the owners manual says to use 4x4 once a month

OK...as usual I got lost in this thread...You run the 4x4 to lube the gears once a month..why? What difference does it make to move the lube around inside a gear box or transfer case if the vehicle is not being driven? I get that you need lube distributed within the cases and on the gears but why is it "time dependent"? If you let the truck sit for two years what damage is done? If after two years you slowly run the vehicle under light load until the lube is distributed what harm could happen?

Not being a wise guy here, but I just don't see the purpose and what damage would be done.

Thanks for any explanations..Phil
 
Years ago, I worked as a parts mgr for a Jeep dealer. We encouraged customers to use 4WD regularly to ensure the parts were coated with lube. Otherwise, any water that managed to get into the axle housing from water features, condensation, or driving on the beach to fish could result in rust forming on the machined surfaces and causing wear & contamination of the lube. Also, kept seals from drying out.

Don’t know how many might develop a problem but at least some pasture princess jeeps being bought after some time parked in the back forty had some rust. Materials and lubes are probably better now than 40+ years ago.

Paul
 
I've seen the rust on ring gears that sat for long periods of time. Is modern stuff more resistant? I don't know. Tiny movement from wind can cause wheel bearings to form ungreased spots that eventually begin to rust.
 
Wallowa said:
OK...as usual I got lost in this thread...You run the 4x4 to lube the gears once a month..why? What difference does it make to move the lube around inside a gear box or transfer case if the vehicle is not being driven? I get that you need lube distributed within the cases and on the gears but why is it "time dependent"? If you let the truck sit for two years what damage is done? If after two years you slowly run the vehicle under light load until the lube is distributed what harm could happen?

Not being a wise guy here, but I just don't see the purpose and what damage would be done.

Thanks for any explanations..Phil
Click to expand...
Phil, check post #14. Regularly locking manual hubs or engaging 4x4 with auto hubs is simply intended to lube the front ring gear and upper knuckle bearings. There's no need to engage four-wheel drive to lube the transfer case gears, as all those gears receive lube in normal driving.

For a vehicle that sits for months it might be different. It would take a long time for 90-weight oil to bleed off everything, but once it did there might be an issue with condensation on the gears that could cause rust. But I think it would be a long time before any possible damage occurred.
 
Phil, check post #14. Regularly locking manual hubs or engaging 4x4 with auto hubs is simply intended to lube the front ring gear and upper knuckle bearings. There's no need to engage four-wheel drive to lube the transfer case gears, as all those gears receive lube in normal driving.

For a vehicle that sits for months it might be different. It would take a long time for 90-weight oil to bleed off everything, but once it did there might be an issue with condensation on the gears that could cause rust. But I think it would be a long time before any possible damage occurred.


Got it...I understand that "dry gears" have friction [as do bearings] but just could not wrap my head around that for the time it took to pick up and distribute lube once moving that it could damage gears or bearings...as it still is difficult for me to imagine moisture in a gear box...I understand condensation but the amount seemed insignificant...live and learn and was glad to know that just driving, not 4 wheel engaged, would distribute the lube...knuckle and ring require 4X...

Thanks everyone for download..

Phil
 
I look at it like our human body. If we don't move every so often, we :
get rusty
dry out
tires go flat
seals fail
don't get lubed
mice/squirrels build nests
get sun bleached
snow/pollen/dust builds up,,,,,,etc
This is, unfortunately, the longest my rig has sat in front of the house. I still get in and drive it 3-20 miles once every week or so.
 
We have a 2013 Tacoma 4WD

My mechanic says to stop on asphalt, Put it in 4 wheel High then drive 3 or 4 blocks below 55 mph which is enough time to lubricate the transfer case. I can make sweeping right or left turns and it won't hurt the case.

Come to a full stop again...The put it back into 2 wheel High. do it once per month

The front axle lubricates all the time because its turning all the time.

I'm glad you asked this question because I haven't had the truck off road since February.

OOOps made a mistake
Lastly because the truck and camper are heavy we change out the transmission and transfer case every 15,000 miles. We do all the fluids every 30,000 miles. Fluids are cheaper than replacing parts.
 
Interesting Jim, that he says to come to a stop. Seems like that used to be the suggested/preferred method. Now they say on the fly ,anything under 50 mph or so. Personally I won't go over about 5 mph , worrying about all those expensive gears.
Come to think of it, I believe my 2015 Silverado manual says to be moving to make a 4 hi shift.
I am with you on the fluids, and filters. Inspite of dial soap and dryer sheets, mice or squirrels have found my cabin air filter, packing it with seeds and grass
 
It's also good for the shift on the fly shift motor, over time without use can make the actuator stick and not engage system when needed. I have seen a number of problems with customer vehicles whom do not use 4wd very often, having to replace actuators and switches. If you don't use it you lose it !!
 
allanb said:
Interesting Jim, that he says to come to a stop. Seems like that used to be the suggested/preferred method. Now they say on the fly ,anything under 50 mph or so. Personally I won't go over about 5 mph , worrying about all those expensive gears.
Come to think of it, I believe my 2015 Silverado manual says to be moving to make a 4 hi shift.
I am with you on the fluids, and filters. Inspite of dial soap and dryer sheets, mice or squirrels have found my cabin air filter, packing it with seeds and grass
Click to expand...
I agree—there's no reason to come to a stop to shift into four high, especially if you're pointed straight ahead.
 
Allan,
He said a full Stop on concrete and asphalt...NOT dirt.

Thanks Fish

And I have an OOPs as follows"
Because the truck and camper (5,200 pounds empty) are heavy we change out the transmission and transfer case fluids every 15,000 miles. Remember this is a Tacoma Not a fill size regular truck. We do all the fluids every 30,000 miles.

7 years ago folks I met were surprised any company made a camper for a Tacoma. In the years that we towed the Samurai they were very surprised when we pulled into gas stations with the camper and towing the Samurai that the truck had enough power to do all that. And that we averaged 14.5 mpg towing it.

The Tacoma with the 4 liter V6, 4WD, trailer towing package is a great combination with good mileage...Great truck.
 
If the wheels are pointed straight ahead there is no reason you cannot shift into four high on pavement. Everything is turning at the same speed. Only if you then start going around corners are the transfer gears going to bind. Engaging four high on pavement and driving straight ahead for a few hundred yards is probably all you need to do to lube the ring gear and upper knuckle bearings.

Jonathan
 
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