Do any V6 owners run in 4HI Full Time?

[Flyingbread1]

I noticed that my actuator was taking longer then normal to engage 4HI from 2WD. I need 4HI much more then 2WD mode so I was thinking about just leaving it in 4HI Full Time now so I don't have to worry about the actuator. 4LO seems to be working just fine. Is anyone doing this and is there anything to worry about? I know my miles per gallon will go down a little so I'll monitor that for a while, they go down anyway with the winter temperatures here in Minnesota so I may have to wait until next summer to get a more accurate comparison.:shrug:


2006 V6 SE 141000 Miles. XREAS GONE. 2014 Tacoma TRD Suspension Swap. 2014 FJ rear Coils. HCF Delete.

 

[philskeeter]

I noticed that my actuator was taking longer then normal to engage 4HI from 2WD. I need 4HI much more then 2WD mode so I was thinking about just leaving it in 4HI Full Time now so I don't have to worry about the actuator. 4LO seems to be working just fine. Is anyone doing this and is there anything to worry about? I know my miles per gallon will go down a little so I'll monitor that for a while, they go down anyway with the winter temperatures here in Minnesota so I may have to wait until next summer to get a more accurate comparison.:shrug:


2006 V6 SE 141000 Miles. XREAS GONE. 2014 Tacoma TRD Suspension Swap. 2014 FJ rear Coils. HCF Delete.

Have you ever changed the gear oil in your transfer case? Also you have to "exercise" it by going back and forth. If you leave it in 4hi and never switch it could break and then you're stuck in 4hi. Also you can't drive over 55mph in 4hi so that would make most of our DD 4runners useless

 

[MarkinWMich]

Have you ever changed the gear oil in your transfer case? Also you have to "exercise" it by going back and forth. If you leave it in 4hi and never switch it could break and then you're stuck in 4hi. Also you can't drive over 55mph in 4hi so that would make most of our DD 4runners useless

Agree.

Get in a habit, say, once a month (even in summer), to take it around a residential neighborhood, run it through a few cycles of 2HI, 4HI, and 4LO. Slow and easy...it doesn't take much. The actuator tends to get a bit "sticky" for some reason, over time. Regular use tends to reduce those delays in engagement. This time of year, at our latitude, when you don't know what kind of weather or road conditions you're going to run into, it's good to make sure everything is working as it should. Unless the roads are really nasty, keep it in 2HI and drive for the conditions.

 

[wkeryder4]

Have you ever changed the gear oil in your transfer case? Also you have to "exercise" it by going back and forth. If you leave it in 4hi and never switch it could break and then you're stuck in 4hi. Also you can't drive over 55mph in 4hi so that would make most of our DD 4runners useless

Really? I run in 4Hi daily and do highway driving and have never had an issue with it. From what I gathered on the info card on the visor you just have be under 60mph to be able to engage it from H2 -> H4 while moving. Granted it isn't necessary to be in 4Hi all the time I prefer it. I still run through the system every month or so to make sure everything is smooth and working but I don't think it could be harmful to run 4Hi the majority of the time.

 

[cgv69]

Have you ever changed the gear oil in your transfer case? Also you have to "exercise" it by going back and forth. If you leave it in 4hi and never switch it could break and then you're stuck in 4hi.

So? "4HI" is what all the V8 guys drive around in everyday. I agree that transfer oil changes should be done and you should change into/out of different modes to keep the solenoids from locking up but never being able to change back into 2WD mode wouldn't be that big of a deal IMO.

Also you can't drive over 60mph in 4hi so that would make most of our DD 4runners useless

Bullshit. You can't switch into "4HI" mode over 55MPH but once you are in 4HI mode, you can go as fast as you want. I go back and forth between 2WD and 4HI all the time but I have left mine in 4HI for weeks or more at a time with no issue (especially during the winter). I'm on the highway almost everyday and typically do between 70 -80MPH and again, no problem.

 

[Flyingbread1]

Have you ever changed the gear oil in your transfer case? Also you have to "exercise" it by going back and forth. If you leave it in 4hi and never switch it could break and then you're stuck in 4hi. Also you can't drive over 55mph in 4hi so that would make most of our DD 4runners useless

I had front and rear diff fluids changed and a full transmission flush and fill at the dealership at 140000. I do exercise the 4wd modes regularly and haven't had any problems in the past.

 

[wkeryder4]

I had front and rear diff fluids changed and a full transmission flush and fill at the dealership at 140000. I do exercise the 4wd modes regularly and haven't had any problems in the past.

I've been running 4Hi daily for probably 6 months now and haven't had any issues. I would change the oil in your transfer case just to make sure everything is fresh but I wouldn't be worried about running it in 4hi all the time. That is basically what the v8's are running anyway.

 

[MarkinWMich]

I've been running 4Hi daily for probably 6 months now and haven't had any issues. I would change the oil in your transfer case just to make sure everything is fresh but I wouldn't be worried about running it in 4hi all the time. That is basically what the v8's are running anyway.

This is not a flame, but just curious, if you live in sunny, warm Florida, why are you using 4wd all the time?

 

[Martinjmpr]

Also you can't drive over 55mph in 4hi so that would make most of our DD 4runners useless

I think you're misinterpreting what the owner's manual says.

The manual says you should be below a certain speed (I thought it was 60 mph/100 km/h) when shifting between 2hi and 4hi.

But once you are in 4hi there's no reason you can't drive as fast as you can in 2hi. As others have pointed out, the V8 models are in 4wd all the time and I'm guessing that the V8 owners here occasionally exceed 55 mph! :tongue1:

 

[wkeryder4]

This is not a flame, but just curious, if you live in sunny, warm Florida, why are you using 4wd all the time?

lol like I said, I know it's not necessary but I just prefer it. It's no reason in particular. I still will exercise the system every few months and even run it in 2wd for a bit but I've just had it in 4wd for the past few months. The only difference is a slight dip in mpg but I knew that would be an issue when I lifted it and put bigger tires on it. And don't let the sunshine state fool you, our winters can get brutal. :biggrin1:

 

[radlynx]

yes, you can drive it above 55 in 4hi. i have used it on the highway so many times. and exercise the 4h and 2h a couple of times. i just make a habit of turning it in 4h whenever it rains, for good traction.

Have you ever changed the gear oil in your transfer case? Also you have to "exercise" it by going back and forth. If you leave it in 4hi and never switch it could break and then you're stuck in 4hi. Also you can't drive over 55mph in 4hi so that would make most of our DD 4runners useless

 

[Lolrax]

yes, you can drive it above 55 in 4hi. i have used it on the highway so many times. and exercise the 4h and 2h a couple of times. i just make a habit of turning it in 4h whenever it rains, for good traction.

Agree, running 4Hi over 55MPH is just fine.

 

[JEL]

I actually drove a few tank fulls in 4hi unlocked over the summer to see what, if any, the MPG penalty would be. I only drive open highway so my anecdotal experience may not be too helpful, but I only got a 1-2 mpg penalty between 2hi and 4hi, but of course over several months that will add up. I also suspect in-town driving will suffer a lot more than open highway. My driving was in "ideal" conditions, IE warm, dry, no real traffic to speak of, but it appears this system is pretty efficient and I love the way it performs in the snow.

As far as your issue, definitely get a good fresh batch of synthetic 75w90 in there. I did notice a slight reduction in engagement time in mine when I changed all three, and even though my t-case oil still "looked" new when I drained it, it probably was due. I had about 60k on it when I changed it, so I suspect if yours has never been done it is probably a bit old and muddy. Once you get new stuff in there, keep exercising all modes (including CDL) and it should get faster. My 3rd gen was a little slow when I got it, but I changed all the fluids and kept exercising it regularly and now it's nearly instant. I guess it is possible if you've been exercising it that the actuator is going bad, it sucks but it does happen.

 

[bantis556]

Also you can't drive over 55mph in 4hi so that would make most of our DD 4runners useless

This is incorrect. You can in fact, drive over 55mph with it in 4Hi. The correct information is; you must be below 60mph to engage from 2wd > 4Hi.

 

[philskeeter]

Really? I run in 4Hi daily and do highway driving and have never had an issue with it. From what I gathered on the info card on the visor you just have be under 60mph to be able to engage it from H2 -> H4 while moving. Granted it isn't necessary to be in 4Hi all the time I prefer it. I still run through the system every month or so to make sure everything is smooth and working but I don't think it could be harmful to run 4Hi the majority of the time.

I re read it and you are correct I apologize for the false info. Now I see it was when going from 2h->4h stay below 60mph. Sorry again!

 

[philskeeter]

I've been running 4Hi daily for probably 6 months now and haven't had any issues. I would change the oil in your transfer case just to make sure everything is fresh but I wouldn't be worried about running it in 4hi all the time. That is basically what the v8's are running anyway.

Another question I guess I misunderstood, I realize the v8s are all the time 4wd hi but from having an older land cruiser I was under the impression that an all the time 4wd and and a regular 4wd that shifts from 2hi-2lo-4hi were set up differently in the transfer case so that would make it irrelevant that v8s can as fast as they do in 4hi. Also this isn't directed towards you but in general if you are driving that fast 4wd isn't going to make a huge difference anyways. If someone really needs 4hi than over 40 is just being careless

 

[MarkinWMich]

lol...And don't let the sunshine state fool you, our winters can get brutal. :biggrin1:

A few years back we had rented a house on Key Largo in February. The Miami weather lady was getting all hyped up about the Winter "cold blast" coming through the next day....68*F. LOL. The kids were in their bathing suits playing in the ocean that day. :banana:

 

[RunnerAK]

It is a seasonal thing for us, our V6 spends most of the summer in 2WD and all winter in 4WD. No problems at all, and we do occasionally "exercise" the different modes to make sure that actuators are still working.

 

[Lolrax]

If someone really needs 4hi than over 40 is just being careless

Stop saying things you clearly know nothing about.

When it becomes -30F in the winter here in Canada I still need to travel places and 40MPH would get me run off the road because our highways still run year round. Why wouldn't I want more traction?

 

[bantis556]

Stop saying things you clearly know nothing about.

When it becomes -30F in the winter here in Canada I still need to travel places and 40MPH would get me run off the road because our highways still run year round. Why wouldn't I want more traction?

Ya seriously. Just because someone is in 4wd doesn't mean that they need to go only 40mph. We have some pretty gnarly winters up here and everyone goes the same speed on the highway as they do during the summer. Being in 4wd is just an extra capability.