Did I likely damage the Taco 4WD?

which fluids aren't normally circulating while driving in 4x2 mode?

the front axles are locked to the front diff, so those fluids are circulating.

the transfer case might not circulate, though the input shaft is still passing through it, so it ought to be somewhat moving fluid, and the front diff disconnect means the driveshaft bearings aren't moving. but that's really it

 

owners manual... read it

welcome aboard

 

you will feel the tires binding and the truck jerking before you do any damage from taking turns on dry pavement in 4x4

 

the actuators tend to lock up after a while if you don't engage/disengage them on a regular basis. it's an easy fix if that happens but still a pain in the ass when you are out in the back country.

 

There is a front axle disconnect in the Tacoma, the front diff/driveshaft doesn't spin when not in 4x4. The tcase is always circultating, it has and oil pump connected to the rear drive section.

 

I usually take advantage of the rain. Very few straight roads where I live, so when the roads are wet and I can drive relatively slow I put it in 4WH for a mile or two. I do exercise 4WL and the locking rear differential occasionally.

As others have said, you are fine, no harm done

 

It’s not only about circulating fluid. In 2wd, the ring and pinion gears aren’t moving in the front diff (only the small spider gears), the front driveshaft isn’t spinning, and the gears inside the t-case aren’t moving.

As far as the OP, this is a good example of how this forum can unnecessarily make people afraid of things they never would have even thought about otherwise. A lot like how 1 or 2 guys cracked a head around 60K, and now practically everyone on here is buying extended warranties and so worried they’re next…. While there are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of these trucks out there driving all day everyday, well past that mileage with zero problems. But ya read about one or two outlying anomalies on a forum, and now the whole Toyota reliability sky is seemingly falling.

Even lots of turning on pavement in 4x4 isn’t going to break anything 999/1000 times. Driving in a straight line for 100 miles on pavement in 4x4 isn’t going to cause any issues. I’ve forgotten to switch back into 2wd after coming down the mountain and drove for probably 30 min. on the freeway at 65-70 mph in 4x4 and nothing happened whatsoever. These 4x4 systems aren’t made of paper mache… You’d have to turn your steering wheel full lock to one side, hit the gas and let it hop and skip deliberately several times before you actually break something. Even then it’s hard to kill, and a CV is almost always the first thing to snap, it’s the weakest link in the chain. Think of what the people who actually off road their “Off Roads” do to them just to crawl over a patch of boulders. That is infinitely more stress on the 4WD than driving on pavement... and they still last for decades even with that kind of abuse.

 

OP lots of info here.

 

dont listen to these knuckleheads... it's totaled. good job OP.

 

but looks like some gears in the front diff are spinning in 2WD mode, that should stir the fluids all the time, to some extent

https://youtu.be/47m7QAPrpsI?t=730

 

Just the spider gears, they won't sling it around like the ring gear does.

 

the later video really helps-- i was under the impression it was disconnecting the pinion from the drive shaft. but it's really disconnecting 1 of the axles, so the pinion and ring can float.

but that was my main point of contention-- system activation isn't really for fluid circulation as it is for actuator oiling.

 

i routinely use my 4wd high when leaving stop lights in the rain. 1st, it counteracts the light rear end and my heavy foot, but 2nd, it's just fun to hear the driveline twang as it puts down the power

 

I have an answer take it off-road and really use the truck for what it is used for.

 

4WD trucks are like delicate flower blossoms. Look at them the wrong way and they are fucking toast!

Just kidding but damn OP, you really need to chill brother. Come back when you really fuck it up as that's the kind of threads we live for here.

 

1) No
2) It's ok
3) Normal

 

TC's have multiple gears and forks that slide for activation. When not used these tend to stick and cause problems. The chain slings oil to lubricate everything, this chain doesnt move and sling oil unless it's in 4WD.

As far as axle disconnects, they've been around for decades but diconnecting the pinion from the driveshaft is quite the joke

 

YouTube says you destroyed it, must be true.

You seem to have some anxiety issues there, OP. Take a breath and calm your undies. YouTube is less reliable than Wikipedia.

 

In my 98 I'd keep it on when it rained and turned it off only if I was going to make a sharp turn or parking it.

 

Best post I’ve read recently. Breath of fresh air.