Is it possible to disengage the rear or front wheel drive at different times on a 96 RAV4 to save on gas?

leadfoot?? even the mildest of aggressive driving will affect your gas mileage…tire inflation…tire size…revving…jack rabbit starts…you can cut down your own mileage with small adjustments…

No, you can’t engage front or rear wheels on this vehicle, sorry.

You need to drive more gently. Use your brakes less, coast more, keep it at the speed limit, check your tire pressure.

If you’re still not satisfied, get yourself a Toyota Echo. You’ll get about 40 mpg with that even if you do have a lead foot.

Well I can’t see if it’s an automatic or a stick but the factory sets it to freewheel when not in 4 wheel. And Guess what if it’s using to much fuel, there are many more things that could cause that, A dirty PCV valve and a dirty throttle plate blade base can cause the engine to consume much more fuel but would not be detected unless it was put on an analyzer. Or by removing the intake hose and opening the plate and inspecting it with your eyeball, and if it’s black or dark brown clean it as per manufacture suggestions. Get a scan tool for OBD II cars and check to see if you have a lazy O2 sensor by watching the engine data information, Have you changed the Differential oil? front and rear?? Use synthetic and oil that exceed factory specks, if it has a automatic transmission it may be slipping and need the oil changed as well as the filter. By the way it ALL of the oil. not just three Quarts, take that to a shop if you don’t know what you are doing.

Are your brakes dragging? the emergency brakes could be dragging. A front Piston on the front brakes could be stuck and be dragging Jack the thing up put on safety stands and do not start, spin the wheels by hand have some one press on the brake pedal slowly till you feel it engage does the brakes engage with the same amount of force? do you have a alignment problem or tires out of balance? or low on air?

The newer cars come with antilock anti skid control and 4 wheel drive with yaw and pitch control, You are only guessing but without enough information it would be hard guessing whats wrong.

You drive a vehicle that is quite heavy for its size and has the aerodynamics of a brick. If you drove perfectly to epa specs you still wouldn’t be able to get what the epa claims it will do because their methodology is flawed. If you get much over 23 I would be surprised. Having AWD (not 4wd and no, you can’t disengage either axle) is insignificant compared to the weight and the poor aerodynamics.

Hi there, Sorry you can’t disengage AWD’s. I find when a EFI engine starts guzzling more fuel than usual, check your air filter, When was the last time it was replaced? and when was the last time the spark plugs were changed, I’d replace them too if it hasn’t been done for a while.