This may seem like a stupid question, and i know gas prices are dropping, but what ACD setting(tarmac,gravel,snow) is best for gas mileage? I take a few 300+ miles trips and every little bit helps. I know Splitting power in an AWD setup causes you to lose some HP which basically means you use more gas to do the same work. So would the snow setting be better since it puts more to one set of wheels? I notice the snow setting seems to put alot less stress on the drivetrain so i leave it in that setting during dailey driving but it seemed on my last trip that i got worse mileage in that setting. Anyone agree that the Snow setting would be the best, even if it isn't a huge difference?

 

i highly dought it would me enough to notice in your mpg, so i wouldn't worry about it. you bought a 300 hp awd fun mobile i worried about my mileage for the first 1500 then realized it was a lost cause. theres no such thing as making power and getting good mileage. sry to disappoint you.

 

ACD settings are unrelated to gas mileage.

 

Best way to get better gas mileage is to stay away from this little influential demon called, "boost".

 

well what about the stress on the drivetrain. I notice the car is a lot less herky jerky when in snow mode. Unless i'm doggin it and slammin gears its hard to not make the car jerk when the car engages a shift.

 

the adc doesnt split power like rumored on this forum, it just changes when it locks, it's always a 50/50 split.

 

+1

 

please explain.

 

???

291whp/338tq here. I get 30-32 mpg...

 

Honda's V-TEC has proved you wrong 16 years ago.

 

 

Here's a great tutorial.

Simply put, power goes to all the wheels all the time. Differentials allow each wheel to spin at a different rate.

Think of power in a drivetrain like water and electrcity...it follows the path of least resistance. So without a locking differentail, when one set of wheels spins and looses traction all the power would just spin those wheels with the other wheels motionless.

Now imagine a car with a locking (or limited slip) differential in the same situation, one set of wheels loosing traction. The differential is engineered to lock at some point to allow the other wheels to get power. The ACD is simply a variable setting for when the center differential will detect slippage and lock up.

 

What honda makes good power?









Joke

 

I wonder if it would be possible to have the center differential unlock completely. Probably not with the diff they use. But I would think it would be cool to have the rear wheels unlock completely via dash switch, if not needed, IE commuting. This would result in better gas mileage as well... It would also improve accelearation in say 3rd gear and up, where traction isnt as much of a factor...

 

Here's another good link i posted on anothre thread about diffs and so forth.

http://wallace.as.arizona.edu/~cgrop.../DCCD_FAQ.html

Anyway, if you really want to save gas, convert it to a 2wd!

Seriously though, losing weight (the car that is) and thinner tyres might help a bit.