4wd required monthly maintenance

I noticed in the service manual you are supposed to drive in 4wd at least 10 miles monthly. In the Tacoma Owners 3rd gen Facebook page everyone is saying not to do this on paved roads. And not over 55 mph. Interested in your thoughts on this.

 

I am in the habit of putting it in 4Hi on a straight road after a first rain when the roads are slick. Just don’t make sharp turns and you will be fine.

 

Straight or close to it on paved roads is fine. You can’t engage or disengage 4hi above ~55mph but you can go as fast as you want once it’s selected.

 

So this covers 4hi, what about 4lo? monthly as well? And for what distance?

 

So I ran 4whi for about five miles this morning on the way to work. When I got out of my truck, noticed a burnt oil smell. Is this normal?

 

It's the engaging of 4HI and 4LOW that is important, not the distance driven in each. 10 miles is unnecessary. A hundred yards or so is just fine.

If you don't engage them regularly the solenoids get stuck. It's a real thing. When I bought my 4Runner it wouldn't go into 4LOW so I know it can happen.

 

I have found the same happens to the e-locker. So I cycle all of them periodically.

 

They say 10Mi because they want you to get the oil to operating temperature and keep it there for a while. Not sure it really needs 10Mi for that, but it is certainly more than just witching from Hi to Lo and back and drive a few yards.

 

Thought it was 62MPH for switching (owners manual PG 304).

 

What I don’t understand is a month ago I ran in 4wd high all day in the dunes and there was no burning smell coming from the truck. But this morning 5 miles on the hwy caused a burnt oil smell I noticed when I got to work. Thoughts on this?

 

You ran it for 5 miles on the highway. Was the highway straight for 5 miles? Not sure where you live, but I couldn’t find a road with a straight 5-mile stretch around here if my life depended on it.

Not good to take turns in 4WD on pavement.

 

You're sure it was an oil smell and not just exhaust from the truck? Or oil smell from another car?

 

Ditto. When I run the 4 by every month or so I take it on gravel forest roads. No way in hell I'm putting it in 4x4 on dry pavement - nothing straight enough in my area of PA.

 

During months when I don’t have time to make it out to any trails and actually use the 4x4 components for an extended period of time, I just drive in 4hi on a stretch of straight dry pavement. That is totally fine, it does not need to be wet or off road as long as you aren’t making any big turns.

I only do a mile or two when I’m doing it to engage the 4x4 and that has kept everything running just fine. I think the “10 miles” is a little excessive.

 

No, I smell under the hood by the windshield. I noticed it when I got out.

 

It had some slight bends in it, but nothing excessive

 

There's a front diff breather there and you just got it up to temp for the first time in a long time.

The speed is actually about 61mph and you can't *shift into* 4HI over that speed. You can go any speed you like in 4HI and disengage at any speed as well.

 

If that’s what the manual says then it’s right. I was just going off memory and said about 55mph.

 

That makes sense. thanks

 

Smell by itself is not easy to diagnose. Its usually nothing, its sometimes something. If you don't see smoke and it doesn't get stronger, don't worry about it.

Also, don't worry too much about the pavement rule. The front CV boots are not made of paper. Don't hoon it, but don't worry about the occasional bend in the road either.