Driving in 4WD on Paved surfaces

[michael90630]

I have recently purchased a 2007 4Runner SR5 V6 4x4. This is my first 4Runner with 4WD. So please excuse my ignorance. To make sure I understand the part time / Multi-Mode 4WD, Low range, VSC, locking differentials etc., I have read the Toyota User Manual quite thoroughly.

In the manual it says, owner is supposed to drive 10 miles each month in 4WD mode in order to lubricate the system. I have always known that driving 4WD on regular street / paved surfaces is not a good idea. It can damage the transfer-case.

Is this a correct recommendation? Any of you follow this?

Thanks for any inputs.

 

[Paul2660]

Driving in 4WD with a locked center diff, is bad. This is because your front and rear wheels will turn in a different radius and you can get binding. This is easy to feel on payement when turning.

NOTE this is why, in snow, dirt, mud, wet pavement etc. it's should be OK since these conditions will allow slippage and thus no binding.

As I understand it you should be able operate the 4-Runner in 4WD HI on dry pavement as long as you don't have the center diff locked but others on the forum can answer that 100%. I would still not make a habit out of it as you already pointed out.

Paul C

 

[dingo]

It is safe to run in H4 on dry pavement as long as the center diff is unlocked. It will operate just like the fulltime 4WD V8 models. Your front and rear drive shafts will spin at different rates without worry, without binding (again, as long as the center differential is UNlocked). I leave my truck in H4 during the winter/rainy months sometimes without any problems. If you don't really need the extra traction then just leave it in H2. You may also from time to time want to shift into L4 once in a while to make sure the lower gearing is in working order (good excuse for playing in the dirt).

 

[jharris2]

I have recently purchased a 2007 4Runner SR5 V6 4x4. This is my first 4Runner with 4WD. So please excuse my ignorance. To make sure I understand the part time / Multi-Mode 4WD, Low range, VSC, locking differentials etc., I have read the Toyota User Manual quite thoroughly.

In the manual it says, owner is supposed to drive 10 miles each month in 4WD mode in order to lubricate the system. I have always known that driving 4WD on regular street / paved surfaces is not a good idea. It can damage the transfer-case.

Is this a correct recommendation? Any of you follow this?

Thanks for any inputs.

This topic has been covered before, so a search will give you more details. But Dingo and the manual and right. You can drive the V6 in 4WD mode all the time so long as the center differential is unlocked.

 

[michael90630]

Thank you all for your advise and suggestions.

Today I also checked with 3 of the local Toyota Dealer Service Dept. in the Orange County area. The first one I called, implied that this should only be done in "optimum" conditions aka on dirt roads not on paved surfaces. Seemed like he was just dishing out the "old school of thought" practice. So it got me a bit more confused.

So I drove to my nearest dealer and talked to another Service Manager and showed him the User Manual where it is detailed (under section A.D.D).

This guy and the 3rd dealer all confirmed exactly what you all have posted, that, it is recommended by Toyota to drive that many miles WITHOUT locking the differential each month for lubrication. And yes, the all-time 4WD on the V8 models works in the same manner.

Thanks again...