Keeping 4wd healthy - regular use of 4WD

(Opened up a can of worms at the lunch table today so I thought I would pose this to the board)

We had a discussion today on using 4WD in general driving conditions. As we are having torrential rains today, I commented that I got a chance to use 4WD this morning as I engaged it for the ride to work.

I'm also of the mindset that one should regularly 'exercise' 4WD to keep the drive line components free and seals well lubed.

I'm aware of the concerns of tight turns on dry pavement and know the 'hop' / 'jumps' that occur when you get too tight on a hard surface and the wheels respond accordingly.

On my past vehicle, a Ford Sporttrac with part time 4WD (similar to this system) I followed the same principles of use for over 10 years without issues.

I'm being cautioned by my peers that these are bad habits the can break something in the long run.

Thoughts from the board?

 

i flip mine in and out of 4wd all the time on dry pavement for the same reasons, to keep actuators freed up and to spin all the parts.

But i only do it in straight stretches of my commute to n from work as this wont cause any unnecessary binding.

It is good practice.

(same goes for the rear diff lock, simply flipping it in and out 2 or 3 times back to back once a month on your street at 2 mph will keep it freed up)

 

10 miles a month

In my opinion(worth what you paid for it) you are not hurting anything, especially on a wet surface. I don't have to run mine just to run it because I use it at least a couple times a month.

 

I wouldn't worry about it a bit as long as the road is wet and you avoid tight turns. Either that, or as already mentioned, just use it in a straight line on a dry road.

 

On my drive home from work there is a stretch that is about 3 miles of straight stop and go traffic. A few times a month I pop it in to 4wd and let it go till the end. I easily get my 10 miles and some probably. I also use 4wd semi-regularly offroad as well and have never had an issue when I have needed it.

 

I've been flipping it on while on straight stretches of dry pavement about a couple times a month. The owners manual suggests it be done for 10 miles a month if I recall?

 

I do mine also on a regular basis but in soft sand where I launch my kayak. I also use low and reverse and turn my wheels back in forth. Its easy to do, so why not.

 

I do what the OP does, wait for it to rain then engage 4wd for a few miles.

 

Yes..... @4WD should be dusted off regularly....... He's a crabby ol fuck tho so beware

 

I think a lot of people get the recommendation wrong. On Toyota trucks pretty much everything that is spinning in 4wd is also spinning in 2wd. Its just a position where is spinning. So is not so much about the mileage but the actuator exercise.
You are better off engaging 4wd for 50 feet, than disengaging, than engaging again. to get all the forks and areas where gears slide lubricated.
This is better than engaging once and driving for 10 miles.
Same with 4L it needs to be engaged couple times for oil to get on parts that slide. but you need to engage drive for at least 50 feet (forward or backward either way) than disengage and engage again. You need to drive atleast 50 feet because oil pump in transfer case only works when truck is moving.
After 9 years my 4wd locks with out issues even if truck is standing. Which is nice because you know you can engage 4wd after you get stuck.

 

X2

 

Bingo, it's the electrically controlled components that need to be energized regularily for r
eliability the Elocker is a perfect example, theres more than enough gear lube sloshing inside to lube both sides of transfer case (2wd/4wd)

Who you callin' crabby fucker !?....

 

ur the one who said he had some private itching problems crabby patty

 

I don't know how many times I've heard " & when i needed the locker it wouldn't engage." From my own experience it took a good 20 mins. of turning (left & right) engaging/disengaging to get the Elocker going, a few years ago there was a member who had never engaged 4Low on a 2nd gen, took almost 2 hours of fucking with it ...

 

Musta been a senior moment....

 

id believe it. Gotta use it or loose it.


Thats why at least a couple times a month ill flip in and out of 4hi while doing a straight stretch. Then at least once a month find a spot to go in and out of 4low n in and out of locked n not locked. Takes 5 min out of my time but i have never had an issue with it going in, Its almost always flip switch, boom in.

 

No it doesn't the front ring gear does not turn there is nothing going on there that will throw oil around and IMHO that is what causes the axle support bearings to go bad because the damn things spin all the time with no real oil flow. Toyota is not the only one GM's (that's where Toyota got the dumb ideal to get rid of the transfer case shifter) need to be spun every month or so also.

 

Even if not engaged , the CV's will statically spin, sometimes even front shaft will, either of those statically spinning the ring gear turning as well..

EDIT: I do agree about the lever, I'd always prefer mechanical engagement

 

Where is this "oil pump" in the transfer case? The only thing that spins in 2WD drive is the front axles nothing else is turning no ring gear no front drive shafts no transfer case chains or gears.

 

If the ring gear turns so does the pinion and drive shaft craw under it and see if your front drive shaft turns in 2WD by hand or save your self the trouble it does. The CV's and axles all turn the same speed as the wheels they do not free wheel on a 2nd gen or on any thing else with out lock out hubs.