How many of you guys run mondo mode??

Hi,me again,i keep seeing posts about people who have removed the props and run in front wheel drive and see loads for sale like this and also read a post saying that the freelander club reccomends it????

Just wondering how many of you have done this?what are the benefits?i dont really really need the 4x4 but i do some light greenlaning on sarlsbury plain e.t.c(or plan to now juicy v8 disco has gone)

So just wondering if this is a good thing to do or am i just being paronoid??

People do it, because:

1. They have a faulty VCU
2. They have a faulty IRD
3. They want to save their IRD from further damage
4. I`ve heard mondo mode puts extra strain on the front drive shafts (ie premature wear)
5. They want to sell the Hippo with potentially £2000 worth of repairs to be done to an novice buyer.
6. They like the feel of FWD

But basically because the running gear has faults, and would cost more than the car is worth to fix.

Just my take on it.

i am thining about switching to mondo for fuel saving during the summer months, then when the snow/ice returns switching back to 4wd - my main question is is it worth it in terms of fuel saving ?

Seems to be an all round decent idea if you dont use the car for much off road use as it seems to save on costly faults down the line- is this correct ???

Im only likely to do 5,000 miles a year in mine, mostly commuting, so would appreciate peoples helpful input (not just burn it / sell it etc !!!!)

O yes I forgot that one.

7. Fuel saving!


I can`t tell you how much fuel you would save though sorry.

As a guess I would say........Hmmmmmmm tupence maybe?

Well i did it last summer and what a total waste of time,no noticable fuel saving,vibrations at speed,only one bonus makes a 3 point turn easier (no wind up). soon as i put mine back on it was great to feel all 4 wheels grabbing the road,felt much sturdier.i would only do it again as a temp measure if my trans was knacked.

hi tryed it while waiting for vcu did not make much diffrance fuel wise . but notice diffrance in cornering not good . wheel spin on juction spillt diesel . if its a diesel get a remap get more miles to the gallon and better towing

If you want a front wheel drive car then why have you bought a Landrover?

I've tried mondo mode and its pants. The car handles so much better in 4WD. Get your tire pressures right and its good on fuel as well. I run at 31PSI instead of 30PSI and it makes a lot of difference. Different models have different pressures so its up to trial and error to get the car handling right.

Darmain said:

I run at 31PSI instead of 30PSI and it makes a lot of difference.

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My manual says 26PSI all round. (tyre size 215/65R16)

I run my FL in mondo during the summer, and then put it back to 4wd for the winter. My journey to work consists of some of Devon's finest ultra rural roads, many of which are impassable to all but 4wd when it snows.
Oddly though, it drives exactly the same 2 or 4wd, except its more prone to wheelspin at junctions etc. Fuel economy seems little different.
If it was'nt such a delicate 4wd system, id leave it alone, but the VCU (which is new) has a limited mileage before it dies, and also i want to preserve the life of the rest of the drive train.
Lastly, i have an empathy with machinery, and in 4wd, reversing on full lock, makes me grit my teeth, close my eyes, and wait for the bang as the transmission winds itself to death.
Russ

Personally i dont think there is much in the way of fuel saving. i drive to birmingahm from lowestoft on a regular basis and i have not really noticed any difference in 2 or 4wd. I think the car feels alot better to drive in 4wd + there is always the added assurance that if you have a crash the insurance company wont refuse to pay out because you have modified your car and not told them. If you do tell them then i would expect them to bump up your premium, because they can.

Running in 2wd will not put anymore strain on the front drive shafts as they are the first part of the drive train that gets power from the gearbox. The crown wheel gets driven from the front diff only when there is slip on the front.

rippedoff said:

Running in 2wd will not put anymore strain on the front drive shafts as they are the first part of the drive train that gets power from the gearbox. The crown wheel gets driven from the front diff only when there is slip on the front.

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Hmmmmmm i`m not too sure about that, So when you pull away at a junction in FWD mode and your fronts are jumping about scrabbling for grip, this is not straining them, as if you were to be in 4x4 mode, the strain/load would very very quickly be spread to the rears too, so no scrabbling for grip, just point and go.

Take for instannce towing a caravan in mondo mode, all that extra weight/load the front tyres/drive shafts have to put up with?

Vertuas said:

My manual says 26PSI all round. (tyre size 215/65R16)

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As I said, different models have different pressures. I run 195s. However, it is possible to experiment with the pressures to get a better drive. Increasing tyre pressures will reduce fuel consumption but it will also affect traction and handling, both of which affect safety, so this must be modified with great care. Its up the individual really.

For all the guys wanting to extend the life of their vcu's, it might help but would you not be worried that like all things mechanical it might not like extended periods of inactivity & might actually be better to have it in use & keep an eye on tyre pressures etc.

You should be getting around 20% fuel saving (speaking for the old pre 2001 IRD ratio) in 2wd on a 50mph road

In 4wd, it's the increased engine braking and that lead us to believe it handles better

2wd causes less strain on the drive train, but i'm convinced the two front sets of IRD bearings suffer more in 2wd

2wd isn't for everyone, it would have been twice the car if LR made it selectable 2wd/4wd at the concept stage......


still it can be done and it's simple and cheap

chromiumuk said:

For all the guys wanting to extend the life of their vcu's, it might help but would you not be worried that like all things mechanical it might not like extended periods of inactivity & might actually be better to have it in use & keep an eye on tyre pressures etc.

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I've a ten year old VCU with approx 30k on it.............still good,

Mondo is for drivers with pink interiors, and bunny rabbits on the dash.:lvkiss-106:

jedi said:

Hmmmmmm i`m not too sure about that, So when you pull away at a junction in FWD mode and your fronts are jumping about scrabbling for grip, this is not straining them, as if you were to be in 4x4 mode, the strain/load would very very quickly be spread to the rears too, so no scrabbling for grip, just point and go.

Take for instannce towing a caravan in mondo mode, all that extra weight/load the front tyres/drive shafts have to put up with?

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Well if your tires are jumping and scrambling for grip when your pulling away from a junction then i guess you should learn how to drive your car. I ran mine in mondo for a few months and not once did my tires jump or scrab for grip. Not even in the wet. I also think that if you tow a caravan with a 4wd vehical in 2wd only then you are asking for trouble. Only a very small % of power goes to the rear when the TC is not kicking in. The crown wheel is driven off the front diff so how can there be more strain on the drive shafts if they are the drive for the rear? If anything there is more strain put on the drive train when the TC kicks in. thats why you can still use your car with a f**ked IRD unt in 2wd. Pull an IRD apart and take a look at the components. You will see what i mean.Normal road use i don t feel it would make any difference. How many times does your TC light come on when your driving on the road in 4wd?? When the TC light comes on then your in 4wd.

rippedoff said:

I ran mine in mondo for a few months and not once did my tires jump or scrab for grip.

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Hi

Do you have a pink interior?:cheer2:

I`m talking the drive shafts here (the long bits that attach to the wheel hubs), not the internal workings of the IRD.

Can you give me any tips on how to drive my Hippo properly?

The idea of running in mondo mode seems silly to me unless people have absolutely no choice.

Northern Irelander said:

You should be getting around 20% fuel saving (speaking for the old pre 2001 IRD ratio) in 2wd on a 50mph road

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Are you saying that in 2001, the IRD ratio was changed? I have a 51 plate Freelander TD4 and I'm not sure if my VCU should be replaced. Done nearly 80k on the clock. Did a tippex about a month ago, and it seemed to be fine when I checked it, but I know I shouldn't depend on the tippex test as it will only give an indication of whether or not the VCU Is completed seized.

rippedoff said:

Well if your tires are jumping and scrambling for grip when your pulling away from a junction then i guess you should learn how to drive your car. I ran mine in mondo for a few months and not once did my tires jump or scrab for grip. Not even in the wet. I also think that if you tow a caravan with a 4wd vehical in 2wd only then you are asking for trouble. Only a very small % of power goes to the rear when the TC is not kicking in. The crown wheel is driven off the front diff so how can there be more strain on the drive shafts if they are the drive for the rear? If anything there is more strain put on the drive train when the TC kicks in. thats why you can still use your car with a f**ked IRD unt in 2wd. Pull an IRD apart and take a look at the components. You will see what i mean.Normal road use i don t feel it would make any difference. How many times does your TC light come on when your driving on the road in 4wd?? When the TC light comes on then your in 4wd.

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Don't go with this. My Hippo puts 180 foot pound down to the road. If there is loose gravel about I can get scrabbling in 4WD. In 2WD it scrabbled without trying. Therefore 2WD is not for me.

Oh and I am a very proficient driver and I have to manage the power delivery carefully for a smooth drive........