4x4 engagement question

I have a Question about 4wd engagement. I use the 4 high at least 3 times a month if not more. I bought the truck in December and I only engaged low at the dealership to make sure it worked and it did should I engage low ever once in a while or not? Thanks - Eric

 

This is my first 4x4 and would be interested in the answer to this as well.

 

So I need to engage low to?

 

It is not necassary to engage the 4lo but the 4hi should be done regularly to "excersice the transfer case/solenoids"
4lo every now and again wont hurt it...

 

Haven't done it in 6 months do you think it still works?

 

I use high daily

 

Doesn't hurt to kick on the locker either if you have one.

 

Don't have one

 

Saw you had a Sport so knew you didn't (unless you added one of course ) but figured I'd add that in for anyone who has one!

 

I wish I did but I don't do any stuff to need one

 

I actually called my local shop about a locker they said its 2000$ installed

 

Yes it will still work, if you look in the manual its just advised to do it so things get lubricated and wear into the normal tolerance ranges.
Take a belt as an example, as its used/worn its tolerances change, it might stretch etc but you have a tensioner pulley to automatically adjust. Your transfer case does not have this function, its a chain that needs to be lubed and kept up like anything else.

 

I would, every now and then.

 

So high is keeping it lubricated?

 

Yes,

 

It has a trochoid pump operating off a gear constantly.

 

Good stuff. Thanks.

 

Yes, I would recommend you engage Lo. Condensation will eventually cause surface rust on the internal components and cause them to bind or pit the gears on the transfer case. Think of the transfer case as a mini transmission or separate from high. It needs to "exercise" and breathe.
I have seen this binding and surface rust/pitting on seldom used off-road vehicles we acquired from Army surplus for special duty in our fleet.
These vehicles hadn’t been used in 4X4 in ages and consequently we had to rebuild the transfer cases.

I myself do engage it (Lo) whenever I’m off road, but I freely admit I may not be putting a full 10 miles a month in Lo, too slow for me lol!
But this is necessary in order to lubricate/coat all internal transfer case components and to develop heat high enough to burn off all condensation and acid contaminants that forms with temp changes.

This is even more significant if you live in high humidity areas such as the Gulf coast as I do.
If not used enough, I’d recommend you change the transfer case and front differential fluids once a year. This is what I will be doing on mine.

Hope that helps, stay safe.
Cheers!