPH but slower than 55 MPH. This mode is meant to apply more traction on snowy or icy roads. You can also use it for off-roading, but it's not meant to be used in normal, dry driving conditions on a road.

4L is best when you're on icy roads, climbing rocks, crossing water, or powering through deep mud. 4H is more commonly used than 4L, and this setting is beneficial because it allows you to drive up to 55 mph while transferring torque to all four wheels. This setting comes in handy when you need additional traction.

Above all, air down -- that will help keep you from getting stuck. packed sand can be driven in 2HI or 4HI, but soft sand may require 4LO.

Four-wheel drive high (4H): Provides electronically or mechanically locked 4WD power to both the front and rear wheels. Best used in off-road or winter conditions, such as deep snow, sand or mud.