So it has occurred to me that after a year of having my 2014 FX4 and 20,000km's driven, I have yet to use my 4x4 or locker once. So in the spirit of wanting to keep it working properly for when I do ever need it I was thinking about engaging it a couple of times a month on my way home from work.

Now I know you shouldn't drive it with 4x4 on dry roads especially doing any turning, but how about on a couple mile straight stretch in stop and go traffic? I know gravel or snow is ideal but I only see that a few times a year and I'm looking for a solution that I can do monthly without driving out to a trail somewhere.

Any thoughts?

 

When i think about it, I drive mine in 4x4 when its raining and I am in town. I go back to 4x2 before turning.

 

4x4 on the dry in a straight line is fine, and indeed a good idea. (not that I remember to do it )
A couple turns in 4x won't kill it either, but it's not great...

 

If you are going to engage 4WD do it on a dirt road. 4WD on dry pavement is not good for your truck. There needs to be some wheel slip to prevent what's called driveline wind up.

http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/axle-wind-up.html

 

If you drive 150 miles in 4x4 on the freeway going 70mph you probably deserve that to happen. I'm talking about going 10mph stop and go for 2 miles or less, is that going to bind up and kill it over time?

 

It's a good idea IMO. The only reason to turn it on every few weeks, is to make sure none of the actuators/iwe's seize up. So, when in a parking lot, going straight and slow, just engage, and disengage a couple times. I don't think there is a need to drive it even a mile.

 

Dont the IWE's "engage" when you shut the truck off and "disengage" when you start it back up? I thought they required vacuum to disengage them.

 

And that is from turning in 4x4 on dry pavement..... Going straight it's no issue.

 

I don't think mine disengage when I shut off the truck.. There's a vaccum reservoir and check valves in the line to keep them diengaged when you shut of the engine. I think

 

The 4X4 in engaged when the engine is off , once you start the truck it disengages 4x4 .
Note... Nothing wrong with engaging 4x4 in a straight line at slow speeds.