Stupid 4WD question

It's not a good idea to run on dry (or even wet) pavement for extended periods of time, but for the few miles/minutes Toyota recommends each month, it's more than fine. These vehicles are so much tougher than people think. My 1986 4Runner with part time 4wd would wind up from time to time on pavement or hardpack or even when the snow was a dry packed powder, but I never broke a thing, and my Tacoma doesn't come close to winding up as much ever.

 

thanks to everyone for now making me paranoid of 4wh. what about snowy, paved roads?

 

If the road has snow on it, you are fine in 4wd (high or low) on pavement.

On dry pavement (or rainy-but-still-grippy-pavement) that you should be in 2wd, and nothing else.

 

im sorry u are absolutely giving him miss information. you can not use 4x4 on DRY pavement. in order for 4x4 to operate safely the wheels need to be able to slip some. and it can not on dry pavement.

Just curious why would u need to put it in 4wd on pavement anyway???

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4JhruinbWc?fs=1

 

Same here, I have used my 4x4 on pavement, but not 4lo. I would say to stay away from running your 4x4 on dry roads. I have never had to engage on dry pavement but on wet I have and snow of coarse. JOE>

 

You'd probably actually be better off putting it in 4lo than 4hi on dry pavement. The much higher torque would equate to more wheel slippage than drive line binding.

Either way, that's like saying shooting soda into your brain via a syringe is a better alternative to shooting draino into it.

 

From Toyotas Website "4WD can be part-time (low traction conditions only) or full-time (may be used on dry roads)."

 

The owner's manual does not, to my knowledge, have any warning that using 4wd on dry pavement may cause damage. In addition, it recommends using 4wd once a month with no notice that you shouldn't do it on dry pavement.

I'm not saying using 4x4 on dry pavement is a good idea, just pointing out that those who say "read the manual" are not supporting their argument that it's a bad idea.

 

I was just about to post the same exact thing! i.e., "Don't use 4wd on dry pavement unless your name is aswerty and you are trying to get to 105 in 12 seconds"

 

Everyone should just put their truck in 4H on pavement, while stopped turn the wheel to full lock(left or right, your choice)... and nail the gas!

Edit: I claim no responsibility for any damages that do or do not occur as a result of proving that running 4wd on
pavement will not damage your truck.

 

I can't believe there is still discussion on this haha.

You know when you lock your diff and turn, the one tire slips and chirps? That is because the wheels need to spin at different speeds, but can't.

The EXACT same thing happens front to back. It is just a big fat chain engaging the front wheels. There can be no discussion on this. You are putting massive strain on your transfer case using 4wd anywhere the tires have a good grip and are unable to slip. Many people have smashed their cases right open doing this.

Anyone's crappy anecdotal evidence of this saying they do it and it's ok just haven't broken their truck yet. It is only a matter of time and turning enough with enough tire grip.

This is the final answer: DON'T DO IT. If you want to do it a bit going straight to keep stuff lubed, so be it, but NEVER turn.

This is simple physics guys, something has to give. There is no front to back differential. It will slip at the tires, or your tcase will explode.

http://rubicon-trail.com/4WD101/driveline-bind.html

Please any of you stupid enough to keep doing this, just keep quiet about it. Some poor guy is going to listen to you as if you know the first thing about mechanics, and wreck his own truck.

 

Lol at blowing up the transfer case... u joint wear... sure. Over a year on the Tacoma with 4x4 in the wet... will give annual updates .

 

Remember the slick rock in moab stickier than concrete... that's why noone runs 4 wheel drive on moab slickrock... I love the internet theory guys that have never seen it happen in real life. Can you post me another link to refute my years of experience to the contrary?

 

Agreed

 

You been to Moab?


and yes chances are your transfer case won't catastrophically fail but it's quite possible. Something has got to give, and in most cases its going to be your tires slipping, especially on these "wet" surfaces.

 

X2. If you think 4WD on dry surfaces wont hurt your truck, then feel free to be our guest and do this ^ and please, record it!

 

im sorry but if you nedd 4wd to get threw a little rain .......................... come on nowdo you belong in a taco or a prius ?

 

DevL just check out the link in my post. Has pictures of what happens to a transfer case if the tires can't slip.

Agreed, usually the tires slip, but like you said, much more stress on the driveline, incl ujoint wear, spline wear, chain stretch, etc. But if your tires are too sticky, your transfer case fails. How exactly do you think it works when the front has to spin faster than the rear? Where do you believe the give happens?

 

I just discovered this in my manual about using 4WD once a month and noticed the manual doesn't say "Don't drive on dry pavement". I'm not a newbie to 4WD vehicles, this is my sixth, two of which were AWD. I checked TW to see if anything was posted on the subject and found this thread. The only reason I resurrected this thread was because no one bothered to check the Toyota website for an answer. Which does say "Don't drive on dry pavement". I don't see why there's any arguement when Toyota say's don't do it.
I never did that with my Chevy's, although my wife went on a cross country horse race driving support for a friend when the Chevy was new and forgot she had it in 4WD one morning and drove for 2hrs pulling her horse trailer on dry pavement before realizing it. I was a bit pissed when she told me but nothin' ever broke and we had that truck for 15yrs. The 90's Chevy models had the front geared slightly higher than the rear. States that in the manual. For me the requirement for 4WD once a month just means "honey, I need to go 4 wheelin', bye".