4X4 High

I am new to having a 4WD. I heard it is good to run the 4wd regularly for good maintenance. When I run the 4WD high and I am driving slow like parking or turning around, it seems difficult for it to move and I have to accelerate more for it to move. When it does move, it is not smooth. Is this normal? What say you experts?

 

It's good to use 4wd once a month, but you should do it when there is very low traction like sand or gravel, not pavement. Your transfer case is binding.

 

Only us 4x4 if the tires can slip, like off road on sand, rocks, or on snow and ice.

 

I tell all my customers to use there 4WD at least month a month, summer and winter, it keeps things lubed up, the front ADD system can get a little sticky in cold weather

 

You can use it on pavement, but make sure you're going in a straight line. Turning, especially tight turns, will bind the driveline and could break something. That's what you're feeling when it's difficult to move.

 

First never run 4x4 on pavement. Go find some dirt or a good logging road and engage 4x4 there.

 

Its fine on pavement if you don't turn. Why does everyone say this?

 

Never engage your 4WD on dry pavenment... read the links below for more information.

 

The manual says to drive 10 miles a month in 4wd to keep the hubs lubricated. Don't do it on dry pavement, though. In 4wd the front and rear differentials are locked together and can't turn at different speeds. If you're in 4wd on dry pavement and you're turning, the front and rear differentials want to turn at different speeds but can't, so you will feel the drivetrain binding. FYI, turning in 4wd on dry pavement is about the worst thing you can do to your 4wd components. On dirt, snow, mud, etc, in 4wd (AKA the places you're supposed to use 4wd), you usually won't feel binding because the tires will skid easily on the slippery surface. Some people won't use 4wd on wet pavement when it's raining. I think it's OK as long as you don't make sharp turns or park in 4wd. Hope this info helps!

 

And if you're going straight they're all spinning at the same rate, so its fine as long as you don't turn.

 

Probably because NOT using 4wd on dry pavement where it is not needed requires zero effort.

 

True.

 

In what circumstance would you even concider engaging 4WD on dry pavement? Are the pot holes that bad where you live?

 

No but around here it's near impossible to find dirt roads. If you feel the need to engage 4wd every so often and have no dirt to do so it's fine to drive a a mile on pavement in 4wd if you don't turn.

 

Hehehe here we go again.

I engage mine once a week, 4 low once a month
On dry pavement at 40 mph IN A STRAIGHT LINE on my way to work.
My son does the same.
There are no issues.

Let the shit storm begin hehehehehe

 

Same


Occasionally I even *GASP* turn , just not sharply

 

X2 you got to work with what you got. In the summer I find a straight away here and there. Best I can do most of the time. This winter though its been getting a good work out.

 

^This

 

Same

The hand wringing and panic over 4wd on dry pavement is truly comical. How many miles are driven in 4lo w/ lockers engaged every year at Moab.

David