Maintaining 4WD components

Hi,

I've just recently purchased a 2018 TRD OR, and this being my first truck with 4WD capabilities, I've got a question about the general maintenance of the 4WD components. I was reading through the owner's manual and noticed that Toyota says:

"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."

Is this a necessary practice or simply precautionary? I don't intend to make it off-road but a couple of times a year. If it is an important step for maintaining a properly functioning 4WD system, is there any harm in riding in 4H on asphalt? Thanks in advance.

Oh yeah, here's my beauty!

 

I run mine on asphalt when it rains and I'm driving straight down the highway for my commute if I haven't played in a month. Not sure if this is the best practice, but seems to be ok. Interested to see others' opinions.

 

Just find a dirt road every month and go for a drive in 4x4.

 

Yes you can engage 4h on straight dry pavement to lubricate the front components. Yes it's important to follow the maintenance procedures to keep everything working. Do not turn on dry pavement/asphalt, it will cause binding. If you can find dirt, otherwise only on straight away.

 

My 05 I owned 13 years was only put in 4wd when I needed it. There was many spring/summer/falls where the 4wd button was never turned. It got engaged all the time during the winter. I did lube the zerks every 10k or so, missed it a few times. Never had any issues.

 

or

find a dirt road everyday?

 

I also try to engage 4WD every month. Maybe not for 10 miles, but at least for a bit. I've been in Tacoma's where the 4WD hadn't been used in a while. Seemed most had a hard time engaging. It's not a bad idea to get in the habit of going into 4WD regularly. You also get to do a system check before that next time where you really need it.

 

I have a straight stretch of road (mile or so long) close to my home. Every week or so as I am going down that road I put it in 4H and disengage when I get to the end of the straight stretch. No big deal. As far as 4L, my driveway is about 120' long so I just put it in 4L every now and then and go forward and reverse up and down my driveway.

The reasoning behind it is simple:
1. Mechanically, it keeps the parts that normally don't get used get used and lubricated, like the ADD.
2. Solenoids can "stick" and not actuate if not used for a long time. The term is "stiction."

There you go.

 

If you have an OR, I’d also suggest finding some dirt (or snow) and engaging 4Lo and the rear locker occasionally, on and off several times, as well as just 4wd ... every 2 or 3 months is probably fine. Mine seems to reluctant to engage if I haven’t used it for a while. Note that you need to be stopped and in neutral to engage 4Lo, and you need to be fully in 4Lo (dash light not flashing) to engage the rear locker, so don’t rush it.

 

Great info everyone. My question has definitely been answered!

 

I have had three TRD 4x4 Off Road Tacomas.
I do not use 4WD every month and I am sure there has been a few months I didn't think of flipping the dial to H4 for a few miles, and there has never yet been an issue with it going into 4WD.
That said, doing what Toyota say is always a GOOD idea.

If you can't find a few miles of dirt road to drive, or have rain, then going straight in 4WD on dry pavement works. Turning (on dry-solid surfaces) will be difficult because the front and rear driveshafts are locked together in 4WD and in a turn they need to rotate at different rates. Just flip back into H2 if you need to turn sharply on pavement and return to H4 on straight sections.

I also suggest you take a minute to go into Low Range (L4) and engage the locking rear differential (for future emergencies). Read the card in your sun visor or the manual first! You need to shift into Neutral (automatics) to go into or out of L4, otherwise you get beeping! The rear locker is a bit fussy... after you get into L4, press the RR Locker button and turn your steering wheel to one side and inch forward to get the light to stop blinking and the rear to lock.