use it or lose it applies to 4x4 or will it hurt it if I rarely use it?

 

If have alway engaged mine every month or two. Ok to do so on dry pavement going straight...

 

can I change lanes?

 

Don't think a lane change will make much difference... it's more about turning corners on dry pavement. I don't think you need it in 4wd for long.

Personally, I put it in 4wd every couple of weeks for 30 -60 seconds as I'm coasting down a straight hill about 30 mph on my way to work. I figure that is good enough to exercise it. But I'm just going by what my mechanic told me to do many years ago. I don't even know for sure that it helps or makes much of a difference, but I've never had 4we issues, so even if it doesn't help, I'm pretty sure that it doesn't hurt, either.