How often to you engage 4WD?

I was heading to the grocery store and realized I had not engaged 4WD in quite some time so on a fairly long stretch of straight flat road I turned it on for a few miles and then turned it off. Except, it didn't want to disengage. I drove for a few more miles and did some mild acceleration and slow down but no luck, 4WD was still engaged and the icon was flashing. It was not until I had to break significantly before the 4WD finally disengaged.

On the return trip I did the same again and this time the 4WD disengaged after a few seconds without any maneuvering. I was pleasantly relieved.

So... this post is just a subtle reminder to engage/disengage your 4WD on a regular basis if you don't use it often. (it's also stated in the manual but I expect that many forget)

 

I try to remember to do it roughly once a month, but it is one of those things that's easily forgotten. Thanks for the reminder.

 

I have a recurring reminder on my phone for once a month. In my part of the country it's always dry roads, so I can't go the 10 miles recommended in the manual. I just make sure it engages and disengage. I'm guessing my average distance in 4x4 is less than 1/4 mile.

 

One thing to note with part time 4WD vehicles is on dry pavement, any differences in tires such as tread depth or even significant pressure differences can cause binding making it difficult for it to release 4WD back to 2WD. Personally during the 4WD "off season" (summer or whatever) I try to engage 4WD occasionally when off road or at least on a gravel roads to exercise the 4WD drivetrain so as to reduce the binding of the drivetrain as well as maintaining consistent tire rotations and pressures to keep tire wear consistent.

Also when replacing tires it is crucial that the complete set of matched 4 is replaced for proper 4WD operation

 

The only time 4wd should be used is when the road surface has some degree of slippage--never on dry, or even wet, pavement--never. No slippage results in the drive components becoming "wound up" and thereby (1) making the truck handle in a strange fashion, (2) making it difficult to shift in and out of 4wd, and (3) causing unnecessary and possibly damaging wear to the system. In comparison, fulltime AWD systems are able to deal with the issue because they have some degree of built-in slippage with the tradeoff being less traction in tough situations. AWD systems are also MUCH more complex than 4wd, too.

 

^^What he said^^

 

in mid-west Canada during the summer, rarely. during the winter, weekly.

 

I try to do it monthly, but it's easily forgotten sometimes when things get busy.

I'm a city boy, but I live pretty close to a spot (Fiesta Island on Mission Bay, if you know San Diego) where I can go drive around in some sand and exercise the 4WD.

 

Sure came in handy this morning in Flagstaff, AZ.

 

On any MY part-time 4x4 or selectable AWD - should be done Weekly -If you know what's good for ya'.

 

Not sure but I did read once that you can simply engage disengage sitting still on your driveway no real need to be moving.

 

This has always been conventional wisdom, but I posted a similar question a while back and was told, iirc, it was ok on dry pavement as long as there is minimal turning. Anyone remember what the manual says?

 

So I was a bonehead last month while heading home from my hunting trip in Idaho. I had the truck in 4H while up on the mountain and forgot to disengage it when I hit the highway. Rode for about three hours in 4H doing about 80! Thankfully there were no issues. I did notice it seemed to be handling odd while I was on wide bends in the highway. That all cleared up when I realized my mistake and switched it to 2H.

 

Manual?? I dont think I have opened manual in my life LOL

 

I have engaged it maybe 10x in 40,000 miles.

Last weekend I was taking my, boat, jetskis, piers, etc out of the water and used 4L quite a bit and it worked excellent.

 

Well, that explains a lot!

 

Manuals are great, you can gain ALOT of information once you get past the 400 pages of safety & how to use a seatbelt.

 

I know, me neither. That’s why I was asking you guys…

 

Behavior you experienced is typical of part-time 4wd system and it's not unique to the Tundra. To get it to disengage, you need to take tension off the system. Decelerating is often the ticket to do that, so try taking your foot off the gas. Running 4wd on dry pavement and accelerating is definitely creating tension/binding and it won't want to disengage.

 

From the manual.....

■Four-wheel drive usage fre-
quency
You should drive in four-wheel drive
for at least 10 miles (16 km) each
month. This will assure that the front
drive components are lubricated.

 

LOL, seen lots of folks stuck in the sand!

 

LOTS! Most of it is not that deep and kinda' hard packed underneath, but in all fairness there are a few areas that have some sorta' quicksand-ish qualities. Mostly on the east side by the jet ski areas.

I like to practice in 2WD and in most areas you almost have to TRY to get it stuck, like stop facing uphill then gas it too hard. I'll get it to start digging, then just "CLICK" pull itself right up n' out in 4WD.
I was actually quite impressed with the OEM Michelins flotation. Curious if the more aggressive Toyo AT3's might actually do worse in the sand. (Like dig more than float)

It's about time for the monthly 4WD maintenance lap, now that I think about it.

 

I use mine for 5-10 minutes 4-5 times a week, live in a rural area. Works great, during the winter use it every time I drive down the driveway.

 

Same here, I live 6 miles back on dirt so it's always in use.

 

Depends, sometimes several times a week, sometimes I have to remember to do it.

 

I did it once weekly for the first year. (about 50 times) Used to take 15-20 secs to go in or out of 4W HI. Now less than 5 secs. I’ve been working on Low range now as I wasn’t doing that and it’s getting faster and faster too.

 

I try to remember to do it once a month. My gravel driveway is 2000 feet long. I kick in Four High when I leave the asphalt road. I have a large gravel area up at the house where I engage Four Low, and the locking rear differential.

 

The bottom line here is that 4WD requires a greater degree of driver awareness/participation than does AWD. 4WD is essentially the same system that's been around since the original Jeep appeared during WWII, with the exception that we now have a dial instead of a shift lever or two. So it's old, by technological standards--but it works, and it's relatively simple. AWD systems are much more modern, complex and are technological marvels--but if they crap out you're talking an expensive repair. They also require no driver awareness at all--you really can't misuse them. Having said that, our Tundra 4WD's are pretty stout and will occasionally put up with our mistakes (like grnwdjsn did) but by and large they can take it. I've had both, and personally I like 4WD because I enjoy the increased driver participation that we've lost with the advent of auto transmissions and all the other modern driver assists.

 

Don't forget about 4lo and the locker if you have it...they need exercise too at least spring and fall or stuck actuator city...

 

I usually forget about it until I see another thread like this. Then I go do it. That seems to work well. LOL.