4wd: min mileage/mo?

I'm new to 4wd. I noticed in the owner's manual that you're supposed to drive 10 miles/month in 4wd to keep it lubed. The nearest gravel roads are atleast an hour away from me, so I haven't been doing this in warm weather months. Is the requirement worth a 2 hour commute? Or is it ok to only use 4wd in the snow? Thanks!

 

You can do it on dry pavement as long as you stay in a straight line.

If you feel the need to turn, just do it during a good rain.

 

@CobaltKen, I'm in a similar situation. @Clearwater Bill is spot on.

 

I’ve owned 3 Toyota 4x4s over the last 25 years and have never done anything like that. I do try to very briefly engage it while driving straight (even if dry pavement) every so often. Once every couple months for a new truck. Less when when the shine is gone and I quit caring.

 

I wouldn’t stress about the 10 miles, sometimes I’ll just run 4x4 for a mile. In my opinion a few times a year is fine, in my 09 I never, never ran 4x4 just to lube up stuff, just used it in the winter months for a couple mins here and there, mostly when approaching and leaving slippery intersections.

 

I’ll engage mine maybe once or twice a month on straight sections of paved road for a couple miles. Never on turns and not at very fast speeds.

 

Or find a dirt road if you can. No worries.

 

Thanks to all for the good advice!

 

The owner's manual says to engage 4wd 10 miles a month. I think few people do that regularly. If you put it in 4wd a couple times a year that’s probably good enough. Some people never engage 4wd. Since the owner’s manual tells you to do so I think you should at least a couple times a year.
Also there is no problem putting it into 4wd on dry pavement as long as you drive straight. It’s making turns on dry pavement that will screw up your 4wd. If you’re on a long straight stretch of road put it in 4wd