4x4 on dry for lubrication?

I've noticed that the manual says to drive in 4h for at least 10 miles a month. I live in Oregon so that's fine during the winter but when it's dry won't that cause issues/damage. And as much as I want to I can't go off roading consistently to do 10 miles every month. Should I risk the damage and try to drive in 4h on the highway or stick to only when I can safely use it even if it means I don't get the 10 miles every month?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/search/3897747/?q=10+miles+a+month&t=post&o=date&c[title_only]=1

Welcome to TW.

 

No one likes to use search....

Wonder why we have stickies at the top of the page?

 

If you travel any gravel roads put it in 4WD. Won't hurt a thing.

 

You want to avoid sharp turns that will cause the drive train to bind, so dry pavement around the neighborhood is a no-go, but the freeway/highway is fine.

 

Just use it any time you're on a dirt road in the summer. That's what I do. Probably doesn't add up to ten miles for me, but it's enough to exercise the actuator and move oil around.

I also kick it into 4L a few times a year, just to make sure that keeps working.

 

You can run in 4WD -HI on dry pavement, I wouldn't do any 3 point turns not that we do much of that anyway. In Oregon it rains right? Try 4WD-hi when the road is wet from rain if you're worried.

You're probably 10 miles from a forest with fire roads... go take the wife for a wheel in the woods, it's fun!
Tip: get a map for her .... just in case an all that jazz! A friend told me about that.

 

That is what l do, wait for rain and drive a few miles on a fairly straight road, always works for me.

 

Not directed at OP instead probably most of us. Anyone else see any irony in us buying a 4x4 then being concerned with putting 10 miles a month on it?

Do we need to play / use it more OR buy less 4x4s?

 

Some months I just don't get to go wheeling much or 4WD either... we live in the city so we have to make it a point to go somewhere appropriate for 4WD. The nearest fire road is..... wait.... umm 1 mile from house.

 

I get it. They say to do this... but I know for a fact there are old trucks out there that people maybe use 4x4 in once or twice in 40 or 50k miles and the 4x4 still works just fine. I really don't put much stress into this at all.

 

I mean my 4x4 is mostly for winter. During summer i throw it in when im on my farm to just get some miles on it (not even close to 10 a month and im at 240k)

 

I use it now and then on dry, straight roads 35-45mph or so. Also in straight stop and go traffic. I like it in traffic as it makes the truck roll a tad slower as it idles, no gas.

 

There's something to the notion of dropping the drivetrain into action periodically. My Dad's F-150 has the same Tacoma style of 4WD knob on the dash. He went to use it and found the indicator on the dash flashed and he never left 2WD. It turned out a tap with a mallet on the transfer case solenoid housing "released" it. (Google's fix) It happened again a few thousand miles later. He since does almost what Toyota suggests, and every time he fills up he drops it into 4H on the way home. Problem solved.

(Yes, I know this is a 3rd Gen forum , and no, I wasn't comparing a Tacoma to a F-150)

 

Going to go out on a limb and say MOST people do not do this with 4wd vehicles. If you do you're going above and beyond the standard.

 

You shut your whore mouth!

I haven't had a front driveshaft in 8 months.

 

Agree. I don't bother with it. I use my 4X4 from November to April or May and that's about it. Occasionally, I'll take it off road over the summer months and maybe have to flip it into 4-Hi, but that's pretty rare. Engaging the front diff and T-case for a few miles per month during the non-winter months is not something I've ever made a point of doing.

 

We got a 4x4 because not because we'd use it a lot or even regularly (wheeling trips are sporadic and not regularly planned), but it would be available for use if/when we needed it.

 

*fewer 4x4s

 

I hear you. 1 mile from house? good for you, where would that be. There are some fire roads in fairmount park. we took the long way home from lancaster PA last week and went through state mt. gretna, state gameland 156 and 46. plenty of rutted out, muddy, dirt roads there. Probably drove around for about 2 hours just taking in the sites of the area, and ended up at middle creek wildlife are. nothing exiting but just out of the way and quiet country dirt roads in the hills. But yeah, not so easy to find a place to run on dirt roads around here.

Whenever I'm on PA 76 where the turnpike dumps off, I put it in 4x4 for that 2 mile backup. That's usually a good 6 mile a month.

I live by U Penn. so with all the construction pits there (and they are large) I just take it there drive it around and lube things up. Just did it this morning actually. One takes up almost 2 city blocks. the nice thing about a truck in the city is, everyone assumes you are on a work crew and are supposed to be there. I've passed by security guys, just giving them a nod and moving on. early in the morning or late at night no one is around. Security guy did stop me once. I told him I was just out there inspecting the site for the engineering firm, and they just waved me through. It's all just open dirt/mud fields anyway, nothing built in yet.