Ten miles per month with part time 4WD

[RonJR]

For best transfer case health, you need to periodically (at least once/month) accomplish three things.

1) Cycle all the actuators so they don't get sticky and refuse to work when you need them. You can do this while stopped in your driveway.
2) Slosh the oil around on all the parts in the tcase and front differential to recoat them. As stated previously, after about one month the oil film starts to break down on stationary surfaces leaving them vulnerable to rust. This recoating process happens in the first hundred yards, or less, of driving in 4wd. Doesn't matter if you're in 4lo or 4hi.
3) Get the tcase and front differential oil hot enough to cook out most of the condensed water that will otherwise collect inside. This is probably the reason for the 10 mile recommendation. Particularly important if you live in a high humidity area of the country.

 

[1jzgte]

I have to wonder why some people buy a 4runner much less a 4x4 4runner

2wd is more rare than 4wd

 

[Yinzer]

2wd is more rare than 4wd

Maybe in Utah. In Louisiana, I had to get one shipped in from Arkansas (I think)

 

[The_Mickstar]

2wd is more rare than 4wd

They don't even order 2wd 4Runners for my zipcode in Missouri. It took me a while to figure out why it wouldn't let me build one on the Toyota website. Once I figured it out, I put a Miami zipcode in, though. They get all kinds of crazy grill & wheel options/packages!

 

[The_Mickstar]

1) Cycle all the actuators so they don't get sticky and refuse to work when you need them. You can do this while stopped in your driveway.

[MENTION=134884]RonJR[/MENTION] I read this as I should at least exercise the Multi-Terrain & Crawl switches, but that I don't have to actually use those modes (i.e. drive). Is that correct?

 

[RonJR]

[MENTION=134884]RonJR[/MENTION] I read this as I should at least exercise the Multi-Terrain & Crawl switches, but that I don't have to actually use those modes (i.e. drive). Is that correct?

No, that's not all of what I said. Read the whole post.

Yes, to keep the actuators free, you simply need to exercise them in your driveway.

However, to keep the tcase and front diff lubricated properly you need to drive it a hundred yards or so with 4wd engaged at least once per month to splash the oil around.

Finally, to keep the water from building up, you need to get the tcase and front diff hot at least once per month. That will take a few miles of driving. The tcase probably gets hot enough in normal 2wd driving, but the front diff will not warm up unless you are in 4wd for a significant distance. (e.g., 10 miles.)

If you have AWD, all of this gets taken care of in normal driving with the exception of exercising the actuators.

 

[RonJR]

[MENTION=134884]RonJR[/MENTION] I read this as I should at least exercise the Multi-Terrain & Crawl switches, but that I don't have to actually use those modes (i.e. drive). Is that correct?

Sorry, I misread your post. I think the muli-terrain and crawl switches just change SW modes, so I doubt you need to exercise those at all.

 

[The_Mickstar]

Thanks. I understood the rest of your original post. Just wanted clarification on the part I quoted. I've got it now.

 

[WallyT4R]

I religiously drive at least 10 miles a month in 4wd. I wait until it rains, find a nice straight road and slip it in 4wd. Sometimes I break up the drive and slip it in and out of 4wd several times during the 10 miles. What I have been slacking on is putting it in 4low and locking it. Thanks for the reminder [MENTION=134884]RonJR[/MENTION]. :thumb3:

 

[MrGainzz]

2wd is more rare than 4wd

2wd doesn’t even exist in Canada.


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[CF_Machete]

just use 4wd when it rains. I do this monthly on my commute. Usually 15 minutes of highway per month.

 

[Akkording]

just use 4wd when it rains. I do this monthly on my commute. Usually 15 minutes of highway per month.

Yap I go 4wd when it rains in Houston