How long can I drive in snow with part time 4x4?

[CanukRunner]

I would like to take a hot chick skiing soon ... and I was wondering....

How long can I use the part time 4x4 system (on my 98 5spd runner) in snow?

At what point will me diffs heat up and get damaged?

Assume my trip to anywhere decent is at least two hours and I will only use part time if the hwy is mostly white.

Thanks!

 

[choogee3]

Leave it in 2wd and impress her with your sweet drifting skills! lol

98's don't have "part time" 4wd.... i think. When you pull the t-case shifter into 4hi it locks the center diff. 4wd is either on or off.

In 2000 they got a "part time" 4wd system.

 

[rusm]

6+ hours in 4Low doesn't seem to do anything except make my gas gauge go down. :banana:

 

[g8rdmd]

2002 SR5 here--just drove home last weekend through snow for 4 hours in "AWD" (i.e. 4-Hi) with no discernible problems. Averaged just over 21 mpg too. Maybe I am killing my front diff, but it seems to be fine to me:hatsoff:

Oh, and BTW...picks of hot chick or we'll just assume the worst...:worthless

 

[choogee3]

Damn... Looks like my kinda trail :hungry:

We don't have a single flake of snow on the east coast of Canada :moping:

 

[02SE]

Leave it in 2wd and impress her with your sweet drifting skills! lol

98's don't have "part time" 4wd.... i think. When you pull the t-case shifter into 4hi it locks the center diff. 4wd is either on or off.

In 2000 they got a "part time" 4wd system.

'98's are part-time 4wd. There is no center diff in the transfer case. When you put it in 4wd, the front and rear driveshafts will turn at the same speed, with no differentiation.

To the OP, you can drive in 4wd for as long as you want without damaging anything. As long as the road is slick enough to avoid binding in the driveline.

There have been times when I drive for weeks and hundreds of miles, without ever taking my '97 out of 4wd. But the roads are snow and ice covered the entire time.

 

[LINY4Runner]

98's didn't come with part time 4 wheel drive, so if it's dry pavement, I wouldn't recommend using 4WD. If there's a decent amout of snow on the roads and there's room for wheel slip, then go for it, but I wouldn't be cruising high speeds on dry pavement unless you had the AWD option in 01-02 models

 

[02SE]

Part-time 4wd means you only use it when road conditions permit some slippage of the tires, to prevent driveline bind. The '98 is part-time 4wd.

Full-time 4wd allows use on any road surface, anytime.

 

[choogee3]

'98's are part-time 4wd. There is no center diff in the transfer case. When you put it in 4wd, the front and rear driveshafts will turn at the same speed, with no differentiation.

If both driveshafts are locked in 4hi, then explain how it's "part-time?".

Pre 2000 4runners do not have any "part-time" 4wd system.

Part-time 4wd means you only use it when road conditions permit some slippage of the tires, to prevent driveline bind. The '98 is part-time 4wd.

Full-time 4wd allows use on any road surface, anytime.

Huh? "part-time" means it is electronically controlled... not that you're only supposed to use it part-time.


Also, you are confusing 4wd with AWD... big difference.

 

[Ryan_S]

"part-time" means it is electronically controlled... not that you're only supposed to use it part-time.

Wrong. Part time means you can use it part of the time. Full time means it can be used full time, because it os smart enough to have a center diff.

 

[Nelsonmd]

'98's are part-time 4wd. There is no center diff in the transfer case. When you put it in 4wd, the front and rear driveshafts will turn at the same speed, with no differentiation.

If both driveshafts are locked in 4hi, then explain how it's "part-time?".

Pre 2000 4runners do not have any "part-time" 4wd system.

No center diff -> tires bind front/back when turning -> not ok on non-slippery pavement -> you can only drive in 4WD "part of the time"

Center Diff -> no binding regardless of conditions -> you can drive in 4WD "Full time"

other than 99 and 00 limiteds, all 96-00 had part time 4WD. 99-00 limiteds and all 01-02 had the full time puh button 4WD.

 

[steezemcqueen]

If both driveshafts are locked in 4hi, then explain how it's "part-time?".

Pre 2000 4runners do not have any "part-time" 4wd system.



Huh? "part-time" means it is electronically controlled... not that you're only supposed to use it part-time.


Also, you are confusing 4wd with AWD... big difference.

you should read this first

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...rs-3rd-gens-transfer-case-awd-multi-mode.html

 

[02SE]

If both driveshafts are locked in 4hi, then explain how it's "part-time?".

Pre 2000 4runners do not have any "part-time" 4wd system.



Huh? "part-time" means it is electronically controlled... not that you're only supposed to use it part-time.


Also, you are confusing 4wd with AWD... big difference.

Well, suffice it to say you don't understand what a part-time system is. I don't have time right now to explain it further. '96-'98 4Runners are part-time 4wd only.

Starting in '99 the Limiteds had the multi-mode transfer case. Multi-mode eventually became standard in 4Runners. Multi-mode had a full-time 4wd option, meaning it could be used full-time, under any conditions. You could also lock the center diff on the multi-mode transfer cases, and then have the equivalent of the of part-time 4wd, and would only use that setting for slippery conditions.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

You can drive as long as you want in 4wd as long as it is straight. If using it on dry pavement don't turn with 4wd on or you will bind, which is not good.

Speed doesn't matter either.

 

[choogee3]

Damn... well i happen to be in the wrong here, my bad. It still sounds stupid to me, but you're all right.

It must be an american thing... but i just asked about 10 guys here at work, and they all agreed with my definition.... weird.

I like the Canadian defintion better

 

[Deceptiwave]

Maybe I am just stupid, but I dont see how driving in 4wd on snowy/slippery roads or trails would damage a 4x4 system. Isnt that exactly why we have 4x4? so we can go in the slippery offroady type stuff?
On dry roads, sure I can see some damage/wear happens, but Toyota built a damn fine offroader in the 4runner that really seems to be at home offroad.

 

[mistaj0hnny]

Well since we're on the topic I had a question as well. I'm gonna use my 4wd in snow/ice conditions for the first time this weekend, so should I shift to 4lo the whole time I'm up there? I have an '01 which I'm guessing is full-time 4wd

 

[02SE]

Low range is for when you want to crawl along at low speed for better control, or need some extra mechanical advantage compared to high range. You probably would never need low-range on any paved roads.

With your '01; When you push the button on the transfer case shifter you will then be in full-time 4wd, high range. You can drive like that on any surface, for as long as you want. Because the differential in the transfer case will allow the front and rear driveshafts to turn at different speeds, so you won't have any binding in the driveline.

If you are in this mode and then press the switch on the dash to the left of the steering column that looks like a diagram of a front and rear axle, with an X in between the two, this will lock the differential in the transfer case. You will then effectively be in part-time 4wd, and should try to use that setting only when the roads are slick. Pushing this button to lock the diff in the T-case, can improve traction in slick conditions compared to just having the 4Runner in the full-time 4wd setting.

 

[J i m s t e r]

I have a 96 KZN185 Surf, which is a 3rd Gen 4R but has the multimode 4wd. From a Surf site:

2nd Gen: The first thing to note is that this is a part-time 4wd system.
The vehicle is not fitted with a centre differential and therefore 4wd must never be used under normal conditions on surfaces with a high level of grip. Using 4wd on tarmac under normal condition will cause transmission wind-up and may result in damage to the drivetrain of your Surf.

H2: Rear wheel drive only: Normal operation.
H4: 4 wheels driven: Press red button on side of 4wd selector. Indicator will illuminate in centre of dash when fully engaged. You may select/deselect this mode at speeds up to 100Kph. Must only be used on loose surfaces such as mud, snow etc.
L4: 4 wheels driven, Lo-Ratio engaged: Select neutral on main gearbox, move 4wd selector lever fully back (position of button on side not important). Must only be used on loose surfaces such as deep mud, sharp inclines, descents etc where there is both a loose surface and a requirement for additional torque, lower speeds etc.

3rd Gen: The 3rd Gen Surf has a multi-mode 4wd system.
It may be used in 2wd Hi-ratio, driven by the rear wheels only, 4wd Hi-ratio with an open centre differential. 4wd Hi-ratio with the centre differential locked and 4wd Lo-Ratio with the centre differential locked.

H2: Rear wheel drive only: Normal operation, best for less wear & tear on components, best fuel economy & performance.
H4: 4 wheels driven, open centre differential: Press red button on side of 4wd selector. 4 wheel Indicator will illuminate in centre of dash when fully engaged. You may select/deselect this mode at speeds up to 100Kph. May be used anytime extra traction is desired
H4L: 4 wheels driven, centre differential locked: Move 4wd-selector lever fully back (position of button on side not important), 4 wheel Indicator and centre diff light will illuminate in centre of dash when fully engaged. You may select/deselect this mode at speeds up to 5Kph. Must only be used on loose surfaces such as mud, snow etc.
L4L: 4 wheels driven, centre differential locked, Lo-Ratio engaged: 4 wheel Indicator and centre diff light will illuminate in centre of dash when fully engaged. Select neutral on main gearbox, move 4wd selector-lever fully back, push to the right and then forwards.

 

[CanukRunner]

Wow thanks guys good to know that I can drive for extended periods of time in in 4x4 in the snow...Cuase I'm gonna now :cheers:

Sorry to stir the debate about part time vs full time I have only been a 4x4 owner for a few weeks and that was the first thing I learned....lol

Part time means you can use is it "Part time" the front and rear are locked together with no center diff and can cause binding and overheating of the diffs if use in dry pavement.

Full time means you can use it "full time" there is a center diff (open) that lets the front and rears spin at different rates with no fear of binding and overheating the front diff.

That being said I also found out that part time 4x4 is not as good as full time 4x4 in the snow as it can change your vehicle dynamics. (locked wheels cause side slip)