4WD--Please Comment On Experts Advise

[jhawley899]

Read this tonight, any comment?

Off-road drive

These are vehicles with no center differential, also known as selectable 4WD. Off-road drive systems may not be driven in 4WD mode on dry pavement, as damage to the transfer case will occur.

* Toyota Tacoma (rear locking differential optional)
* Toyota Tundra TRD
* Toyota FJ Cruiser (automatic transmission models) (also locking rear differential)
* Toyota 4Runner (only SR5 and pre 2010 Limited V6 models, 2010 Trail edition V6 models) (also locking rear differential on 2010 V6)

 

[Clemsonfan15]

For the most part that is true.

You can drive in a straight line though. I do it often in my '98.

 

[jhawley899]

Is this advise true for the 2010 SR5

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Why wouldn't it be? It's the same concept and design.

With the selectable 4WD vehicles there is no center differential that you can lock and unlock. That means that when you engage 4WD the front wheels will spin with the rear wheels. This can cause problems when you turn.

 

[tx 4runner]

I have a 2010 SR5 4x4. In the manual, it states that you are supposed to drive the truck 10 miles per month in 4wd to keep the system lubricated.

This worried me some after reading all the horror stories on here about driving a part-time setup on pavement. But, really, does Toyota expect people to drive 10 miles/month on dirt roads? No.

It rained here last week and I drove around for 10 miles in 4wd. Everything was smooth and nothing in the system felt strained. Would I drive in part-time 4wd all day every day? No. Will I put it into 4wd whenever I feel like it and not be concerned? Yes.