4WD question

So this is the first 4wd vehicle I've owned. I've had many AWD, but I understand the differences mostly.
My question is about driving conditions in 4WD. From what I understand, you only want to engage 4wd if your tires have a chance to slip. You also do not want to drive on pavement with 4wd engaged. Unfortunately for me, I've done this twice now making a U-turn on pavement. Once when i first bought the truck, and another time when I was careless. I felt the tires sort of hopping and returned to 2wd after I completed the turn. Nothing is wrong or weird with the truck and I know not to do it again, but could this have caused any damage? Also, is there anything I can expect or look out for? I apologize for my ignorance ahead of time and appreciate any input. Thanks guys

 

If you didnt hear anything pop your good. But you can end up binding the front diff gears if you keep doing it

 

You’ll be fine, just don’t do it anymore. You can use 4wd in the rain if you really need to, but never dry pavement.

 

Just try to not power throw your u turn in 4wd and it should be ok just frowned upon. I’m from NY and have to drive in 4wd all the time.

 

We have all done it .

 

As long you don't make that mistake on a regular basis you'll probably be fine. Just about everyone has forgotten to shift out of 4X4 occasionally when getting back onto pavement and discovered the mistake when they turned the wheels. It does happen occasionally, it isn't good for anything, but just don't make a habit out of it.

If you're trying to get up a steep hill, or boat ramp with wet pavement, yea. Just long enough to get moving then shift out. Don't shift into 4X4 just because it is raining. That isn't good for the truck and doesn't help anything anyway. It is more of a handicap than help. That is what AWD is designed for.

 

This is true. Had it in a parking lot and felt the same thing.

 

Thanks for all the replies so quickly, I feel less of an idiot now hahah. I definitely will be more aware from now on

 

Is New York the new Alaska?

 

I live in the catskill mountains, and I also work for the DPW so when it snows, that means I’m on the way into work to plow

 

Dry pavement in Anchorage... At the moment...

 

If I haven’t used 4WD for a long time (a month or so) I engage 4WD and drive the length of my street. I don’t go out of my way to do it, usually on the way home. Most of the time it’s drive pavement. I never turn while doing this.

 

It's a good idea to engage your 4X4 from time to time on a straight stretch of road at lower speeds.

 

I did this same thing the other week. Coming off a county road, still in 4WD and made a 90* left hand turn. Didn't hear any noises or feel anything at all. Saw it was still engaged and then immediately turned back to 2WD. Im coming from a Subaru and am used to having the AWD.
It snowed here recently and I had to drive to work and pretty much ran 4WD the entire drive except one 90* turn. The roads have gentle turns as if they were built for people running 4x4s. I'm more confident in running 4WD now and just won't take sharp turns, or use it when I don't need it (Dry Pave). Wet roads, I didn't know we could run 4WD! Thanks for the tip whoever posted that above.

 

4wd on dry pavement in a straight line is perfectly fine and won't break anything. The front and rear wheels are traveling the same distance and speed. It's when you turn that they are going different distances and speeds and differentials (front to rear and lack thereof) come into play.

 

*Never on dry pavement while turning*

 

^^^^^^
I do this from time to time when i have not been off roading just to keep things lubricated...

 

The manual does recommend you exercise 4WD 10 miles per month. I put it in 4-Hi on a straight road after a first rain (when roads tend to be slick).

 

I don't believe you necessarily have to do it that often.