4WD (H4) on V6 destroys transmission?

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FourRunner2005

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Okay so my wife took the 2005 4Runner V6 Sport Edition in to have the tires alligned. When she took it in, the manager (yes, the manager) noticed that we have the car in 4WD (H4, not H2). He told her its terrible for the car and can blow out the transmission, and should only be used when the road is slippery. Is this true?

I've never in my life heard of something like this...HOWEVER, recently I've been driving on the highway so I've been flooring it every now and then. I think he might be right because there's a weird smell (probably the transmission burning? kind of smells like sulfur) whenever I floor it in gear, but not when I gun it in neutral. I like 4WD because I think the cornering at higher speeds is better, and I especially don't like it when the tires peel out. Anyone know anything about this? Thanks!
 
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It's not part time 4wd is it? Like an AWD mode?

If it's just plain true 4H then you did make a mistake and your owners manual does state to not use 4H on hard packed surfaces.
I'm guessing since you have a newer Runner you should have the AWD mode which is what you can use for everyday driving no matter what the conditions are like.

Now with any older 4wd with just plain 'ol 4H and driving with it on dry pavement will hurt things and this should be common knowledge.

Real 4H is not like AWD and isn't helping high speed cornering.
 
I think the manual says not to drive over 60 mph in 4H. Its also not good for the drivetrain to be on a hard packed surface and driving in 4H.

The sulfur smell is simply your exhaust. There is a tsb for the smell that your 4runner VIN may fall into.
 
wow hahahahaa i never knew that. i've always driven my 2002 4Runner (though I recently got a full checkup and nothing was wrong) in 4WD and this one as well...especially on the highway. This is sad to hear...so what should I inspect to see if anything is wrong? I wish I had full-time AWD, that sucks.

I've only really driven the car in the end-life of the previous stock tries. So maybe the handling will be much better in 2WD.

So other than the fact that I just bought Michelin Cross-Terrain tires, what CAN I do to improve handling? X-REAS should help quite a bit, right? anything else? (other than wider rims and sport tires) thanks a lot!
 
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The manager is absolutely wrong!

The current 4runner is AWD or full time 4wheel drive. It has a center differential which makes it full time capable.

The V6 has the luxury of being able to switch it into 2WD.

The V8 models don't have the switching capability but should tell you tat it will not hurt one bit to run your V6 model in 4x4 all the time.

Now a traditional 4x4 with locking center should never be used on paved roadways or high speed.
 
TeCKis300 said:
The manager is absolutely wrong!

The current 4runner is AWD or full time 4wheel drive. It has a center differential which makes it full time capable.

The V6 has the luxury of being able to switch it into 2WD.

The V8 models don't have the switching capability but should tell you tat it will not hurt one bit to run your V6 model in 4x4 all the time.

Now a traditional 4x4 with locking center should never be used on paved roadways or high speed.
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I'm so confused...my car is a 2005 4Runner 4WD V6 Sport Edition...how do I know what kind of center differential it has? I need to somehow find a definite answer.

thanks again!
 
Teck is right. Ever since 1999, 4wd 4runners V6 can run in 4-HI (center diff UNLOCK) all day long on any surface.

Since 2003, the center diff on the V6 4wd model is same as V8 4wd...Torsen center diff. Thus, you can run in 4-HI (center diff UNLOCK) all day long on any surface.

As for 62 mph, you can switch from 2-HI to 4-Hi up to this speed. You can switch from 4-HI to 2-HI at ANY speed.

And these are DEFINITIVE facts.:)
 
Thai said:
Teck is right. Ever since 1999, 4wd 4runners V6 can run in 4-HI (center diff UNLOCK) all day long on any surface.

Since 2003, the center diff on the V6 4wd model is same as V8 4wd...Torsen center diff. Thus, you can run in 4-HI (center diff UNLOCK) all day long on any surface.

As for 62 mph, you can switch from 2-HI to 4-Hi up to this speed. You can switch from 4-HI to 2-HI at ANY speed.

And these are DEFINITIVE facts.:)
Click to expand...
Maybe you can suggest the manager go to school to learn about his products....
 
Seems the manager was living in the past. His advice applies to older part time 4wd trucks (like my 1999 Jeep) not the 4th Gen 4runner.

As Thai said, running in 4H is fine on any surface at any speed. However, you should not lock the differential (that button to the left of the steering column) unless you're on slipperly surfaces.

I just hope he didn't charge your wife to have all four wheels aligned... with a fixed rear axel only the two front wheels can be aligned.
 
you guys are all awesome, thanks for all the advice/help...what do you think the sulfuric smell is from when I floor it? I think I've only smelled it with my windows down...I dont have the car with me at the moment, but I'll try it again with the windows closed and the air set to re-circulate so it can't come from outside.
 
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LV4R said:
I think the manual says not to drive over 60 mph in 4H. Its also not good for the drivetrain to be on a hard packed surface and driving in 4H.

The sulfur smell is simply your exhaust. There is a tsb for the smell that your 4runner VIN may fall into.
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How do I find out if my 4Runner's VIN fallsinto the "tsb" (is that some sort of recall?) ?
 
FourRunner2005 said:
...what do you think the sulfuric smell is from when I floor it? I think I've only smelled it with my windows down...I dont have the car with me at the moment, but I'll try it again with the windows closed and the air set to re-circulate so it can't come from outside.
Click to expand...

I experienced the same thing. The one time I floor it and had my rear window cracked, I got a good whiff of the "sulfur" stink. Ever since that one incident I haven't come across it again. Then again, I haven't tried to repeat the process to see if the outcome would be the same.....
 
There's absolutely nothing wrong with keeping selector in 4 W D all time. In fact, owner's Manual recommends to drive in that mode once in awhile in order to keep a transfer case lubricated.
 
Thai said:
Teck is right. Ever since 1999, 4wd 4runners V6 can run in 4-HI (center diff UNLOCK) all day long on any surface.

Click to expand...

Only Limited models have the center diff lock in '99-'00,SR5s didn't get the multi-mode auto. On my mom's the 4wd lever isn't pulled back,I'm thinking her "AWD" is just a button push and away you go.
 
Thai said:
Teck is right. Ever since 1999, 4wd 4runners V6 can run in 4-HI (center diff UNLOCK) all day long on any surface.

Since 2003, the center diff on the V6 4wd model is same as V8 4wd...Torsen center diff. Thus, you can run in 4-HI (center diff UNLOCK) all day long on any surface.

As for 62 mph, you can switch from 2-HI to 4-Hi up to this speed. You can switch from 4-HI to 2-HI at ANY speed.

And these are DEFINITIVE facts.:)
Click to expand...

Thanks for clearing that up Thai! I guess i should not have listened to the kid that told me not to run it on pavement or above 60.
 
<<<< said:
There's absolutely nothing wrong with keeping selector in 4 W D all time. In fact, owner's Manual recommends to drive in that mode once in awhile in order to keep a transfer case lubricated.
Click to expand...
I believe the owner's manual says to drive in 4WD mode at least 10 miles a minimum of once a month.
 
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