Question about 4x4

Sup my dudes. just got a 2014 tacoma baja, replacing a 2017 subaru wrx. Had a question about the 4x4 since previously i've only had fwd or AWD cars.

The manual states to use the 4x4 for at least 10 miles a month to keep everything lubricated and running properly. I constantly see people on here advocating that you do not use 4x4 anywhere except when you actually need it, and only on surfaces that allow for slippage. In addition to this, the manual states that it should not be used on dry pavement as well.

How am i supposed to hitthis recommended 10 miles/month for the 4x4? find a straight road and drive up and down it for 10 miles? make a trip to an offroad trail/to the desert once a month and run it on there? or is it more precautionary, than it is an absolute rule, and light driving without any sharp turns is okay to run 4x4 on, whether the surface allows for slippage or is dry pavement?

Simply asking because I don't want to prematurely damage anything, nor do i want my front drive mechanics to go bad from lack of use.

for the meantime here's a pic of the truck and the headlights i just put in.

 

Doesn't have to be 10 miles a month "or else"...even if its just a few miles you'll be fine as long as maybe a few times a year you do actually put in a fair amount of miles on it. By telling everyone '10 miles a month' they can insure they've done their part to warn people about keeping the system lubricated/working properly.

If you have any dirt roads in your area then that's probably the best place to do it. Some people throw it into 4hi while on straight sections of the road or highway which is fine, as long as you're going straight you won't bind up the system. Turning on pavement is when it binds and can break or damage something, most likely your CV axles

 

nice looking truck, welcome! ill usually engage it once in a while on a straight road, but i don't go out of my way to meet that guideline. if you engage it on pavement and its not straight, i think you would do more harm than good. just my 2 cents.

 

As above and even 1/10 mile straight 4HI, then stop and engage 4LO and then hit the e-locker - all to keep the shifter/engagement working and lubes the gears up.
Of course dirt roads are great for all of this but just do what you can. Always test the system out fully before an off-road trip to make sure all engages - you may have to try a few times to get the front diff to lock, the transfer case to lock or shift to 4LO, and then the e-locker to lock (may have to move the steering wheel side to side to get the splines to engage on both axles - you will feel/hear it).

 

bring it to Utah.....

we'll put 10 miles a month on the 4x4.......

yes......going to 4 hi...then low & back can sometimes be a real PIA........

 

Awesome, thanks for the replies guys! Went to a dirt road last night to run the truck through all the different modes and drove it around a bit. wasn't a very long road, probably got about 2 miles total of movement but everything engaged just fine. I'll just keep it to that road when needed for maintenance usage, since i go outdoor shooting fairly frequently it will see more offroad use there

 

Years ago I had a Jeep Cherokee that my wife normally drove that refused to shift into 4X4 when needed after it had not been used for an extended time. And I've had to pull other people out of jams a few times due to the same situation. So it is important. Use it, or lose it. The Jeep was a fairly simple fix that just required the front hubs being disassembled, cleaned, lubed and put back together, no new parts needed. The grease had hardened from non use and would not allow parts to move necessary to engage 4X4.

During most of the year I find myself on a dirt or gravel road at least once a month. I'll engage 4X4 every time, even if it is only for a mile or 2. It usually adds up to 10 miles/month but it may not be all at once. Some months I have driven 200+ miles in 4X4, and there may be times where I may go 2 months without using 4X4. But I'll never go longer than about 2 months. This is just as important to maintenance as changing the oil on a regular basis.

I'd strongly advise against doing this on pavement unless it is covered in snow or ice. Hard packed dirt roads are no better. You need lose gravel, dirt, mud, sand, or even grass. Technically as long as you travel in a straight line you won't break anything. But it is a bad habit. If you forget you're in 4X4 and turn into a store or onto another road you will put the transfer case under stress. The damage may not show up right away. The damage is cumulative and will result in stuff wearing out prematurely. Lots of guys actually think it is OK do drive on wet rainy roads. That is not OK.

 

i think its fine if its a straight road. I engage it multiple times a month on straight roads. Occasionally I go into empty parking lots and engage 4lo, the locker, and roll forward and back, but I always stay in straight lines.

 

You will be fine as long as not putting the truck in a bind. I usually do it when I know I have a fairly straight section of road. No big deal.

 

Yup like stated straight line pavement driving you are fine, I pop mine in to 4hi on the straight section to and from work a few times a month. Ill make sure to switch into 4lo and rear locked at least every other month to keep those functions freed up.

With that schedule literally never had a single issue getting into those modes when truly needed.