V6 4WD all the time.

[futbolking]

There use to be a member who was posting regularly about comparing his experience between 2WD to his 4WD, as he was running 4hi all the time. I have not changed from 4hi to 2WD in over 6 months. The reason being I find 4WD more stable & found a negligible fuel difference between the two. Before I was switching between the 2 regularly. I know things can get messed up by not regularly going from 2WD to 4hi, but I was wondering if I can do any harm by not going back to 2WD?
Also, is anyone else doing this?

 

[ASUMTNEER]

I'm curious what your MPG difference is.

 

[NOVA46]

There use to be a member who was posting regularly about comparing his experience between 2WD to his 4WD, as he was running 4hi all the time. I have not changed from 4hi to 2WD in over 6 months. The reason being I find 4WD more stable & found a negligible fuel difference between the two. Before I was switching between the 2 regularly. I know things can get messed up by not regularly going from 2WD to 4hi, but I was wondering if I can do any harm by not going back to 2WD?
Also, is anyone else doing this?

The reason it's suggested to switch between 2 and 4wd regularly is to regularly activate the actuator in the transfer case, to keep it from seizing when you need to go into 4wd. "If you don't use it you lose it". It stands to reason that the same logic applies to keeping the vehicle in 4wd; you need the actuator to remain healthy for when you want to switch into 2wd (if you ever want to again).

I'm sure there's probably a way to remove that pesky actuator, but that's a whole other thread...

 

[scw1991]

I'm curious as to what kind of stresses this puts on the transfer case at highway speeds or perhaps inability to dissipate heat generated.

It's my understanding the V8 transfer case is a different design than the V6.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

When using 4-Hi in the winter, I notice my mileage suffers, but that could just be the shitty winter gas

 

[Tooltime19]

As long as you dont drive around with the Center Diff Lock activated you will be fine and shouldnt have any long term wear issues. One of the great luxuries of today's modern 4x4 systems is we have the ability to drive around in "All wheel drive" mode on dry pavement without causing binding of the front and rear axles during cornering in tight areas or parking lots. I make my family run in 4high only when it rains around here. You cant beat the traction!
:cheers:

 

[JB.]

I have not changed from 4hi to 2WD in over 6 months. The reason being I find 4WD more stable & found a negligible fuel difference between the two.

I've often wondered why more people don't do this for that very reason. How much difference do you feel in steering effort?

I suspect the mpg difference is around .2 (point 2) mpg, give or take depending on type of driving.

Before I was switching between the 2 regularly. I know things can get messed up by not regularly going from 2WD to 4hi, but I was wondering if I can do any harm by not going back to 2WD?

The reason given in the manual for the monthly use is for the front drive components. However, I have no idea if the the mechanism that connects the front diff (the ADD) is included as a "front drive component". If it were me, I'd go to 2wd occasionally just as good practice.

On the plus side, exercising the transfer case actuators is much easier to do on a whim (and thus, more often) when running in 4wd. The diff lock button can be pushed any time you like while driving straight.

Fwiw, the transfer case actuator exercising is just message board consensus (valid imo) but is not mentioned in the manual.

 

[M1911]

It probably makes sense to exercise the transfer case actuators regularly by going into 2WD now and then.

 

[Kmvreter]

... things can get messed up by not regularly going from 2WD to 4hi...

Don't forget to go into 4Lo periodically.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I'm curious as to what kind of stresses this puts on the transfer case at highway speeds or perhaps inability to dissipate heat generated.

It's my understanding the V8 transfer case is a different design than the V6.

The V8 transfer case is almost identical to the V6 save for a different shift rod assembly that is missing the shift fork to disable 4WD and thus engage 2WD. The most significant difference between the 1GR-FE (4.0L V6) and 2UZ-FE (4.7L V8) 4WD systems is that the 1GR-FE uses a smaller front clamshell with an ADD (Automatic Disconnecting Differential) to manage between 2WD & 4WD, while the V8 has a slightly larger front clamshell that is just a differential.

There shouldn't be much of any stresses on the vehicles as the 4th gens across all trims in the US market all came equipped with T3 Torsen Center Differentials that actually manage torque mechanically between the front and rear axles, this combined with an open front and rear differential make our 4WD systems one of the more adaptable units in a body on frame SUV.

 

[futbolking]

Thanks for all the replies. Some really good sensible information in here.
Mpg is averaging 16-17 currently in mostly city driving. In the winter it drops to 13-15. I check my mpg every time I fill up & have been doing so for years (I'm either quirky or anal, maybe both).
I don't really plan on driving in 2WD much anymore, but from most of the posts in here, it seems that it won't cause major damage to do what I'm doing. However it wouldn't be a bad idea to switch periodically just to keep things lubed & moving. I think I'll do just that.

 

[futbolking]

I've often wondered why more people don't do this for that very reason. How much difference do you feel in steering effort?

I don't feel any difference in steering effort. Maybe it's from not driving in 2WD for so long.

 

[wkeryder4]

I don't feel any difference in steering effort. Maybe it's from not driving in 2WD for so long.

I've experimented with the two mainly on-road and I can tell that the steering gets a touch stiffer but I prefer it that way. in 2WD the front end just seems a bit loose compared to 4WD but I usually keep it in 2WD and regularly run it for about 50-100 miles in 4WD to keep the system fluid. I don't notice a big difference in gas mileage, maybe 1-2 mpg but I will do a better test of it in two week when I go on my road trip.

 

[tchlong03]

My 07 you can tell the previous owner never used 4wd. It was kind of slow going into 4hi, and even worse to 4low. There for a while I thought it wasn't going to go. Since I have had her I regularly switch her to loosen it up.