Ooops....Left in 4 wheel drive.

Fine

 

I think they figure most people aren't stupid enough (no offense) to intentionally engage a part-time 4WD system on dry pavement. It's common knowledge not to do it and there's no reason to ever concider even doing it. On wet, snow, or ice covered pavement you have slippage... not on dry pavement. The owners manual doesn't say alot of things... doesn't mean it's ok to do it. Sometimes you have to think outside the manual. Heres a link you might want to read... check out page 8-9. Enjoy!
http://log.logcluster.org/response/fleet-management/LOG-2-8-FLEET%20MANAGEMENT-Guide%20to%20Four%20Wheel%20Driving%20-%20Toyota.pdf

 

I do it

 

you'll be fine, I have 8000 miles on my tacoma and 6000 have easily been in 4weel drive since it's only driven when the roads are icy or snowcoverede and my commute is 65 miles one way.. my last 4wd truck was used the same way and has almost 300k on it and there was never a problem with the transfer case or front axle..

I exceed 80mph in 4wd daily and often forget to switch to go in 2wd on a dry road, the best reminder is when you try to turn and it binds up and that is when I switch.. I've also drag raced a 4x4 diesel truck above 100mph in the 1/4 mile in 4 hi and nothing happened except for getting a good launch.

 

This would be an opportune time for an ECU swap.

 

It wastes gas and wares tires if there is no need to use 4WD then don't but do not panic if after you have driven 25 miles you discover you left in 4WD there is no turn with a radius tight enough to bind it on a public road any way, you will know right away when you make a sharp turn in the parking lot it's time to shift out. I will ask one question how many people have had transfer case or drive line issues with their Tacoma's this does not include the stupid electronic stuff. I’ll answer in a half a million miles or more in 4 different Toyota trucks I never have. There are 10’s of thousands of 4WD trucks out there of all sizes and many of the drivers are candidates for the Darwin awards that being said the streets should be littered with broken 4X4 parts.

 

My mom busted a U-Joint bearing driving her Yukon 50 miles on highway pavement. The road did have a few turns in it but nothing drastic. The truck had about 70,000 km's on it at the time so it was more accelerated wear breaking the bearing than the 50 miles itself causing all the damage. That's all driving 4x4 on pavement does. It simply puts additional stress on the drive line if you turn at all ( or do anything that causes a difference in distance traveled between the front and rear axle), and if a part is worn or weakened its not hard to grasp that you will could some sort of damage.

 

OR if you don't rotate the tires often... and there is a diameter difference between front and back tires with wear.... it will stress the transfer case a bit more in a straight line and wear out tires a lot on dry pavement

 

Telling people it's ok to drive in 4WD on dry pavement might be ok if your always driving in a straight line but sooner or later you'll need to turn. If the turn is sharp enough you'll know right away.... with hopfully no damage from the binding and bucking. Why take the chance of damaging your truck... wouldn't it be a better option to get in the habit of only useing it offroad or when slippage occurs? I guess i forget not everyone has dirt roads 5 minutes away and has no other option than to drive in 4WD on dry pavement.

 

Just curious... why?

 

Exercise the 4WD system as per the owner's manual

 

Meh, I use my truck on gravel and goat trails enough that I don't have to worry about exercising the 4WD. OZ do you turn on your A/C a few times in the winter? We are supposed to be doing that to keep the clutch in good condition too.

 

trucks ruined, trade it in and buy a new one

 

vvvv this

 

Only if the AC indicator light is on. I'm reasonably sure our Tacomas don't do it automatically. You have to select AC. The only time AC comes on automatically is when you max out the dial in the cold direction.

 

oh dear

 

Learn something every day.

 

There's where your wrong.
Check out the Starting and Driving section of the owners manual under Tips for driving in various conditions. It says... "Four-wheel drive models-Toyota recommends not useing four-wheel drive on dry hard-surfaced roads" This is on page 305 of my 2007 manual.

In Toyota's Guide to Four Wheel Drive it says it again... page 8 and 9
http://log.logcluster.org/response/fleet-management/LOG-2-8-FLEET%20MANAGEMENT-Guide%20to%20Four%20Wheel%20Driving%20-%20Toyota.pdf

 

Apologize for being a bit off topic , but thought I would share the real reason for the A/C comming on with the defrost.
Ever hear of the Montreal Protocol ? ........... OZ ?
Anyway , it was a meeting of 16 Nations , I believe ... To develope a plan for reducing the depletion of the ozone layer.
Ozone depletion or loss is mainly caused by CFC's. (Freon) used in AC systems.
The worst refrigerant was freon 12 . 12 was used in many "Open" type systems ... By open , I mean compressor motors run by an external motor ... IE ; automobile compressors .... Compressor motor had a shaft , pulley , spun by the motor. A seal ,which worked with the help of oil in the compressor motor.
Freon 12 was popular for these type systems because of its low operating pressures .... 120-125# high side (condenser) 30-35# low side (evaporator)
In the old days ... People wouldn't run the A/C in the winter ... The seal would lose the oil film, and the freon would leak out. Oh well , go get it charged up when it's hot out ?
So .... Millions and millions of cars were spewing out freon 12 ( the worst of the worst CFC's) ... It became law that , (1996) all automobiles had to have the A/C come on with the defroster to prevent the leakage.
Now it's still in effect , as the seals need oil , but freons are much safer now for the inviroment.
Freon 12 was the first to be fazed out. Started by asking a ridiculously high price for it. It was better than gold at one point !!
Sorry if I bored anyone ..... But there Ya have it