15 Miles Per Month Required for 4WD?

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BamaDrewski

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I have been going through a stack of documents for my rig and while I was at it, went through the manual as well. It says that we have to run our rigs in 4WD for at least 15 miles a month. (it keeps the system lubed). For those of us who use our rigs as "daily drivers" and "occasionally dirt road warriors" how many are actually doing this?

I haad not done mine in a few months and today, when I punched the 4WD stalk button, it seemed to take FOREVER for it to engage in 4WD........I am guessing, I need to start the "15 miles per month in 4WD routine"......
 
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No one does that on a regular basis. No one. I bought my from the original owner with 218k miles. Said he engaged it one time. I've had no issues with it what so ever engaging or disengaging when I want.
 
BamaDrewski said:
I have been going through a stack of documents for my rig and while I was at it, went through the manual as well. It says that we have to run our rigs in 4WD for at least 15 miles a month. (it keeps the system lubed). For those of us who use our rigs as "daily drivers" and "occasionally dirt road warriors" how many are actually doing this?

I haad not done mine in a few months and today, when I punched the 4WD stalk button, it seemed to take FOREVER for it to engage in 4WD........I am guessing, I need to start the "15 miles per month in 4WD routine"......
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Previous owner of my truck never engaged the 4wd in 350,000 miles. She didn't even know how.

I've used it plenty of times in the last 30k and it works perfectly. I did drain and refill the transfer case fluid when I got it though.
 
cashmoney said:
No one does that on a regular basis. No one. I bought my from the original owner with 218k miles. Said he engaged it one time. I've had no issues with it what so ever engaging or disengaging when I want.
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I do.... whenever I don't actually use it that often, which usually I do :)
 
Since I don't see a lot of off road action while I'm in FL (and no snow at all) I try to bump mine into 4Hi anytime I hit a dirt road, but it's never given me any trouble and I'm sure the previous owners rarely used it.

I would imagine the need to be ran in 4WD varies depending on which transfer case you have. With the older style J-shift cases (which I have) I can't see where it makes much difference. With the newer ones with pushbutton functions I could see the actuators needing a little exercise from time to time, and the same for the E-Locker.

But even then I wouldn't worry too much about not doing it every month.
 
It was easier with the manual locking front hubs. You could drive around town and get it done.
 
There are darn few dirt roads left around here anymore so that 15 miles per month would be a real challenge. There is one 5-mile stretch I can usually drive about once a month and I make a point to do so. Plus I use 4wd whenever it snows which is almost never in some years or quite a lot in others. In any case, I've gone 16 years NOT doing 15 miles a month but usually 5 miles and that seems good enough. I never lost my 4wd except when mice ate the wire to the T/C sending switch.

The Brazilian HiLux never sees 4wd except when I'm there and it frequently needs some persuasion to get 4wd going again. The good news is there are LOTS of roads to exercise it on. But the ex- has custody and I only get visitation, usually once a year. This year, it starts Wednesday.
 
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TheDurk said:
There are darn few dirt roads left around here anymore so that 15 miles per month would be a real challenge. There is one 5-mile stretch I can usually drive about once a month and I make a point to do so. Plus I use 4wd whenever it snows which is almost never in some years or quite a lot in others. In any case, I've gone 16 years NOT doing 15 miles a month but usually 5 miles and that seems good enough. I never lost my 4wd except when mice ate the wire to the T/C sending switch.

The Brazilian HiLux never sees 4wd except when I'm there and it frequently needs some persuasion to get 4wd going again. The good news is there are LOTS of roads to exercise it on. But the ex- has custody and I only get visitation, usually once a year. This year, it starts Wednesday.
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If you're so inclined, I'd be interested in seeing some wheeling pics/video from Brazil, in a Hilux.

I'm still trying to figure out a way to bring a LHD 76 series Landcruiser here legally, from South America.
 
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02SE said:
If you're so inclined, I'd be interested in seeing some wheeling pics/video from Brazil, in a Hilux.

I'm still trying to figure out a way to bring a LHD 76 series Landcruiser here legally, from South America.
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We don't really wheel in Brazil. We use the 4wd to get somewhere on regular roads (aka dirt tracks in the jungle), which can be a major adventure due to mud and erosion, then hike for a few hours to get to really nice places. Most of those trips happened before the digital age, I'm afraid. Here are some I scanned.

This is one I took of the ex- and two of my kids in Bahia, about three hours hike from the trailhead and the HiLux:

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This is in Goiás, maybe a three hour drive from Brasília, and a good four hour hike from the HiLux. You can see the HiLux in my garage, but cleaned up.

IMG_1087.JPG
 
The first pic sort of resembles southern Utah, but with green foliage, instead of mostly bare reddish rock. Nice pics.

What I'd like to do, is buy a new 76 series Turbodiesel, manual trans LandCruiser in Chile, Argentina, or another country in South America, explore those countries, and then drive it back to the States.
 
Multiple on/off of 4wd system each month

Not sure I drive 15 a month in 4wd, probably but what i think is just as if not more i important is to have several engage/disengage sessions a month along with an equal number of diff locks. When i got my runner over 100k ago, it wouldn't engage easily - hand to turn to the right. Now after after a couple years of regular use each month it finally has become EZ on/off - takes just a second or so each way. Luck all! :cowboy:
 
I dont know anyone who does this. I wouldnt worry about it but if it bothers you that much make a point to hit the dirt more often!
 
I've done it ever since I got it a year and a half ago. When I first got it it took 5 minutes to engage, but whenever I started using it more it's almost automatic. Same with the center diff, but i don't know if that's the same concept.
 
Here on the Redneck Riviera (Alabama) we have plenty of opportunities to drive dirt roads and trails. I understand 4HI can be done on pavement up to 50-60 miles per hour so I have been doing that - although never over 50MPH.

I can't see how it could hurt to run the 4WD system 15 miles a month and there must be a reason Toyota recommends it. It must keep everything lubed up.

To some of the guys who say they feel a difference in engaging and disengaging the 4WD after running it in 4WD more frequently, the logic behind keeping everything lubed and moving seems to make a difference. Thanks guys!
 
I believe this to be true. Very so on a lot of other 4x4's. Mine was barely ever put in 4x4 when I bought it and worked great.

But owning a Ford Bronco and a family that owned Jeeps if they dont get used regularly they are almost impossible to get into and out of 4x4.
 
I got mine with 168K, I changed fluid in both diffs and once a month, I do about 30 miles in 4Hi. I am pretty sure they previous owner never did it. It is mostly pavement in winter but in summer, get to take some trails.
 
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