First Time Flexing 4LO/Locker

[RPC]

My Runner's manual says to put 10 miles a month on it in 4LO and, as Ive only owned it a month, I went out today to do so and came back with some questions:

-If the manual prescribes 10 mi/mo in 4LO, does that at all extend to exercising the diff locker monthly/regularly?

-Can this 10 mi/mo. in 4LO be done on paved roads or is it be best done on unpaved? And slowly, yeah?

-Can 4LO only engage if the diff. locker is on?

Thanks!

 

[HB 4X4]

My Runner's manual says to put 10 miles a month on it in 4LO and, as Ive only owned it a month, I went out today to do so and came back with some questions:

-If the manual prescribes 10 mi/mo in 4LO, does that at all extend to exercising the diff locker monthly/regularly?

-Can this 10 mi/mo. in 4LO be done on paved roads or is it be best done on unpaved? And slowly, yeah?

-Can 4LO only engage if the diff. locker is on?

Thanks!

You can lock the center diff every now and then too, but do not do it on pavement. Only do it if you are off-road.

4LO can be done on any road surface, but I wouldn't advise going fast. I'd keep it under around 40MPH.

You can engage 4LO regardless of the differential. I just pop mine into neutral while I am slightly rolling, or sometimes even stopped if I am already at the obstacle that I need it for. Just turn the knob, make sure it doesn't beep at you, and make sure the light on the dash becomes solid (stops blinking) and you're set.

 

[Thai]

You can lock the center diff on dry pavement...as long as you're going STRAIGHT!

 

[Border411]

I thought the manual says to run it in 4Hi 10 miles a month, not 4Lo. Am I incorrect?

 

[HB 4X4]

You can lock the center diff on dry pavement...as long as you're going STRAIGHT!

You can't go for 10 miles in a straight line, which is why I just recommended not even bothering on pavement.

rpcowan, you can do it for very short spurts, perhaps a parking lot, residential neighborhood, etc. But if you are looking for 10 miles a month I recommend you try to get in a little wheeling at least once a month. That's the easiest way to keep everything used... by using it.

I am out wheeling multiple times a month usually so I never have to worry about it.

 

[BC4Runner]

I thought the manual says to run it in 4Hi 10 miles a month, not 4Lo. Am I incorrect?

You are correct, the manual shows 4HI for at least 10 miles a month.

 

[RPC]

Nice, thanks all.

I'm confused though, why would a manual advise an owner to put 10 mi/mo on the vehicle in 4HI? That's what it's always in...

Maybe the difference between Full-Time 4WD & Selectable 4WD vehicles?

 

[Chalk Outline]

Nice, thanks all.

I'm confused though, why would a manual advise an owner to put 10 mi/mo on the vehicle in 4HI? That's what it's always in...

Maybe the difference between Full-Time 4WD & Selectable 4WD vehicles?

The V8s are full time 4wd, but the V6 has 2wd for on-road use.

 

[00Spork]

Re: Re: First Time Flexing 4LO/Locker

4LO can be done on any road surface, but I wouldn't advise going fast. I'd keep it under around 40MPH.

40 Mph???!!! I drive a third gen and im not sure if its different but 40MPH seems REALLY high. I can only do about thirty in 5th gear in 4LO!!

Id say 10-20 mph

 

[ShipOfFools]

It is definitely not necessary to run it in 4LO 10 miles a month. I have owned other 4WD vehicles, and I never used it that much, but it never failed. It will be fine.

 

[04 sc V8]

It is definitely not necessary to run it in 4LO 10 miles a month. I have owned other 4WD vehicles, and I never used it that much, but it never failed. It will be fine.

I engage mine a few times a year and drive around off road. I think its more to keep the actuator and shifting mechanism from freezing up than anything else.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I engage mine a few times a year and drive around off road. I think its more to keep the actuator and shifting mechanism from freezing up than anything else.

:iagree: I don't think mileage/month matters. What matters, IMHO, is a few miles a month in 4hi and then cycling the actuators for 4lo and the diff lock a every so often. Your V8 is in 4hi all of the time so that's a non-issue. Cycling the lock and the 4lo is... That's my 2cents.

There's some more good reading here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=50167
:cheers: