Driving with CDL engaged

[LRDV8]

Hey guys,

once the CDL is engaged is it not advisable to then drive over a certain speed ?? Obviously i'd disengage it before going on a highway or main road but is it still a good idea to disengage it whilst traveling between sections..... say 60 - 80 km/h on dirt roads ??

thanks

[Ruslan]

I use CDL up to 100 km/h on dirt/gravel/corrugation no worries. Read terrain to be sure you need CDL. Sometimes it is no point. In other words, if you want to get from A to B very quick and road is slippery use CDL, it helps. Do more experiments and you'll see.

Cheers,
Ruslan

[ak]

I think as long as you don't have CDL engaged on the road-tar any really hard surface where there is no give you should be fine.

[LRDV8]

Yea it's more for when i go 4WDing, was wanting to lock it in when required and not having to worry about turning it off after i've finished that particular section..... ie. just turn it off when i'm ready to jump back on the bitumen

[PeterM]

Yea it's more for when i go 4WDing, was wanting to lock it in when required and not having to worry about turning it off after i've finished that particular section..... ie. just turn it off when i'm ready to jump back on the bitumen

As was said before use it based on your judgement of the terrain. Personally, I don't use it unless I am on a surface where I know I will get wheel-slip/spin.

[Tusker]

You'll find it faster & more stable with CDL in. I think its kinder on the car to, it eliminates some of the shock loads & load reversals, if the centre diff doesn't have to go crazy on dirt.

I'd say just leave it in offroad, unless on a high grip surface like claytops. And 3 point turns etc.

Regards
Max P

[MacMan]

I don't see any reason why it needs to come off for transport sections on dirt. I've found the Disco handles hedium to high speed dirt more predictably with CDL locked. Certainly easier to catch if it starts to slide!

[LRDV8]

no worries, thanks guys

[Pedro_The_Swift]

corners much better at higher speeds,


there is a fuel cost though!!

[waynep]

As long as it's not on tar sealed road should be Ok to keep the CDL in, as long as the wheels can get enough slip on the road surface release any transmisison wind up

- but as said it will increase your fuel consumption.

[BigJon]

- but as said it will increase your fuel consumption.

Why? I can't imagine it would make enough difference to notice. If it is, I would say there isn't enough easy wheel slip happening and it shouldn't be locked anyway.

[George130]

I have also found it handles better with the CDL engaged at speed on dirt.

[Graeme]

In my D2 I ended-up in the gutter twice in quick succession on a greasy clay road with the CDL locked, but then had no problems with it unlocked and letting TC do its job, using a fair amount of right boot.

[MacMan]

Third time lucky? Get better at catching it?:p

[waynep]

Why? I can't imagine it would make enough difference to notice. If it is, I would say there isn't enough easy wheel slip happening and it shouldn't be locked anyway.

I love this site .... nothing goes unchallenged :)

you could be right ... i have noticed that when CDL is engaged the fuel consumption goes up significantly ...but its probably the fact that if I'm in CDL I'm also in low range much of the time .... and working the engine pretty hard.

Highway dirt roads at speed with CDL in ..never done it much? ... yeah maybe there wouldn't be a lot of difference ....

[Pedro_The_Swift]

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2007/03/238.jpg

6months research,,
twice a day,
40kays in 20 mins,:angel:

with CDL,,

I worked it out to around 10% more expensive though


without CDL I actually had to slow for the corners:mad::D:D:D

[Bush65]

6months research,,
twice a day,
40kays in 20 mins,:angel:

with CDL,,

I worked it out to around 10% more expensive though


without CDL I actually had to slow for the corners:mad::D:D:D
Was it the higher speed, with the centre diff locked, that caused the increased fuel consumption?

[MacMan]

without CDL I actually had to slow for the corners

I find the same thing, moreso when I have the BFG ATs on rather than the MTs. It understeers less with the CDL locked. The understeer wasn't the problem, it was the second the understeer stopped and turned to oversteer that gave me the willies. With CDL locked, if you back off the power and/or dab the brakes as you turn in, the front weights up and the back loosens predictably. It won't ever be a flat tracker, but it makes it less like a block of soap on wet pavement.

[LoadedDisco]

In a D2 I would not engage the CDL over 60Kph.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

In a D2 I would not engage the CDL over 60Kph.


:eek:
Please tell us why!

[LoadedDisco]

Thats what the manufacture states.

[njz]

After reading this thread I thought I would try out some fast dirt / gravel with the CDL locked. Previously I've only ever locked it when a track gets rough or slippery. What an improvement! As others have said, handling was more predictable and the disco felt much more sure footed than with it unlocked.

[tombraider]

Thats what the manufacture states.

Where?

My handbook doesnt say it.

We've been engaging the CDL at speeds over 110km/h and then running like that for hours over 4-5 days...

Cant see the issue, just dont engage under load or whilst turning / wheel slip.

[dmdigital]

Where?

My handbook doesnt say it.

We've been engaging the CDL at speeds over 110km/h and then running like that for hours over 4-5 days...

Cant see the issue, just dont engage under load or whilst turning / wheel slip.

That's the way I run as well. Did about 430km the other weekend with it engaged because of the conditions. Only disengaged it when I got back to the bitumen. That said the next day I did 60km of the same track under dryer conditions and didn't engage it at all.

I can't see the big deal, drive according to the conditions and use CDL in the same way.

[Bushie]

from my owners manual ('98 defender)

The diff lock can be engaged or disengaged either with the vehicle stationary or when driving at any road speed...........................

It does however caution about using the diff lock un necessarily.



Martyn

[ak]

from my owners manual ('98 defender)

The diff lock can be engaged or disengaged either with the vehicle stationary or when driving at any road speed...........................

It does however caution about using the diff lock un necessarily.



Martyn

Fair enough if that is what the owners manual says. I was always under the impression that the diff lock should be engaged and dis-engaged only while stationary.

What would be considered using the diff lock un necessarily appart from driving at 110 on the freeway?

[walker]

Using it on ANY sealed road.

[BigJon]

Using it on any high traction surface where wheel slip is not present.

[ak]

So what does most people do when engaging CDL, stationary or on the fly?

[BigJon]

So what does most people do when engaging CDL, stationary or on the fly? On the fly, but while easing off the throttle to make sure there is no front / rear wheel spin happening. Sometimes you just need it NOW, and you know that if you stop to engage then you will get stuck due to lost momentum.

[Ruslan]

So what does most people do when engaging CDL, stationary or on the fly?
CDL on the fly. Also high/low on the fly if I need.

High -> Low: (driving on 1st high for example)
1. Clutch (and hold)
2. 2nd high on gearbox (always +1 gear compare to high)
3. Neutral on transfer
4. Low on transfer
5. Clutch off and go.

Low -> High:
1. Clutch
2. - 1 gear (not always)
3. Neutral on transfer
4. High on transfer
5. Clutch off and go.

Usually every step for 1 second. Sometimes I keep on neutral for 2-3 seconds, all depends from speed, terrain.

My mates on nissotas stop to engage/disengage and think I do nothing, Defender keeps going on any conditions without stopping. It is confusing for them. Love it :)

Cheers,
Ruslan

[MacMan]

I normally dab the clutch as I shift into CDL, just to take all drive away for a moment.

[JamesH]

CDL on the fly. Also high/low on the fly if I need.

High -> Low: (driving on 1st high for example)
1. Clutch (and hold)
2. 2nd high on gearbox (always +1 gear compare to high)
3. Neutral on transfer
4. Low on transfer
5. Clutch off and go.

Low -> High:
1. Clutch
2. - 1 gear (not always)
3. Neutral on transfer
4. High on transfer
5. Clutch off and go.

Usually every step for 1 second. Sometimes I keep on neutral for 2-3 seconds, all depends from speed, terrain.



I've done this and have managed a very smooth transition from low to high, just like changing gear but always got a clunk going high to low though not too bad (will try the +1 gear thing). Anyway the manual in my Defender says to let the clutch out in "Neutral on transfer" for a few secs on the way through.

I too use CDL a lot on gravel roads, just feels more secure.

[Tusker]

So what does most people do when engaging CDL, stationary or on the fly?

Both, but usually engage & disengage on the fly under 80 kph, when the wheels are straight ahead.

Regards
Max P

[Captain_Rightfoot]

On outback dirt I would enguage cdl for water splashes as it was good for stability. Just trail throttle and slide the lever across :)

[mcrover]

There is no need to use the cdl unless you are on a loose surface e.g. wet greasy dirt road or loose gravel or when 4wding.

Utherwise I wouldn't be lazy and lean over the 6" to the 4wd lever and slip it over to the right.

You dont need to back off in an auto I dont know about a manual and you can do that up to 80km/h without damage.

What can happen if you dont disenguage it is:
1. Fuel economy suffers
2. steering suffers
3. CV's suffer from the wind up
4. tail shaft coupling suffers from wind up
5. diff wear on the toe of the crown wheel as well as creating excess heat.
6. Tyre wear

So it is much cheaper to slow down a little in the corners and disenguage the CDL.

Nearly hit a s**tlux on the weekend that was traveling way too fast around Howqua track on the way into sheep yard and nearly hit him again on the way out with him cutting corners both times.

So SLOW DOWN and you wont need it.

[MickG]

I run my CDL in my D2 manual pretty much as soon as I get onto any loose surface and always do it on the fly at at any speed. Also back off slightly before enaging to free up the load and in she goes. Makes a huge difference on dirt roads at speed and in the TD5 I have not noticed ANY fuel increase but then I do not do any touring so would be hard to tell really. Also change from low to high and back again on the fly but moving very slowly and again taking all the load out of the drive line first if I can.

IMHO - ANY loose surface at any speed that you are unsure off, engage CDL.....that is what is is there for. As soon as you hit a solid road or a high traction area, disengage CDL.

[mcrover]

unless your on an outback road, dont drive so fast if you are on a loose surface.
That will stop you haveing to reach all the way over to put it in in the first place.

[BigJon]

That will stop you haveing to reach all the way over to put it in in the first place.

Reach all the way over?! Do you have really really short arms?:p

[Defender=1st]

It said in one of those UK Landy mags never to use the Clutch when engaging or disengaging the CDL

[Graeme]

It said in one of those UK Landy mags never to use the Clutch when engaging or disengaging the CDL
You can't cause a problem using the clutch whilst engaging or disengaging, but it is a way to guarantee that the load has been taken off the diffs. Never do it myself though.

[Bushie]

Shift in and out with CDL while on the move, just unload the drive train with the throttle.


Martyn

[rovercare]

There is no need to use the cdl unless you are on a loose surface e.g. wet greasy dirt road or loose gravel or when 4wding.

Utherwise I wouldn't be lazy and lean over the 6" to the 4wd lever and slip it over to the right.

You dont need to back off in an auto I dont know about a manual and you can do that up to 80km/h without damage.

What can happen if you dont disenguage it is:
1. Fuel economy suffers
2. steering suffers
3. CV's suffer from the wind up
4. tail shaft coupling suffers from wind up
5. diff wear on the toe of the crown wheel as well as creating excess heat.
6. Tyre wear

So it is much cheaper to slow down a little in the corners and disenguage the CDL.

Nearly hit a s**tlux on the weekend that was traveling way too fast around Howqua track on the way into sheep yard and nearly hit him again on the way out with him cutting corners both times.

So SLOW DOWN and you wont need it.

And not using creates excessive wear and strain on the centre diff

Lock it in on anything slippery;)

I've even used the CDL on wet asphalt when trying to brake coming down hill towing a 2.5 ton tractor and 1 ton trailer, as I as locking the fronts, But i dont recommend it:eek: