Differential Lock Hardcore

[Quinn]

Are there any disadvantages for turning on diff lock when I get stuck or just a bit sluggish in hardcore? At this point, it just seems like whenever I want a quick speed boost, I'll plop the truck in manual, turn on diff lock without consequences and when I had enough I go back to auto mode.

Realistic or not, I feel like there should be some drawbacks to using diff lock as liberally as I am.

[Beryll Argent]

It is absolutely realistic to use the differential lock in that case, though, and does not realistically have a drawback.

[Psycho]

If you run your diff lock for too long on 'hard surfaces' (gravel, tarmac) you will damage the truck and stall the engine. You'll see your lock icon (both in cabin and overly) turn pinkish, then redder and redder. At full red it will crunch.

So in HC when towing uphill you often need to cycle the diff on and off, or only use it on the steep parts where you can't move. You can also 'trick' the diff if it's heating up on tarmac by deliberately aiming at log bundles, rocks etc to bounce the truck up, spin that wheel in the air and cool it down.

Of course ramming things at full speed is a good way to do as much damage as or more than crunching the diff but hey, you gottta push the limits.

The reason I put hard surfaces in quotes is sometimes the engine gets confused about what is hard, I think it's more calculating if the wheels on the axle are turning perfectly in sync. I've had diff lock up while crossing grassland, etc.

[Quinn]

Originally posted by Tecuani:

It is absolutely realistic to use the differential lock in that case, though, and does not realistically have a drawback.

As soon as I hit mud, I could just turn on diff lock and then it is just like driving on a hard surface again until I get back on tarmac. I don't do this because it seems like a massive cheese, since I don't suffer damage for it or anything else.

[Randox]

Getting through mud more easily is the entire point. If you don't want to use it, more power to you, but it is intended to be effective.

The reason it damages you on hard surfaces is because the diff lock has to carry the strain of keeping the wheels spinning at the same speed in turns and whatnot. On slippery surfaces the wheels slip more easily and there is less strain.

Most, or all, on the vehicles in the game with full time diff lock likely don't have differentials at all, and the strain is carried by the axle as a whole (some may have closed differentials).

[Simon said EAT DUST PLAYER_1 !]

diff-lock in real life means: a fully locked (as in functionally disabled) differential.
This means wheels on the same axle are forced to rotate at the same speed at all times. Which gives rise to one of two things on high-grip surfaces:
a) "wheel-hop" where the elastic properties of the tyres store some energy short-term until the "buffered force" coming out of the drivtrain exceeds the combined available grip and makes one or two tyres bounce and release the built-up tension (binding force) momentarily.

b) the available grip (think heavy laden truck on high-grip surface) overpowers the "structural integrity"(if that is the correct term) of the weakest link inside the drive-train leading to ternminal damage to at least one part that finally gives in.

Some, if not most, 4WD systems are not designed to cope with excessive forces for too long, some not even able to withstand the application of full engine-power going to only n<X number of wheels with grip. Metal can
1) flex, (think drive-shafts and axle-shafts)
2) then bend (shafts, gear-teeth, etc. -- at this point you will have trouble moving)
_3) and then break (welcome to the world of "No-Wheel-Drive")

The problem is about efficiency and available room and weight during vehicle design.

[Bobby]

Diff-lock = planet gears not orbiting anymore ;) think turning a corner, inside wheels turn slower than outside wheels, which is why you have planet gears to orbit and allow the speed difference on the same axle. So if you steer under diff-lock the turning front steering wheels will turn at the same speed, which is fine on slippery surfaces but not on roads. As wear is applied to the tyres and torque to the transmission = heat, which had already Been pointed out.

ETS2 always prompts you to disengage it when increasing speed and moving from say a quarry to the main road.