Issue with 4x4 engaged

I've plowed with f250s and always plowed in 4 high. Just seem to make sense since it was snowing. Are you guys trying to say that you can only use 4 high when in deep snow? I would assume you could use 4 high at anytime, thats why its 4 high. 4 low is obviously more for off road or stuck in something situation.

 

what do you recommend for this?

 

I don't recommend it on wet pavement. Only off road, or in ice/snow on pavement. Even off-road you can get binding if traction is good enough. And you can do major damage in a short time.

AWD systems are designed to allow all 4 wheels to turn at different speeds. A 4X4 system forces all 4 to turn at the same speed. When cornering a 4X4 vehicle the wheels on the inside have far less distance to cover than the outside wheels. If they are turning at the same speed the inside wheels MUST be able to slip and spin slightly. Not a problem in dirt, gravel, snow, ice or mud. But on dry pavement you can really damage the drive train.

On wet pavement you are less likely to damage drive train components since you can get slippage. But think about this. If you are driving on wet pavement at highway speeds and take a corner at 40-45 mph or faster you're are forcing your inside wheels to break traction with the pavement. Not a good idea. You'd get better traction leaving it in 2wd.

 

Honestly, I don't really know what I will do for now, I have to find a nice loose gravel road for my obligatory 16 km's (8 in and 8 out). In the manual it just says to use it for 16 km's a month (Canadian here) / 10 miles for US.

Here is the manual specifics.

"Four-wheel drive usage frequency
You should drive in four-wheel drive for at least 10 miles (16 km) each month.
This will assure that the front drive components are lubricated."

Then the warnings

"Caution while driving
●Never shift the front-wheel drive control switch from “2WD” to “4H” if the
wheels are slipping.
Stop the slipping or spinning before shifting.

●For normal driving on dry and hard surface roads, use “2WD” position.
Driving on dry and hard surface roads in “4H” or “4L” position may cause
drive component oil leakage, seizure, or other problems resulting in an
accident. Further, it may cause tire wear and increased fuel consumption.

●Avoid turning suddenly in “4H” or “4L” position. If you do turn suddenly, the
difference in turning speeds between the front and rear wheels may have
a similar effect to braking, thus making driving difficult.

●Do not shift the front-wheel drive control switch when the vehicle is turning
or when its wheels are spinning freely off the ground"

I am still going to decide what to do. I did already try the 4H just to see how it felt but that was for like a kilometer at most in the city in a straight line.

 

In the winter here in VT, I drive all the time in 4Hi when its snowing, the roads are slick. I use it on the interstate sometimes switching back & forth on the fly depending on conditions etc. In parking lots to turn into a space, I flick it back into 2wd always avoiding sharp full lock turns.
In nicer weather, I find some dirt trails or roads to switch it into 4wd from time to time.

 

Here's what I do. I've owned Toyota 4x4 trucks off and on since the 80's and its always worked for me... During the summer months when I am not regularly using the 4wd system, I will occasionally switch to 4HI when I am on the freeway and sitting in traffic. Usually on long straight stretches, and usually only for 5 mi or so at a time. This gives the system a chance to lubricate itself and keep the seals moist. As a 20 yr ex Journeyman technician, I am confident that there is no risk of damage to the system when your going straight in 4HI on dry pavement (as long as you have the same size tires left to right and front to back). During heavy rains I will sometimes switch to 4HI on the highway, especially if there is a lot of standing water on the road and people are hydroplaning around me. But when doing so DEFINITELY NO FULL LOCK TURNS! As this is not good.

 

I've noticed when I don't turn on 4Hi in a while it makes this "click-clunk" noise then it goes away. Living in Wa, where there's wet roads all the time I do the same thing you said by driving straight and under 45mph.

 

Well from what I have read, I think living in central Iowa I am going to have to hit the gravel roads in the warm months to get in the 10 miles Toyota recommends. mxwrench, I would have to agree with you on the freeway traveling straight, but I would try to find a rainy day and I would turn off VSC. The gravel is probably best except this anal city slicker is not a fan of gravel dust in every nook and cranny! Might have to give in and put on the mud flaps now?

 

Note, paragraph from Doug007's link:
When traveling with part time 4WD on high traction surfaces like asphalt, concrete, etc. handling of the vehicle will become unsafe (understeer) and the "driveline binding" will eventually cause component failures. Part time 4WD should not be used on high traction surfaces! Even when going straight most of the time, slight differences in tire pressure front to rear or vehicle load resulting in different axle speeds will cause "wind up" and eventually damage.

 

From what I have read, it seems like the system they have in the Land Cruiser/Lexus LX/Lexus GX is the best one. It has a center differential lock control. So if the differential is not locked, then you can drive in 4wd on pavement. And if you lock the differential, then it works like a Tacoma's 4WD system.

 

Even when condition doesn't require, the 4Runner book says to drive in 4H once a month for at least 10 miles...if i recall correctly.
So does that mean drive even on dry road for the sake of keeping the gears lubricated as stated in the book?

 

I have been running my 1991 4Runner for the past 12 years up here. During the summer the truck remains in 2WD unless I happen to wonder off fishing and need 4WD to get through a mud hole. Once out I am back to 2WD. The truck is not going to fall apart if you don`t do the 10 miles or 16K a month in 4WD. In the winter up here we often have snow covered highways with stretches of black ice. When conditions are real bad I go 4WD without hesitation and never use cruise control.....NEVER. To get out of the sub division I will flip the truck into 4WD in the winter. Once out the city main streets are dry so back to 2WD. During the summer if I had for the forestry roads the truck would be in 2WD unless I run into muddy deep spots and then it is 4wd with a switch back to 2WD once out of the mud .

Part time 4WD is just that part time. When you are on dry gravel roads why go to 4WD if you don`t need it. You may not break anything nut why scuff the tires if it isn`t necessary. I have not run around the desert so I will leave the need for 4WD and it`s use there to the desert rats who play there. If I did I suspect I would be in 2WD when conditions were similar to a gravel road and in 4WD when it was necessary.

Take Care

Bob

 

BOOMM!

 

Well, I guess having a taco is better than driving the prima donna full sizes I see in outlet stores.....

 

I wouldn't use the 4WD Hi or Lo on dry pavement at all.. Just not worth the risk.. If absolutely necessary, drive in a straight line for the monthly 10 mile requirement but I would make an effort to find a dirt or gravel road. Not judging on those with other opinions, but how much would it suck if he damaged his new truck for doing this every month on dry pavement.. Most folks tend to fall in a "it didn't hurt it last time, it wont hurt it this time" mentality.. I guess in a really inconvenient situation, yea, but I would make a habit of hitting a gravel or dirt road at least once month. How hard can it be?.. Not to mention, it would be 100x more fun

 

Just engage 4wd on straight roads and rack up about 10miles or whatever. when turns are coming up disengage 2wd. It's not just lubrication, you're also heating up the oil to get rid of any water that may have gotten in there/condensed.

 

You're not going to get t-case fluid or diff fluid to 212* under normal driving

 

4wd should only be used offroad or snow/ice, never on dry/wet pavement

 

It's binding. High quality Toyotas like the 4runner don't do this because the center diff isn't locked but has the option of locking so you can cruise on 4wd the whole day like a Landcruiser or GX. And the fanboys think Toyota did them a favor building the Tacoma this way. smh.

 

Yeah, like WTF, where are all my SA toyotas @?