What can happen if I don't use 4 wheel?

So I was going through my owners manual and I saw we have to drive for at least 10 miles each month in 4 wheel ive had my truck for about two years and have only gone in 4 wheel a few times what can happen if I don't use 4 wheel for a while what kind of symptoms would I get if there were any am I overthinking it? I appreciate any help

 

I had a stretch where I was traveling and my mom had the truck so 4wd wasn’t engaged for 1.5-2years. Next time I went to use 4wd it took an extra long time (like a mile or two of driving) to engage.

after that first time it has switched right in every time. As said above if the actuators aren’t exercised they can get alittle sticky.

don’t worry about the drive 10 miles part. It’s much more important to just switch it in and out of 4wd once or twice a month.

 

I use mine maybe once a month way under the 10 miles . It’s been almost 2 years everything works great . The manual also says u need to change differential fluid at 15k miles . I think Toyota just put that in there to cover their ass .

 

OK sweet and its the actuator seals everyone talks about thatll get dry correct?

 

You can actuate it on a straight dry road you know you won't turn on. It doesn't like mild to sharp turns on dry roads.

 

Never too late, I literally never used 4lo for anything until I read that in this forum so then last week (2 years old and 30k+ miles) I found a dirt road and drove around in 4lo for like 1/4 mile. Too bad norther NJ sucks for off roading. I'd go more if I didn't have to trek 2+ hours down to the pine barrens for some sandy roads to get all pinstriped up...

 

I've only turned on 4wd once or twice a year and only in the winter. 100,000 miles and 11 years now with no drivetrain issues.

 

Only time ever use 4wd lo was to pull my boat back up the grassy bank after i half flooded it from forgetting to put hull drain plugs back in the boat when putting it in.

 

The 10 mile drive allows the fluids to heat up and completely lubricate the front drive system.

Just build the habit of running in 4H at the 1st of each month.

The 1X each month for 10 miles can possibly avoid bigger trouble and the little effort it takes to engage is nothing.

 

The actuators can size up. It's been discussed before.
I would just engage, disengage all of the controls for 4 Hi and Lo once a month on a dirt road that will allow tire slippage.
I recently had my Wife go through the drill repeatedly over about 10 miles of dirt road. I believe she secretly enjoyed it.

 

Yeah turning is not pleasant on dry roads. Next time it rains you can activate the 4wd for a bit and that wont be a problem.

 

If you don’t use it, it’s going to shrivel up and disappear

 

I’ve clicked it on 4Hi getting on the freeway, drove up to 70mph for 3 miles then got off on my exit. Gets fluids moving and won’t harm anything. Also won’t matter if it’s wet or dry

 

Put in in 4WD and see if it works...follow the flow sheet from there.

 

Like others, I simply take a short ride on dirt road in 4WD once a month. Hell, I can turn it on going down my dad's road, as its not paved, and about 1/4 mile. I use 4WD consistently in the winter, but 4 Lo I rarely use, if at all. There simply isnt a place for me to actually need it here.
Question to others-if you regularly use 4 Hi, but never 4 Lo-would there still be the possibility of lubrication problems? I dont know exactly how that stuff works...I can certainly put it into 4 Lo and let is crawl for a bit-but using it, is a rare occurrence for me. Even when I had my Wrangler, I rarely used 4 Lo. There simply wasnt a need (I dont rock crawl, and, as my vehicles are DDs, I dont overly abuse them).

 

Is it not true that not abusing tacos is in fact, abuse itself?

 

I use my 4 wheel drive every week leaving the house for work. That way it is being exercised at least several times a month.

 

Besides the lubrication of the parts inside the Front Axle the Actuators themselves need movement to keep from sizing up.

 

Some agree with you. I probably engage 4H every other month or so in a straight line drive.

 

Someone on here was talking about being in 6th gear in 4lo. At any rate 4 lo is amazing You should mess around in 4 lo. It’s really good on downhill (Mt) but it’s worth more than most people think.