4 lo in a high mileage 3rd gen

[PWD4R]

In my last vehicle I didn't mind staying in 4 lo longer because it had under 100k miles so the hard shifts didn't worry me. In my 3rd gen with 220k I find myself only using 4 lo when I need it because I feel bad for the tranny. Is 4 lo much harder on it than normal shifting? Or am I just over thinking this?


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[shootmymime]

what kind of driving are we walking about? anything over 25mph?

do you really need to be in 4lo, i used mine crawling around on rocks and steep hills in moab. i have never really needed it anywhere else. 4 hi works fine.

 

[Kotrin]

On my overland trip I used 4Lo a few times for hours. I did notice a spike in temperature and adjusted accordingly and kept rpm's higher which helped cool down the transmission. I do not have a direct temperature for my transfer case but I did the 'assume' of transmission at 200F - Transfers case is probably somewhere close also. I also made sure I to take breaks often when doing it to prolong its life. I know from personal experience with my fathers offroad truck that his transfer case even working it hard has done really well with oil not breaking apart.

 

[PWD4R]

what kind of driving are we walking about? anything over 25mph?



do you really need to be in 4lo, i used mine crawling around on rocks and steep hills in moab. i have never really needed it anywhere else. 4 hi works fine.

Oh no. Speeds under 10 for 4-lo. But it shifts around 5-7 mph.


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[mtbtim]

You're overthinking. I don't think you need to worry about the hard shifts when using 4 Lo. If you need it, use it.

 

[alumarine]

The transmission works the same or similar whether in 2wd, 4hi or 4lo.
The change in gearing is done in the transfer case.

There might be more of a potential shock load on the driveline in 4lo but I'm not sure.

 

[T4R2014]

The hard shifting is normal. I doubt it's harmful.

 

[kolelt]

It would be silly to not use what your truck has because of miles. It's like, should you not go over 50mph because you have 200k on your engine.

 

[PWD4R]

It would be silly to not use what your truck has because of miles. It's like, should you not go over 50mph because you have 200k on your engine.

You're misunderstanding. I use 4-lo plenty but I don't ride in it most of the day like I used to. I still use it and will continue to. It makes no difference


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[PWD4R]

The hard shifting is normal. I doubt it's harmful.

I know the hard shifting is normal


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[GSPRunner]

I personally use 4Lo a lot more than 4hi and my rig has 264k miles. I use 4Lo a lot to keep tranny temps down when climbing hills on Forest roads/trails.

 

[Gadgetguy]

For what it's worth mine has 312,000 miles on it and it spends at least 6 hours in low 4x4 every weekend and just keeps on ticking!

 

[Scramble]

I always used to use 4hi, but the last time I wheeled it I was in 4lo all day & liked it much better. Barely had to step on the gas going up hill, less brakes going downhill, less chance of stalling. (5 speed) If my rpm's got too high I just switched to second gear. The truck just felt more capable & bad ass but I only have 158,000 on the TC/Trans.

 

[jgue467]

... Is 4 lo much harder on it than normal shifting? Or am I just over thinking this?


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If you want to avoid the 1-2 shift in 4LO then start in 2nd gear in 4LO (assuming you don't need the lower ratio of 1 when starting off). Works for 01'-02's not sure about other years.... :cowboy:

 

[PWD4R]

I have an auto. Not an option.


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[jgue467]

So do I. That is what I meant, if you want to avoid the 1-2 shift on an 01'-02' auto (maybe other years too), while in 4Lo and sitting still move the shifter to 2 and it will start in 2 and avoid the 1-2 thump when using 4Lo. The gearing is still pretty Lo and similar to starting in 1. Hope that helps....

 

[4racer]

I personally dont worry. I use it for what is was intended for. If it breaks, it breaks. It would have happened sooner or later regardless.

 

[PWD4R]

So do I. That is what I meant, if you want to avoid the 1-2 shift on an 01'-02' auto (maybe other years too), while in 4Lo and sitting still move the shifter to 2 and it will start in 2 and avoid the 1-2 thump when using 4Lo. The gearing is still pretty Lo and similar to starting in 1. Hope that helps....

Oh okay. Never tried that in mine. In my last vehicle if you started in 2nd gear it still started in first and would shift to second but never 3rd. If you started in 1st it'd never shift and if you started in 3rd it'd go from 1-3


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[TXLX1]

If it shifts in and out of 1st, I just switch back to high. IMO if you are shifting out of first, probably don't need 4lo for that task.

 

[Gadgetguy]

My 97 will shift between 1-2 if I put the shifter into 2, it just wont go past 2. On trails in CO there are plenty of times where getting into 3rd gear are still good in 4lo, I still don't rev high so no issues there. Also there was a thread on here recently where a guy was talking about doing some extensive wheeling in 4hi and it caused his transmission to overheat a little bit. I feel when you (if you) are going slow enough to use even overdrive in 4lo it is still easier on the tranny than making it crawl up steep inclines in 4hi in 1st gear.

All trails etc. may vary though. The only thing I use 4hi for is when it snows and I need the extra traction on the regular roads/highways.