Do the monthly 4 wheel drive 10 mile exercise?

Yeup....

 

I've heard that engaging 4x4 on pavement is something to NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER do because the front and rear wheels and/or diffs and/or drive axles may be rotating at different speeds. I've also heard that it's okay to do, as long as you don't turn.

So what's the troof?

 

Straight line is fine

 

I do about 140/ month...lol

 

This.

I just engage the four wheel drive and locker on the side of the road, off the pavement. Last time my locker wouldn't disengage right away. They definitely get sticky.

 

Read the links below and you be the judge...

 

I engage once a month.

 

Ha, ha! At first, I thought "Crap. I couldn't just get the CliffsNotes version. I actually have to do some researching." Once I clicked on one of the links the first line read: "Here is why part time 4WD should not be used on pavement:" I stopped reading right there (kidding, I read a couple more sentences ).

Here's another qoute from the link: "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."

Thanks!

 

Straight is fine however one item lots of people don't understand or think about is when people don't rotate tires or replace only 2 on the same axle. New and used tires can have a big difference in circumference. This alone causes hard or non engagement of a 4wd system in ANY MAKE. Once engaged though there can be added stress on the drive line as the tires are trying to equalize each other.
So basically, of you keep your eye in your tires wear pattern and keep them relatively even there is no reason not to worry about straight line engagement.
On another note. These trucks are not made out of paper. When your off roading and your climbing rocks , hills, stumps etc, you are winding up the drivetrain to a certain extent. Just use common sense. Keep your toy in good shape and learn how it feels.

 

Front diff is always spinning unless you have manual hubs.

Auto hubs is vacuum and as others stated simply actuates the actuators.

Drive shaft would benefit more from utilizingthose zerks.

Also important is elocker if applicable. They do get stuck open.

 

Also, wheels would only spin different speeds if different gearing between two diffs, lockers is different.

 

You done good grasshopper. There's different views on this....you be the judge. Personally, I'd much rather engage 4wd down a dirt/gravel road than on pavement...period.

 

I do it on a straight road a couple times a month.

It cycles the oil pump and oil in the transfer case, and keeps the gears and parts inside the transfer case lubricated. It is an important part of 4x4 maintenance i believe.

 

I learned something toady

 

I reckon I'll be doing this soon

 

Didn't even know this. learn something new everyday.

The truck hasn't even seen anything else but pavement yet.

 

but what if you just want to engage the 4wd on pavement just to make the fluids circulate and do this monthly exercise?? i dont want to bring my truck off road to do that.. and im sure as hek not going to drive on the highway at highway speeds to do that either, so what is wrong with going down a straight paved road that is near me than at no faster than 20 or 25 mph to do the exercise, is that ok?

 

im with you, i had no effin clue, im in the same exact boat

 

Well I knee about 4x4 and pavement = no no or it okay if youre not turning. I just didn't know 19mi/month was in the manual

 

I do up to around 120kph in 4wd during the winter. 5 years with no issues.

The truck has a 100kph lockout (will beep at you and flash the 4WD light if you try to go into 4H at 101+), but that's only for on the fly engagement. Once you're in you're good to go.