Where to drive 10 miles 4x4 per month if not off road??

In the manual it says you should drive 10 miles a month in 4x4 in order to properly lubricate the front drive components. I just encountered my first month where we never had enough snow fall to warrant engaging 4x4 while driving nor did i take the truck off-road. (new truck owner)

There is a lot of discussion on the forum about the dangers of driving in 4x4 on dry pavement, especially when making turns (the manual also says to avoid this). Now I know I could likely find a fairly straight section of highway to get the 10 miles in, but my question is why is driving on dry pavement so bad? I know when making turns the inside wheels will want to turn at a different speed from the outside wheels, which, if the differentials were locked, would be problematic. But on these trucks aren't the differentials "free" and isn't that why locking differentials are a desirable feature on these trucks?

Clearly somewhat new to this world so any explanation is much appreciated.

 

When making turns in 4wd, the rear axle follows a different ‘route’ than the front axle, which means the front and rear axles are technically at minutely different speeds when turning, which leads to binding in the transfer case. This is exaggerated with a locking differential.

As far as where to get your 10 miles in, just find a straightish road and throw it in 4wd and just avoid and super sharp turns. It’ll wear out tires before it does any internal damage.

 

It'll be easier if you Google and read why a part time 4WD (transfer case without a differential) can't be used on pavement.

http://4x4abc.com/4WD101/def_turnpart.html

Driving on pavement in a straight line isn't an immediate risk. The driveline can tolerate that in theory. In practice not all your tires are exactly the same diameter, sway, make minor corrections. So in 10 miles the 4x4 system could start to bind, but a short distance is OK.

It's making turns that are the primary risk with a part time 4WD system. Our type of 4WD can't tolerate turning unless the surface has some ability for the tires to scrub, i.e. mud, snow, dirt, sand, etc.

You need to get the lube circulating in the front end and t-case periodically. A dirt or gravel road is all you need for that.

 

If you think of your transfer case as a locked center differential it will make sense.

 

I wouldn't get hung up on the 10 miles per month thing. That's something Toyota puts in the manual to cover their ass. That way, someone who has never engaged 4wd doesn't try and raise a fuss when they do engage it after 10 years and something doesn't work. If you're regularly using it over the winter, then that's enough exercise for it.

 

I do straight roads and light turns on rainy days.

 

I flick mine on sometimes on a straight section of road of maybe a mile or so at a time. Doesn't have to be 10 miles all at one time I don't think.
Doubt if I actually get 10 miles a month doing this either but I try. I also turn it off before coming up to any turns or curves if on pavement.
This is all anecdotal, of course.

 

that and also any offroading done in the summer.

 

In a heavy rain you should be fine in a relatively straight line. The water provides enough slippage to deal with the small amount of bind.\

@EatSleepTacos is right though... if you get a few good uses out of it a year it will be fine. Just take a trip to a forest road every 2-3 months and give it a good run.

 

Straight roads, preferably on rainy days.

 

Straight road. Takes all of 10 minutes.

 

Same for rainy days. I try to engage 4x4, 4Lo, and diff lock once a month. This keeps actuators working. Forums for older Toyotas address this all the time. The 4Runner forum had a monthly reminder thread that popped up once a month to help everyone remember.

 

I'm not familiar with Toyotas TC but many have dual oil sumps, upper and lower, running it once a month would ensure their is oil in the upper sump.

Just run it a bit on the road.

 

Industrial parks usually have large grass lots, state parks, gravel roads or lots. I wouldn't get too hung up on 10 miles, I'd just find a gravel lot or road, and just use 4wd for a few hundred feet every month or so.

 

This is what I do. I'll be buzzing down the freeway and randomly think about my 4wd and switch it on for a straight stretch. Never 10 miles though. But a straight mile or two is usually easy to find. I know I've never done it monthly, but I try and remember!

 

Cause ThE iNtErNeT sAiD sO

It's certainly good practice to avoid sharp turns on dry pavement in 4x4, but your truck will not explode..

In my mind the biggest possible issue would be releasing any built up tension as you switch back to 2x4. Specifically the leading edge of the teeth on the ADD and t-case sleeves. But again its not the end of the world in my opinion

 

I don't know what the weak link is in our trucks, but I've seen pics of transfer cases online that blew up from this. One specific story I recall, though I can't remember what type of truck it was, I think some Chevrolet. They forgot to take it out of 4wd and drove across Montana or something like that. Personally, I've forgotten to take out 4wd after coming off the sand at Moses Lake and made it all the way out to the freeway and a number of miles down it. Definitely clunked hard when it disengaged. Usually I'd notice it was engaged, but I was towing a trailer, so maybe concentrating on that made me not realize.

 

Well its a Chevy, what else would you expect??

That clunk coming out of 4wd is what I was talking about

 

Dirt/gravel road every once in a while. Good to go. Don't over think it.

 

you should never engage 4x4 while “buzzing down the freeway.”