Subaru X-MODE for DUMMIES.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ม.ค. 2022
- I thought I would take a moment to describe the Subaru VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control) and X Mode (X M O D E ) systems available on Subaru.
I mention it in videos but realize that I haven't ever done a simple tutorial for those new to these systems.
Hope it helps.
Here is a wonderful write up on 4WD, AWD, Differentials, etc:
www.artofmanliness.com/skills... - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
Brucy, on the dual Xmode, the deep snow and mud takes the traction control OFF and allows each wheel to spin freely.
The single Xmode will brake the wheel that is spinning and send the power / torque to the wheel with the traction.
I’ve watched some tests where 3 wheels were spinning, but One had traction. The 3 wheels that were spinning stopped and the wheel with traction was the only wheel that was moving, thus allowing the Outback to get out of the situation. It was the rear passenger wheel that had the grip.
Perfect, i live near the rainforest in washington, just picked up a 2017 3.6, knew I needed xmode and semi what it was for but not entirely. Perfect video I was looking for thanks bro really got some plans for the ride 👍
Best explanation I've seen so far! Awesome vid, thank you!
I think that the thing that you’re turning off is actually traction control, not VDC. I think that Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) is always on unless you do some extra funky fuse pulling trick while the car is already in drive. I turn off traction control when drifting in snowy parking lots, and as soon as I get off the accelerator pedal, I feel the car’s VDC system wrangle the car back under control.
I think that's accurate. The car still won't let itself slide but will happily spin the tires.
@@bruceyyyyy Yeah, exactly! I can only get it to slide while I'm flooring it. As soon as let off, the VDC nanny mode kicks in and it is amazingly effective too.
@@MatthewHeiskell Put it in neutral/drive, then put the parking brake on, pull the brake light fuse. It will get pissed and throw a bunch of codes but it will work.
It works well if you want to do some donuts in this snow we're getting this season.
How many feet they calling for over there?
@@bruceyyyyy Yeah, I remember you telling me about that procedure a while back. I'll be honest, I like having VDC ready to save my bacon when I get off the gas, haha. We are supposed to get at least a foot of snow in SW Ohio. The crazy thing is that it is going to start as rain, then freezing rain, then snow. And it is going to get really cold the next day. I think it will be a lot of fun in the Subaru!
On most modern Subaru's Traction control is PART of the VDC system. It does that and more. The only way to disable it is to disable the entire VDC system, which is a small loss if you are offroad anyway since it is designed to assist with cornering and accelleration etc...
Draw a wheel at every end of an "X". That is what the 'X ' stands for. 😊 . Thanks for this video .
Thank you Bruce. You helped me out very much here. I have had 4 x 4 Pick up trucks since I was 18 yrs old and I am know lookin at 60.Ford-Chevy-Dodge-CJ7 and a bunch of s-10's and Cherokee's from the wife. Any ways she went out and purchased a new 2017 Outback. Well unfortunately she passed away here back in May. I now have My Silverado and this Outback. I live in Western NY with plenty of Snow -Ice-Mud and blacktop. I know these are capable vehicles as I did a bunch of research before she bought it. I am old School with lockout hubs and transfer cases ETC. Still cant use to turning a knob for 4x4 but sure as hell beats getting out and locking the hubs in 2-3 feet of snow. :) :). You answered all My Questions regarding the All Wheel Drive/4x4 on This Outback and saved me bunch of time testing it out. Thank you Very Much.
Condolences to you on the passing of your wife.
Very good explanation for non-technical viewer like me. Just bought a Subaru based on this video.
super useful video thanks I've seen many people with the diagonal spin thing on youtube those last days and was hoping I wasn't going to get that if I buy a Subaru great to know
Good video .. i have a 2021Crosstrek Sport that I modified same way .. Toyo All Terrains III's .. 225/65 17" .. skid plate and lifted 2" .. It's 14" shorter then the Outback and about 500 lbs lighter. Makes a difference. 🤠
Thank you. Very helpful. I have a 2015 Subaru Outback.
Nice job mate, thanks for the lesson
We don’t drive our Subie’s for serious off roads. Logging roads can be challenging and that’s about as difficult of a road that we drive our Subaru’s on.
We live in north central WA state and get 5-7 feet of snow every winter. We’re 5 miles from a town on a private road that we have to plow and maintain ourselves.
The county road is plowed Monday through Friday as we are on a school bus route, but on the weekends our county road is the last, if ever to get plowed.
After turning off the county road and onto our private road, we have to put our Subie’s into Xmode.
Both of our Subaru’s are 2019 year models.
My wife’s Outback has only the single Xmode, whereas my Forester Touring has dual Xmode.
For more serious off roading I take our 11 Ford Ranger 4WD super cab to my favorite fishing spot. I’m sure my Forester would make it, but at the end of the day, I don’t want my Subie to smell like fish… that’s what the bed of the truck is for.
Brucy, I’m glad you have so much fun with your Subie. I’d love to take our Subie’s out like you do with yours, but we simply can’t afford to fix the things that break.
I use my X-mode as cruse control when backing up.
Good informative video Bruce Bruce! I felt that xmode didn’t make much of a difference with the 2015 Forester XT. I found manual 1st gear ratio and traction control off to work the best, but you know my story, the SJ FXTs liked to stall really easy, and that probably had alot to do with my experience.
Did yours not have X Mode? For some reason I thought it did.
I've only owned (as far as Subaru):
1997 Brighton Wagon
2000 Outback
2002 VDC Sedan (pictured here)
2002 Forester 5 Speed
2005 GT Wagon
2006 Baja
2006 Forester
2007 Outback LL Bean Sedan
2008 Outback LL Bean
2013 XV
2015 Outback 2.5
2017 Outback 3.6
I don't have any first hand experience with VDC in Gen 4s but it did seem to be of some assistance if pushed.
But nothing like a 'simulated locker/limited slip'
@@bruceyyyyy the SJ FXTs had Xmode 1.0
Hello from Brooke County, great video!
Thank you! I was wondering what that button was for. We just got our outback a week ago.
Very well done. Thanks buddy.
Hey Great video. I was just wondering what tires I should get for a 2016 subaru outback 2.5i that's most street driven with a little offroad here and there.
I think the X stands for the diagonal issue. Take a top view if the car and draw a line from front left tire to rear right tire and a second line from the front right tire to the rear left tire, what do you get?
This is a good video but after having read all the comments, I think some confusion could be addressed by strategically choosing when to use the word 'spinning' (which is sometimes exactly is what is happening) versus saying when 'torque' is being forced to any wheel(s) with traction whether firmly planted taking the weight of the car through only 2 wheels.. diagonally of course, or even sending torque (mootly) to one(s) in the air. i.e. you tend to use the word spin or spinning to describe a turning wheel either by happenstance versus the affect that spinning wheel in the air has over others that may be in a position to offer traction, but it's not always going to happen depending on which of the many settings you're in.
There's a lot involved in trying to idiot proof all wheel drive systems because owners with the wrong systems and their limitations, will at times forget to disengage after being stuck or using it, then turn sharply into a tight parking spot at the mall on hot clean pavement and wind up the drivetrain to such an extent that it will fail... especially if you do it heavily laden. And if it doesn't fail the first time, it IS going to fail prematurely.
Lastly, regarding traction control. There's a big difference in how different brands handle TC, but enough are similar enough when it comes to reducing power and torque from the engine whether it's through advancing the timing or altering fuel injector operation etc, that there are some cases where the only way to get up a hill is with road speed and the ONLY way to reach 'enough' road speed is with TC OFF. An example of this scenario is on my own steep hill in the winter with a older CRV Real Time AWD. It has no switchable modes, just TC on or off. If after numerous snowblower clearings by a walk-behind, you eventually end up with a hard pack snow/ice base a few inches thick.. sometimes over 5" thick. The problem is when it's mostly snow pack and then have one or two significant mild Jan thaws with rain. You come home and all of a sudden the weight of the car finds 'bottom' on the road but not on gravel of course, and you end up with 4 huge wedges in front of every wheel. With TC ON, this scenario is impossible to deal with because the slip controls, especially the ones which lower engine power, literally has you power-out right when the hill steepens or you need extra road speed to do the last stretch which is around 12-13% and fairly long still. In that circumstance you need to start at the bottom and go full on Mario Andretti with it. And if you do it right you'll never have to walk. If you try it only with TC interference, you will never, not even once, make it up the hill in that condition I described above.
A Sube with its various modes and locking diffs etc etc (VDC) could very well react differently and probably does, than the old CRV. That said, the CRV handles the hill in extreme conditions better than a few other old school AWD, front wheel bias systems. In fact, it does better even than my XT6 did 3 decades ago, but the difference might have been tires, which is always a huge part of the puzzle too.
It's funny. I made this video because I was bored and locked in my room when I had COVID. It's all B roll and you can hear my voice scratching.
Anyways, I basically made it as a response to one thread on the subaru outback forum and it's gained way more attention that it was ever intended to.
But yeah I mostly agree with your assessment. I tried not to use technical terms while talking about technical things and it's kinda difficult to do.
Great video
Thanks for this video. Very informational! What's your opinion on a rear differential locker like from Torq Industries? If X-Mode functions essentially as an electronic locker, is a mechanical locker overkill?
I think the locker would be more capable since it would ultimately be quicker to react.
It would behave similar to the Chevy does in the video here with it automatically engaging the rear wheels.
Sweet video!!!!
Off-topic question: what is the size of the BF-Goodrich tires you were using back then and how do they compare to the Falken Wildpeak? Currently run my Crosstrek/XV on Falkens and am considering switching to KO2s. I use it as a daily - I do the school run during the week and do off-roading during the weekends... (if memory serves you made a video a while back on the topic, but I'd rather bother you in the comments... )
Stick with the Falkens. I didn't think the KO2s are a good match for the car.
@@bruceyyyyy Thanks, mate!!! The KO2s look sick, though!
I have a 2019 Forester (replaced my 2008 Santa Fe). Even though in the real tough stuff off-road the Subaru is the king in its class, for every day driving, I don't know what the hype is about. With ESC on the Santa Fe (same as VDC on the Subaru), the Hyundai was WAY better at keeping you on the road than the Subaru. If I am in a few inches of snow or in a turn where understeer was an immediate concern, the sante Fe would correct you immediately., In fact, it was virtually impossible to lose directional control in the Hyndai by steering too much or hammering on the pedal; it just wouldn't let you. First day in the Subaru, I was kicking the ass end out in mild slippery turns by just tapping the gas.
Well documented.
We Love the dual Xmode on our Subie’s
When I lived on Maui on a construction job I bought a beater Subaru Forester to get me around. I’d drive it to all these remote beaches and it would be me parked along side all these ridiculous trucks. People would look at me like I was crazy but I never even came close to situations like this.
First time subaru owner, trying the brand out for commuting in a few inches of snow to and from work, would it be necessary to use x mode even if im going under 25mph through a couple inches of snow or the AWD is capable enough? If i dont off road would i have a need to ever use the feature?
My cousin Vinny! Love it😂
You actually don't need to enable X-Mode to have the feature function, it is always on standby for all recent CVT AWD variants.
This is obviously late, but do you recommend switching to x mode *every* time you are in/snow snow, deep snow, dirt, and mud, or only when you experience difficulty driving in these conditions.
Also, when turning X mode, the traction control is turned off. If you are on a road covered in snow/ice, wouldn't that *increase* the likelihood you will lose control of the vehicle?
Traction control stays on with X mode. You can still turn it off.
As far as when, since X Mode disengages above 25 mph I would say if it's rough enough to need drive that slow then it's worth engaging.
What kind of outback is that wondering if my 05 forester has it or not
Those two buttons have no indicator as to when the system is on or if it is off. I believe they turn off automatically at a certain speed. But who knows since there is not an indicator light!
They both have indicators on the dash on my 2017 Outback.
How is the tuning of the single-wheel braking on pre-xmode subarus? Is it the same as modern non x-mode, or somewhere in between, as far as brake engagement aggressiveness to stop a spinning wheel?
Somewhere in between. I had VDC swapped into our Baja and it would engage eventually but only after heavy wheel spin.
oh. I think my car is too old for this feature. Mine is a 2010 Outback. The Subaru Uberoo. maybe i should start ubering again. but my car actually not very comfortable to sit in and ride in and i think a Forester would be better. Do you know any Subaru Forester and Uber jokes? Do you know if any other cars would be better for ubering?
If I was ubering I would get a Prius or similar hybrid. They make great taxi's in NYC for the same reason they're good uber vehicles.
@@bruceyyyyy good idea thanks. maybe I can get 2 new cars. A used Subaru Outback as famous as mine or yours should be worth at least 2 other cars. That would be an excellent trade. Maybe a toyota prius hybrid car and a Diesel truck. I want a diesel truck because there is some really heavy stuff I want to drag around. ha ha ha.
Never took my Forester out yet but what I got from this is to turn on X mode, turn off traction control and use manual 1st gear and go slow?
As slow as possible but as fast as necessary is generally good advice.
Does x not stand for cross? Rally cross? Cross mode? I dunno. WRX, World Rally Cross?
So the X-mode seems to be meant for situations where a vehicle is stuck in place with tires slipping. But what about when a vehicle traveling on asphalt at 40mph hits a patch of black ice or even some slushy snow and starts skidding? Which AWD system is better suited to handle that relatively high speed situation? I am trying to decide on a family hauler between a Honda Pilot and a Subaru Ascent and wondering if Honda's iVTM4 or Subaru's fulltime AWD with X-mode is better suited for us.
If you want to drive 40+ mph on black ice I don't think it matters much on either vehicle. They're both good but have limits. Snow tires are a must for either.
Nothing beats black ice lol
If you're planning on hitting black ice at 40MPH, pick the Subaru Ascent, because it has the higher NCAP/ANCAP/IIHS crash score, for when you slam into something.
@@Erelyes I chose to get the Honda Pilot Trailsport instead.
So if you use x mode you have to turn of traction control?
4:10 was looking like an "Oh, $hit..we're gonna tip over" moment. Takes balls to drive a Subaru like this. Well done, sir!
Was that the Car Wizard filming you in action with his phone?
Using the Toyota FJ Cruiser was a bad example IMO. Toyota’s A-Trac System is better than X-Mode. I personally have an Eaton TruTrac in my 2000 GMC Yukon.
i think the X is for XTREEEEEEEEM TEAM OFFROAD SUBARU.
...so I was drunk today and put my 18 outback into a ditch. I'm so impressed it crawled out.. I have AT tires on it, cooper discoveries. I didn't even need xmode, it pulled its ass out of that ditch. Guy I was with said he's had to pull lifed pick ups out of there.. my little subaru did it by herself.
nice, go x-force
Thanks sir! You should be a guest on the Subie and you podcast! Go check it out Subie and You Podcast!!
Ok, I'll check it out.
X = The four tires on the ground! Nothing new here with an old Subaru X-MODE system
There are so many things in here that are straight up wrong that I don't even know where to begin.
is a Subaru ascent capable for beach driving in sugar soft sand ? ain't doing any other off-road just beach sand. obviously I would have to deflate the tires
It should be ok deflated. Lots of Outback guys have good luck with deflating the tires and sending it.
I don't have any first hand experience with the Ascent though.
@@bruceyyyyy I live in NJ where the send is very soft so I was debating between a real 4x4 versus Subaru, but I am leaning Subaru. What tires would you recommend for sand? would 20'' rims get the job done or would I need to have 17'' 18'' rims?
Generally the smaller the wheel the better for off road. Sidewall is your friend.
@@bruceyyyyy thanks man! It's just so funny how the higher trims usually have wider rims and don't even give you any other option. Anyway...you're awesome keep it up
🤙🏽
tyres make a big difference
So when off road, you’re turning off VDC and turning on x mode? Or leaving vdc alone and only turning on x mode? Maybe I’m too dumb for X Mode for Dummies and need X Mode for Xtreme Dummies
So if you get a manual transmisión crosstrek you dont get xmode ?
I believe that's accurate. They do have VDC though.
So for beach sand driving, X-mode on, VDC ...??
I would say on since you want to limit wheel spin to discourage digging.
Definitely low tire pressure too!
The suburban has an Eaton locker .
Can you fully turn off traction in this year outback?
I have managed to by pulling the brake fuse while the car is on. But otherwise no.
@@bruceyyyyy okay, thanks for getting back to me. Damn thats too bad. New cars are so boring
Sorry but despite other accolades below, your explanation is almost incoherant. You say you are going to explain VDC, show us some wheels spinning, which was a great test for open differentials but has NOTHING to do with VDC. Then you jump straight to Xmode and say, VDC of = wheel spin, Xmode on = All wheels spin. I know how all this stuff works, and I THINK I know what you are trying to say there BASED on MY knowledge. But if you are expecting to teach noobs, that is a very confusing set of statements., and I couldn't possibly have come up with a more confusing or partially incorrect way to explain this. It's almost like you don't know what you are talking about, and are trying to explain what you know in ways that won't really commit you to any facts, and I know that is not the case.. No hate here. I am enjoying the channel. But if you are trying to clarify what VDC is, and how it works, please try again. You are conflating VDC with Open differentials in your explanation and it is confusing. You can do better. In fact you can use the same Video and dub a better explanation over it. And THEN explain Xmode. I wouldn't say "all wheels spinning" I would say NO wheels spinning, or LIMITED spinning with XMode2. THEN you can explain how to use the two tech's in conjunction with each other. It seems like your take is to NOT use VDC offroad, so SAY THAT. As I said, I already know how this stuff works and found this a bit confusing. Your explanation of differentials was spot on tho.. Even the first part of VDC with the sled was pretty good and you should have STOPPED right there, but then you said "here is the problem" and showed something that had NOTHING TO DO WITH VDC. Yes, open diffs are a problem. But make it clear you are done talking about VDC because people still pondering that are trying to figure out how your ramp test explaines VDC. Databyter
Thanks for the feedback. I guess I was thinking "here is the problem.. " was introducing x mode since it's difficult to talk about it without talking about VDC first.
I made this after a friend mentioned in the last off road video I talk about VDC/x mode and they didn't know what any of that meant.
I didn't want to start talking about ABS tone rings and things of that nature so tried to make something helpful.
Looks like I could do better. (:
@@bruceyyyyy - Subaru owner here! I drive my wife's old stock '06 Forester (256K!) but it's been all streets, freeways, and Mojave Desert/Eastern Sierras smooth-ish dirt roads. Not too much bottoming out on anything serious, no serious challenges, but it's been someones daily driver since we bought it new, so we haven't been able to take too many chances with it. (She's got a newish Crosstrek hybrid now, but misses her manual shifter a bit. The new one has got all the bells and whistles and buttons and whatnot, but it's still too pretty to chance ripping anything off of the car, and the power available is... fine for streets and freeways. It's the kind of very polite Subaru you'd drive to the bed-and-breakfast on a rustic road!)
I've been watching your videos because I hope to own a Forester Wilderness one of these days, for more backroad adventuring when I retire in a couple of years, and it's SUPER fun to watch what you can do with your Subies!
My brain hit a speed bump at 4:33 in the video when you said "If you want tires to spin, turn VDC off. If you want all four tires to spin, turn X-Mode on."
"Spinning tires" means no traction going to the ground, to me, so I rewound that bit, and it still sort of made my brain go sideways. Did I miss a point? What combo is best for getting through that diagonal two-wheels-off-the-ground scenario?
Or maybe someday I'll convince my spending-averse daughter to buy a new car, and I'll re-inherit her grandfather's 2001 4-Runner, and I'll get the 4WD vacuum lines repaired so that I can use the 4WD again, and THEN I can do some rougher road stuff. She's had it for a decade, now, just going to work, to stagehand gigs, and to D&D games at friend's houses!
Cheers, and thanks for the entertainment!
So I will say if the diagonal spin is an issue I would turn on x mode.
The car should figure it out eventually but the x mode is near instant.
I’m still confused. If I’m on an uneven rocky trail, then I benefit by turning on x-mode, and also pressing the button on the dash to turn off VDC, right? Because then the tires without grip won’t spin as much, and that power instead goes to the tires that do have grip, right?
@@so4796 Bottom line, and this depends on model, but I would never turn on Xmode at all unless I was really in the shit and already haveing problems. For the most part you don't need it. When one wheel starts spinning and you can't move forward, THEN put on Xmode. VDC may or may not help you depending onthe terrain or what you are trying to do. It is designed mostly to help you during normal driving on the road, and can work against you offroad depending on the terrain. If I was in sand or snow I'd turn it off. And I'd turn Xmode on if I was still experiencing problems. My newest Subaru is an Outback Wilderness. I've had it 6 months and I've had it in snow and mud and sand, and I've never needed to turn anything on or off because it works so well as it is, and has great clearance and traction and power out the door, and a very refined AWD system that has eliminated many of the problems of the past. But the new Xmodes do over several settings for no slip, or all slip because sometimes you want all 4 wheels spinning, and sometimes you want Xmode to stay on even if wheel spin indicates a higher speed than you are actually going. They've evolved these systems quite a bit. But if you have a Subaru that is built within the last decade or so, you still have a capable car. Chances are if it won't move it is the VDC, and if one tire is spinning, Use the Xmode, and if it is still underpowered, then it IS underpowered. Remember that we have no low range, so it takes an AWD much more torque to accomplish the same grade or obstacle that a low range geared 4x4 would just chug over. But it's a fair tradeoff since we are lightweight and get much better mileage. Databyter
What is your tire size on the Methods?
245/65/17 tire size
@@bruceyyyyy sweet, thank you. Just got the Ironman lift installer’s . Already had the Methods on my OB but currently with Maxxis Bravo AT 235’s almost ready to be replaced. Looking for a tire with a little more tooth!
What wheels do you have? Can you send a link?
Method 502s
Is it better to turn off the traction control in snow up a steep hill, or only put the car in X-Mode. Please someone answer its bugging me for four years
I would turn it off up hill. Spin it baby.
@@bruceyyyyy Thanks, should I put the X-MODE on also?
@@bruceyyyyy Is turning off the traction control with or without X-Mode on is it like a four wheel drive.?
It allows the wheels to spin more.
@@bruceyyyyy But as a dummie is spinning wheels good or worse and what do I use it with, X-Mode?
No OEM street tires will be any good on that terrain
How do you not ruin the undercarriage of your car when you do this?
Local man finds any excuse to brag about 15 year old Suburban.
It has a factory torq locker.
Hey, I'm a dummy! Tell me about X mode!
FIRST
THIRST
I can’t believe people are trying to take these things on trails. They barely have AWD. I had one for about a year and every time I was in a low traction situation, the car would CUT POWER TO ALL WHEELS to protect the CVT.
Mine does good. The Wilderness Forester does great. Check the new video bub.
Thanks anyway but I’ll stick to American made! Go! Ram! Ford! Chevy!👍
The Subaru is made in Indiana.
Ram's are made in Mexico.
Get to the point. Is the video about Subaru X-mode or not? Ffs.